Need Help and Advice

Hi my name is Sam. I have recently been fascinated by powerful laser that are super bright and are powerful enough to burn things. I would like to make one of these lasers. Wether it be red, green, blue. I just want it to be powerful. I want to be able to light matches and pop balloons. I want to make at least 100mW laser the right way where it will last. If I could make more powerful such as 200mW please tell me.

I would like to know what I will need to make this laser. I have saw others designs with the Dorcy flashlight and I like it. That is the type of design I am looking for. I would like to know what you would suggest for a complete set of supplies to build this laser. Note Blue Ray diodes are not out of the picture. If you could list the final price for the supplies needed that would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a thread that's a heck of a good start, and its right at the top of this section:

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1218324818

Be careful, these things are addictive... one will never be enough ;D

I read that. I am confused on what I should make a blue laser or a 20x red laser. Which could I make cheaper and would burn the best. Is it possible to make a green. Is the red brighter then the blue how far will they shine. I also would like to know how I set up the drive for voltage I don't understand it. I also would like to know about dark horses heatsinks and where they go in dorcy flashlight.

Wow a blue or Green laser ;D and making it yourself too. J/K

Dont think anyone here can teach you to make a green or blue laser. the price for a diode alone will be able to get you 2-3 lasers

You can make more powerful laser than 200mw, but its most likely to be a Red laser. because of its value and its widely available.
To pop balloons and light matches a red Violet or green would be able to do it, depending on your diode, and the power its running at and how you adjust your beam.

Diode= The laser diode of your choice. $18-$30 for a Red or Blu Ray diode

Driver= The driver is Important and you need to get a good one. Its used to drive your diode, and it can be adjusted to output more power into your diode. You can have one built at a set power output or buy a adjustable one that you can control the power output.[highlight] $5-$21[/highlight]

Host= Torch or somthing which you will be building your laser into. [highlight]$depends on your choice[/highlight]

Module= To put your diode in and adjust the beam. [highlight]$4-$6[/highlight]
Heatsink= To put your diode in too spread the heat and keep your diode cool [highlight]$20+[/highlight]
Battery= Depending on the driver and host you use, you might need special battery to be able to power your laser and driver. [highlight]$5-15[/highlight]

After reading all this, my question to you is. Do you want to build a laser???? or just to own a Laser????
You can have a laser built for you by alot of people here on the forum for abit more than the cost price, but atleast you can specify what things you want to use or buy a used one for a good price.
My suggestion is to just buy one made from somone on the forum such as JayRob. He sells lasers
and he makes his own heatsink too. Because making your own laser will require you to understand how to build it and how the parts you use work. You might think you know and but everything and try to build it and when you finish turn it on and it doesn't lase and by that stage you would of wasted alot of many. Cause building a laser doesnt just require you to buy he items to build the laser, you need to buy tools to make it with. eg Soldering Iron, Soldering wire, Electrical wire, Glue, Small tip tools to open and take things apart and tweezers etc etc etc etc
So you see, It cost more than you really think, and is harder than what you really see.

Basically everything you need you will find it in the Buy,Sell and Trade section. I Hope this helps you out abit.



Tommy

Thanks I appreciate you advice. And answers to my questions. I have read the forums about lasers I know what I need now. I will also take a look a jay robs lasers