My first builds thoughts and suggestions Please.

(warning, I ramble on about nothing in particular. It would probably be better if you just not read this.)

Hi LPF Lazerbeak here. I have two of my favorite flashlights, old reliables that have sentimental value.


These are a Streamlight single CR123 Twintask and a Streamlight Nano running at... I don't know. The batteries are tiny there are four. I think they say LB41 Alkaline button battery. Smaller than a watch battery.

Disassembled this is the Twintask...


I have it on good advice that I would be in need of a good machinist/builder who could modify my host to accept a diode and driver. I'm leaning to California locals, but more than happy to work with CONUS machinists. This one seems pretty straight forward, except for the side clicky, which I like. Just putting it out there LPF.

Edit... Incidentally the Twintask has two modes, LED and Halogen I think. It would be cool to have 2 diodes of different colors


The second host is a little different and I think a bit of a challenge. It uses 4 alkaline button batteries and THE PILL IS TINY! sorry. Well it's really small. It turns on and off by twisting the head and I've had it a long time. I think direct driving the diode is all there is room for but Man, do they even have diodes that small? I don't know if a machinist would even bother with this. I might just end up drilling it out if need be. It will probably stick out quite a bit when done, but I just think it would be cool.

Edit 5/8/13

Ok, I couldn't take it anymore. My 5mw Radio Shack red kept staring at me "I have a diode, I have a diode" Ok, not really, that'd be crazy, but anyway, I extracted the diode. I used a vise and a visegrip to break the head free from the host body a delicate procedure which ended up snapping a corner off the driver board.

Where the driver and LD met was completely sealed in some sort of epoxy/glue type stuff which didn't respond well to being removed. Time to whip out the trusty Dremel. Once the horrible alien crap was removed...

"What the $$&# are you looking at? Get me the #$@* out of here!"


I snipped the board up to the solder points considering I am going to try direct driving the diode. I'm hoping the 4 alkaline batteries will = the voltage of the 2 x AAA's. I most likely destroyed the diode during my very careful extraction process. We'll see tonight

Here's the carnage...


Edit 5/8/13

I forgot all about these cheapo flashlight/laserpointers. You can find them sometimes in convenience stores. As the Twintask is a dual mode side clicky, I'd much rather experiment with these than damage my old standby.



I think I'm going to actually keep the LEDs (change the color to blue to match the 445nm LD) The other host is Red so a Red LD and LEDs.



I think I'll pick up about 4 or 5 more of these so I can play with the Knife Edge Array and not burn out my eyes



Wear your Goggles

Update...

Before I start figuring out what I'm going to do with these parts, I just wanted to show everyone what's inside these cheapo laser/flashlight combos...


It's interesting how the Streamlight and cheapo combo are different. The Streamlight has a nice knurled ring to hold the pill, most on the parts on the imports are just glued and pressure fit, actually more interesting than the radio shack 5mw (may she rest in peace) The cheapo actually has a small free floating diode just held on by wires, one of which has a resistor, I think for the LEDs. I don't really know but this vid make me consider the possibility. Even learned Ohms Law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NC2IGVWUew&list=LLQkWQg3ZBE-3fduDWaVkNIg In checking the pill I determined that the body is positive as the negative for the 4 button batteries touches the center of the pill.



Quite awesome actually. I forgot all about these cheapo lights/lasers I can buy 10 for the price of one Radio Shack and they have side clicky switches and an unmounted red laser diode. and one of those 4 x AAA battery barrels. I'm gonna scratch the idea of trying to use the Radio Shack diode as this one will work much better.

"He's dead Jim" RIP little 5mw Radio Shack Laser

update...

It is as I suspected. I'll have to dremel out the head of the Nano a bit for the diode to fit through, but much better than the radio shack diode. This might work as long as the voltage is enough. Been learning soldering and multimeter reading. Maybe not ready just yet. Maybe I'll have the nerve tomorrow Oh as a side note, the similarity between the regular flashlight "hosts" and the Nano are quite interesting. The Nano actually has a pill and a metal ring that touches the LED lead and the host body and a lead in the direct center which touches the battery. Trippy :thinking:.



Update... 5/9/13

Under closer examination, the pill set up for the Nano is pretty interesting. No soldering, originally the leads from the LED were just put through the 2 holes in the pill one on the side in the center. There is a metal ring placed over the lead on the side to link it to the host body for a positive charge, since the center is negative. I tried to power up both the extracted LED ring and LD. Both work. Yay

The LD has some pretty ugly soldering, nothing like the stuff in this video here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIT4ra6Mo0s

I'm going to slow down since I know the diode is working for now. Just to practice the basics I will tin some wires and desolder the diode. I have three more of these flashlights, but I'm just so gun shy about soldering. We'll see... BTW Bionic Badger made a great post reviewing what I believe is a very similar diode although he got his up to 15mw at 3v. My multimeter says 1.7v from the 4AAA battery barrel that came with the host. The warning label says .62mw. I have a strange Idea, I don't think I have room, but at some point I want to try out a voltage multiplier circuit I found http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep3D_LC2UzU that along with this video about voltage regulators http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSzVs7_aW-Y has inspired me to buy some parts from RS

I'm done for now, up all night on the Forum is making me late for work

Incidentally, I think I shall call the Twintask and the Nano Dr. Evil & MiniMe



Update 5/11/13

Decided to hand file the opening for the LD for the Nano ((MiniMe). I also sanded the paint off. I have been in communication with brilliant and talented Mr. Crouse. As a fan of his work, I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with for the Twintask (Dr. Evil) :eg:

If anyone is interested in learning the basics of linear and switching mode drivers, here's a simple explanation...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM7t1Mpu7s4

Update 5/11/13

Success! Mini Me Lives! Just thought I'd share.




LOL


photo etiquette compliant



Thanks for looking,

~ LB

Good luck on your build, LB. You can hardly go wrong by using Flaminpyro(Jeff), or Jayrob for your heatsink machining. For my personal custom host build, I used JayRob, and I was very pleased with the results. The heatsink weighs over 100gr! I have talked with Jeff about a custom copper one for my vintage build.

Can't wait to see the results.

Thank you SBA I appreciate the help. I was considering FlamingPyro I like his work. I will check out JayRob too.

I used JayRob, and I was very pleased with the results. The heatsink weighs over 100gr!

Click to expand...

Wow, that thing is massive!

I have talked with Jeff about a custom copper one for my vintage build.

Click to expand...

Vintage build? Hmm, should prove interesting. I look forward to seeing that

I have an idea too for something interesting once I actually build something Can't let you all have all the fun

I like your work Sir, look forward to seeing more :beer:

~ LB

Oh, you will...Did you see your PM inbox yet?

scumbagatheist said:

Oh, you will...Did you see your PM inbox yet?

Click to expand...

:drool:

Got the PM... That's some gooood lazer porn there my friend

Perhaps some Marinara sauce and parmesean is in order too. You know invoke the greater powers like the Flying ********* Monster

~ LB

Edit...

That's weird :thinking: I guess the admins don't like pasta...

PM me the link, I'd like to see what was censored.

scumbagatheist said:

PM me the link, I'd like to see what was censored.

Click to expand...

Sorry edited the previous post.

That's your porn man :bowdown: PM sent.

:beer:

~ LB

This one??

scumbagatheist said:

This one??

Click to expand...

That's the one!

BEAST MODE ON!!!

~ LB

P.S. Apparently the kindly god of pasta has been banned

Invoke not his Name! ~ the admin