Good job! Success on the first try... Now you can help answer questions for new ones!
Jay

Yeah! And...I'm never going to be so careless and stupid as to ever drop it again!

-Mark

Update: After a while szwholesale emailed me that there was only 1 MXDL side button left, so I had to pick something else for the second... I've received it and is the same, but they sold out now too.

jayrob

How do you make the heatsinks? I bought a husky LED flashlight (I can't seem to find it online, but it is a 1 watt, 65 lumen "led tactical flashlight&quot and I would like ot make it into a laser (PHR-803T). I was wondering if it would be easy for you to make a custom heatsink, or if I have the tools available to me to make one myself. I know I could fashion something out of wood, but that wouldn't conduct heat and would be bad. I can ship you the flashlight if you'd like. It is very easy to take apart, with the whole top section easily screwing out.
Also, would you be able to sell me a flexdrive? The flashlight uses 3x AAA, so I can't use the DDL driver with standard alkaline batteries. It would be easier if I could just buy all my stuff from one source as well.

Thanks,
Andy

I make heatsinks for several different host on my lathe. Each host will differ. At the top of the tutorials section, there is a thread that has many tutorials on different things, including building lasers from specific hosts. I have a couple of tutorials in that list...

In my tutorials, I give links to buying the host, etc...

I sell heatsinks for the builds that I have already researched, or if you have a drawing of your heatsink design with exact measurements, then I would be glad to take a look at it.

The FlexDrive is here:
http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_d..._FlexDrive.php
Jay

How exact do the measurements need to be? I don't have any sort of caliper to measure with. The heatsink I would want would be very similar to the one in this thread (MXDL 'Side Button'). only 3 measurements might change. First, the length of the body. Second, the outer diameter of the largest part, and 3rd, the outer diameter of the little part that sticks up. I have an AixiZ module, so the mounting method and inner diameter would all be the same.
Here are some pictures to help illustrate this (with close measurements, accurate to about .5mm):
The smaller O.D. is 21mm, the larger O.D. is 26mm, and the height is 30mm.

Those changes would be no problem at all.

Sending PM...
Jay

so really I gotta do I connect the postive flexdrive thing to postive thing on the flashlight and negative to negative then connect the postive on the diode to the postive on the flexdrive and negative to negative then put the heatsink on and all done ?

If not what else do ya have to do?

Yes, basically, that's it!

But it is important to understand the FlexDrive and how to set it to the proper current. There is documentation on Dr. Lava's site. You need a test load for this. Putting power to this driver without a load can damage it...

Your first test would be to test the leads from the host to make sure you have the correct voltage. Then connect the driver and test load to set the current desired.
Jay

oh cool !

When I buy one of your heatsinks how much would it cost more to buy a tube of quick set putty which would be enough to make one of these lasers.

Because I want to make a 300mw red laser with this host with all these things

Long open can red laser

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/fo...num=1217045236

stuff needed



driver 430 mA http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_d..._FlexDrive.php 23 US

Heatsink http://www.laserpointerforums.com/fo...num=1217045236 25 US

host http://www.ledshoppe.com/Product/ledp/LP1011.htm 15 US

Module: http://www.mi-lasers.com/cgi-bin/sho...&key=LDC-2 35 us

Adapter http://www.mi-lasers.com/cgi-bin/sho...&key=LDC-2 2 us

100us



So yea thats all I need to make this laser and be red 300mw and is 430ma ok and how much for more a tube of quick set putty if it is a enough to make on if these lasers.

double post

bump

For some reason, I was not getting the e-mail notification that this thread is replied to...

Anyway, first make sure you can get the same host. Then I will sell you the heatsink. At that time, remind me about the putty, and I can include some with the heatsink. N/C
Jay

Hello All,

Looks like this host is available from bestofferbuy.-
http://www.bestofferbuy.com/mxdl-1w-...a-p-14067.html

They bait-and-switched me once before though. I've ordered two and will post back when I receive them. (If they match I'll be ordering a heatsink as well...) *

cheers,
kernelpanic

Sure, just let me know...

I would like to point out that I have found another side button host that is very nice!

I have Host/Heatsink combo kits available with options for a FlexDrive installed with current set as well...
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/fo...m=1238352464/0
Jay

Hello All,
O.K. Bestofferbuy.com was a bait-n-switch. They sent me a different MXDL side button host. I'll post a pic later. It is a nice host and it looks like it would take a heatsink. But it's not what was advertised. (5387) It also does not look like the new jayrob side button host either. (i.e. - There is no heatsink currently available for this host.) This is something different. Also, knowing bestofferbuy.com, if you order the same SKU tomorrow, you'll get something different than what I got! Beware!

cheers,
kernelpanic

Seems like every side button host I try ends up being hard to get the host! :-?

I hope the new one I linked above works out to be readily available, because it is very nice!
Jay

Is there any way to use a Rkcstr micro-drive laser driver for this instead of a flexdrive?

This host is no longer available. (unless you found one somewhere)

I do have a new 'Side Button' combo that is a better host. It uses 3 X AAA batteries as well. It would fit a full length AixiZ module inside. So yes, a rkcstr driver could be used...

Fine, flexible wire is recommended though. Because the driver would be fairly close to the bottom of the pill. Here's the new Side Button Kit:
http://laserpointerforums.com/laser_...ad.php?t=22607
Jay