My first build using a lathe, and my misstakes!

I recently bought a lathe and decided to make my first build using
this to create a heatzink.
I randomly bought a little host that was blue cause I had a 405nm diode.
At home there was some LM317 and LM350 laying around from some earlier LED project so I decided to use a linear driver.

Next day or so I bought some CR123 to use with this build.
The voltage ought to be 9V so 3 was needed.

My first problem was that the batteries did not fit my host,
second problem was that the standard LM317 and other components
was rather large.
Looking on the components I estimated 4Cm in length and a 12mm hole


I had read on this forum about batteri extension for hosts and also about
making room for the other components.
Well this was a "learning by doing build" so I thought that it does not
matter if the build will be ugly as long as it works.
So I went on, and hera are some pictures.
I started making the heatszink including extra size for batteri and linear driver.


I had not decided yet if I should press the diode into the heatzink or use an azix module
so I made some measurements on the treading like this

the lenses had 9*0.5 and the azix module had 11*0.5 as treading.
(on the image you can see 2 treads on 1mm and that gives 0.5)

I decided to use the upper part of the azix and started drilling,
using 17mm drill for the batteri space, 12mm for the driver and then 10.5mm the rest
after that I turned the piece and plunged (milling) 12mm diam and around 7mm deep
(about the size of the upper part of the azix).
After this I used a threading tool to make the 11mm treads for the azix.


Some time later I saw that someone on the forum had made a nice focusing ring
so I decided to make one that would be on the top like this.


I decided to make a pressfit for the original focusing ring.
I did it like this




Som more pics coming soon!

Here are most of the parts together


My driver was prepared and soldered to the diod, I had tested it and it was working fine.
Now I decided that I should add a capacitor and a diode 1N4001 so that I also could use rechargeable batteries.

So I did, and tested it, it was still working fine and looked like this


(at this time I am starting to get a bit eager, not mutch left before its done, but at the same time a little sloppy)

Now I could not get the driver through the 11mm hole any longer so I had to desolder the diode, and I had to increase the hole for the driver to 14mm with a drill.
Okey when this was done I put everything together and put in the batteries.



I clicked the button and NOTHING HAPPEND :wtf:
After looking carefully I could see a tiny violet light and nothing more.
I first thought I had damaged the driver when pushing it in, but the driver was fine and the diode was DEAD (RIP)
Normally I use a tiny plier when soldering diods, just to get the heat away from them, but this time "I DID NOT":tsk:

My lessen is that it's just that easy to damage a diode as the veterans on this forum has said in many of the treads.

Now I am waiting for a new 405 diode :drool:
I will post some beamshots when the package from DTR arrives !

Nice Tutorial of your first build...:gj:
Thanks for sharing...


Jerry

Sesam,
Nice work. Check the electrical conductivity between your blue host and the heatsink. You may have to sandpaper the inside of the top of the host to improve conductivity. Good luck.

Thanks lazerbee, and 123splat i will think on that. And thanks
To DTR, it only took 4 days to Sweden this time, I am away this weekend
But i will mount the new 405 next week and make some beamshots.

Finally I am done replacing the damaged diode with a new 405.

It works fine and can also light matches and pop baloons.

I will post some more pics in media, but here is one now.




Here is the link to media section

http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/some-beams-my-first-build-72744.html

Very nice. Have you done a lot of lathe work before? I've entertain the idea of getting a lathe too but it looks like it might take a long time to learn how to use it properly.

DAFUQ?

Cmon man ^^
First build using a lathe , still good although it looks like a man's sausage so what !! :crackup:

@op: Great work , did you do the threads all by yourself ?? get the aluminium match the host anodize it or just put some paint on it !!
love the basic design plan!!
I smiled before clicking the topic first build using a lathe.. i simply love the idea of making hosts that are no way near a flashlight.. although they somehow look like them , in some way!! lOl Keep up the good work and +1 for doing this and sharing it!!
Its a good thing to make mistakes, but know what is better? not making the same mistake ever again!! This machine is so awesome, share some photos of the lathe itself too !!

Great job! Looks like you put alot of effort into the build!

tsteele93 said:

Very nice. Have you done a lot of lathe work before? I've entertain the idea of getting a lathe too but it looks like it might take a long time to learn how to use it properly.

Click to expand...

In 1975 when I was 15 years old we had some lessons in school, I have not used a lathe since then. I actually bought mee a new small lathe 1 week before I started my first build so I guess it is not so hard to learn.
I also bought a small instruktion sheet "How to use a lathe"
Just take it easy in the beginning.

sinner said:

Cmon man ^^
First build using a lathe , still good although it looks like a man's sausage so what !! :crackup:

@op: Great work , did you do the threads all by yourself ?? get the aluminium match the host anodize it or just put some paint on it !!
love the basic design plan!!
I smiled before clicking the topic first build using a lathe.. i simply love the idea of making hosts that are no way near a flashlight.. although they somehow look like them , in some way!! lOl Keep up the good work and +1 for doing this and sharing it!!
Its a good thing to make mistakes, but know what is better? not making the same mistake ever again!! This machine is so awesome, share some photos of the lathe itself too !!

Click to expand...

Yes it was not ment to be beautiful, it was a learn by doing project :thinking:
Hopefully I have learned something.
I will post a Photo on my small lathe in this tread tomorrow,

jeffreythe00 said:

Great job! Looks like you put alot of effort into the build!

Click to expand...

Yes, it took some time but I did not have to redo anything, well exept to replace the overheated diode with a new one.

While waiting for that new diode I started a new build and that is finished now, only the focusing rings are left, yes "one build" became two, when I was machining i thought that I start makeing two of everything while the lathe already was set up with correct tools mounted. This time I choose my batteri so it better fits the host, and I am using flexdrives that are mutch smaller then this first driver, and two 445 M140 from DTR.

This build went mutch easyer and after some time every evening for one week I am almoast done and it has been no problem, but as I sad, I will
make a presentation on these lasers as well.

Man I just saw this thread. I have to say that unit just makes me smile.:crackup:

Great job on your first build even though the unit looks like it may be trying to compensate for something.

Sorry to hear you lost a diode but you sure do have one of the most unique builds I have seen. +2:beer:

Can you say "Red rocked sparky. Red rocket."

Silvershot said:

DAFUQ?

Click to expand...

OP said:

Well this was a "learning by doing build" so I thought that it does not
matter if the build will be ugly as long as it works.

Click to expand...

OP said it was for learning, not perfection.

Someone wanted to see a picture of my lathe and I promised to, so here it is!


Metallsvarv B20-IL - Jula AB

It is china-made I guess and kosts around 8000 SEK