Hi everyone, I just wanted to share this awesome 650nm build I just finished.

I apologize in advance for the crappy quality of photos. I took them all on an iPod. The nicer ones used an aspherical lens to magnify which helps the quality.















Specs
Power Source: 10440 Li-ion rechargable cell
Driver: Stock LED Driver (This is what makes the build so cheap)
Driver output: I measured 330mA, which takes about 3 seconds to climb to.
Estimated mW: 200+

Beamshots!!!













The beam is pretty bright in person! I can see the beam better than I expected in my room with the lights on.

First of all, I would like to give full credit to LPF Member Rafa for the host idea. This build has been done before, but it isnt a really well known host it seems.

The host I used was a $2.50 DX Keychain light

Mini LED Keychain Flashlight (1*AAA) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

The host came with some strange leopard pattern, different than as advertised. I hate that look so I just covered it with some electrical tape while I find some spray paint or something.

All I had to do was remove the lens, reflector, and LED which took me a grand total of 5 minutes. The Aixiz module is just a little too small in diameter to fill it well. I just used some aluminum foil and thermal adhesive to secure the laser in place.

The host is case negative, so wiring it up is easy. The driver itself is very tiny. It may even be worth buying the host to use the cheap driver in other DIY projects!

All I did was solder a wire onto the driver output and connect it to the LPC's positive pin. There's enough room between the driver and laser housing to bend the wire if you do it right, which is not hard.

The total cost for this build was $15.50 excluding shipping, which is very negligable

Diode: LPC-826 from Modwerx ~ $11
Module: Aixiz Housing ~ $3
Flashlight: Keychain from Deal Extreme ~ $2.50

I don't know how long it runs, but it seems to have lasted me 30 minutes of use so far and the battery is still at a good 3.7V!

Anyway, Thanks to Rafa for suggesting the host! I very highly recommend this as an easy 650nm build and/or intro build for lasers.

*EDIT*
The only downside of this host, other than the heatsinking, is the switch. Its fallen apart twice since I've owned the host (which was about 2 weeks prior to the build). Its an easy fix though as it just a small pushbutton and a spring pressed against it in the tail-cap.

Wow that's awesome great build. +1 rep I think I am going to try this.

Good job, soon you will be the new wanaburn.

Im still trying to find time to start my build, ive got everything for the host, now i need some really evil stuff to put inside it.
It will be hideous, on purpose

Go for it! Just remember, the stock driver will only drive a red diode. You could salvage the driver for a later build and then replace it with one of Dr. Lava's drivers I believe

Glad u have this linked
I definitely think I'm going to try this build.
I've been intending to build a blue laser, but I just hit a big snag, but whn I saw this I was just like cheap powerful laser in a cool host! must build.
Glad you had this here for me to find. +1 rep

Go for it! If you have any questions during it feel free to ask. I'm going to try to post an in depth tutorial when my next one comes in.

Just curious, can it burn anything??

$16?
o_____O

At >200mW of focusable 650nm light... Yes. It SHREDS matches, makes clear burn marks in wood, plus all the other basic burning tricks.

indeed

Well in that case this laser WINSSS

Sorry im new to lasers, i really want to make this however i cant find the module :/. Could you please give me a link to where you bought yours? Also do you think any of these parts will have problems getting through Australian customs? Thanks

Diode: LPC-826 from Modwerx ~ $11
Module: Aixiz Housing ~ $3
Flashlight: Keychain from Deal Extreme ~ $2.50



........

yeah i saw that.... but i cant find the $3 Aixiz Housing Module, thats why i asked for a link...

2~5mW Dot Laser Module (3V) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme
that's a link to it I would encourage you to read a LOT before doing your first laser build. I lurked for a solid month until i understood about the driver component, diodes ,tem modes, thermal runoff. 16$ is cheap to jump into though and will teach some good lessons.
Also me not harping because your new but all you had to do was search dealextreme for aixiz module they are pretty universal you can even get different lenses but they are too expensive IMO for this laser.

I bought my aixiz housing from Modwerx. So I suggest buying the housing and the diode in one purchase to save on shipping.
I'm not from Australia so I can't say for sure. But I'm almost positive that customs can't confiscate parts.

I agree with the post above, do research before this build. Be prepared.

*EDIT*

You can get the housing here http://www.modwerx.com/shop/index.ph...fgjjoj7di3h8t0

The diode is available on the same site.

Thanks, yeah dealextreme dont ship modules over 1mw to Australia, guess i wont be building this .

Don't give up! Its not too difficult. Just buy the diode and housing. besides a deal extreme module is too big to fit in here!

If you need help, I will gladly provide it!

Get the flashlight from Dixstreme and the rest from modwerx( you can buy a sled and learn how to extract diodes and a sled is cheaper.) - all legal to import to you.

but you need a few weeks spent reading or will learn the hard way about killing diodes.

then read some more.
GL hk

Once Paypal stops giving me errors I'm going to purchase the host from DX, should be a fun build.

When you finish post some pictures, I'd love to see! Good luck building!

Just a note. I ordered this host again, along with another cheap host for another red budget build. It is NOT the same host as shown. Maybe it is a random grab bag of hosts. But the host has the same dimensions. It is just an aesthetic change. I will try to post a tutorial of this build in depth when I get a diode for it.

Not to nitpick but it's slightly misleading that the $16 does not include the battery.

However the 10440's are generally quite cheap (I've seen them for just over $2 at some places but shipping could be an issue)

... I don't say "$16 DIY laser including batteries". Does an iPod, for example, advertise itself as "$300 plus songs"?

Yeah you dont need to get so defensive though. $16 not including batteries is pretty good

Apologize then. Allow me to rephrase. Yes you are correct, I do not include the batteries in the total price, but, it is a $16 build.