Tutorial - My 'Pocket Pal' Blu-ray Laser!

jayrob · Sep 4, 2008

lamborgini8 said:
The LEDs are off and that didnt make sence.

Before I took them off I connected some crocodile clips up to the spring and the rectangle bit of solder on the outer edge of the board. The LEDs powered up then.

Thats why I am wondering how the driver is connected, the picture only shows 1 wire connected to the same place as the LEDs were.

I dont even know if the driver is meant to be connected paralell or series.

What sk8 is explaining, is that after you de-solder all of the LED's, you will have two 'circles' of holes in the board. An inner circle of holes, and an outer circle of holes.

Any hole in the outer circle, is negative. And any hole in the inner circle is positive. So, just solder a wired from the driver negative, to one of the outer holes, and from the driver positive, to one of the inner holes.

The 4 solder 'bumps' on the outer edge of the board, are also negative. Those are what the thin metal washer will rest against when you screw the host to the head. This is how the host (battery negative) connects to the negative side of the board.
Jay

thesk8nmidget · Sep 4, 2008

thanks for explaining that jay i was having trouble thinking of the right words to make it understandable.. i think you got it though!

lamborgini8 · Sep 4, 2008

jayrob said:
[quote author=lamborgini8 link=1213338268/60#75 date=1220539254]
The LEDs are off and that didnt make sence.

Before I took them off I connected some crocodile clips up to the spring and the rectangle bit of solder on the outer edge of the board. The LEDs powered up then.

Thats why I am wondering how the driver is connected, the picture only shows 1 wire connected to the same place as the LEDs were.

I dont even know if the driver is meant to be connected paralell or series.

What sk8 is explaining, is that after you de-solder all of the LED's, you will have two 'circles' of holes in the board. An inner circle of holes, and an outer circle of holes.

Any hole in the outer circle, is negative. And any hole in the inner circle is positive. So, just solder a wired from the driver negative, to one of the outer holes, and from the driver positive, to one of the inner holes.

The 4 solder 'bumps' on the outer edge of the board, are also negative. Those are what the thin metal washer will rest against when you screw the host to the head. This is how the host (battery negative) connects to the negative side of the board.
Jay[/quote]

Ah right, ok. That made more sence.

Sefrez · Sep 8, 2008

I love that Les Paul Custom you have in the picture background.

toked323 · Sep 9, 2008

Just an FYI for some people, I went to store and picked up an identical "looking" flashlight, but the head inside is smaller and the head doesnt unscrew.

jayrob · Sep 10, 2008

Sefrez said:
I love that Les Paul Custom you have in the picture background.

Thanks! Ibanez mid 70's 'law suit' guitar... Looks and plays so much like a Gibson (or better), that they got sued over it!

toked323 said:
Just an FYI for some people, I went to store and picked up an identical "looking" flashlight, but the head inside is smaller and the head doesnt unscrew.

Yep... there are many 'look alike' hosts. You have to make sure that the head unscrews form the body to be able to modify it into a laser.

I put a link to the specific brand and model number of my blue Pocket Pal host at the top of this thread... And of course, the sku 46 host from DX is good too. But the heatsinks for these two hosts, are slightly different. If you want a heatsink, first make sure what host you have...
Jay

caleb · Sep 12, 2008

iv bought a blu-ray diode (803t) and im not sure how safe im going to be.
i realy only want a vissible beam, so how many mw until my eyes are in danger?
and what current would that be.

can i run it at ~50mw

EDIT: i dont have a heatsink, only a module. so i guess it cant be run at high currents for too long if i want any good lifespan.

jayrob · Sep 12, 2008

According to DrLava's graph:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1210649211

...65mA's will give you around 50mW's. But as far as a visible beam, you will need smoke. If you have 100mW's or 110mW's, it's much better. Then you will probably be able to see the beam in the night sky!

50mW's can damage your eyes just as easily as 100mW's. You just have to be careful and not get a direct reflection. For me, I only use eye protection when trying to focus and burn. I really don't use the blu-ray's for burning. I just like them in the dark for the efflorescence and stuff...
Jay

LRMNmeyer · Sep 12, 2008

This should be fine to run with 1.2V NIMH rechargables right?
EDIT: Just got my heatsink from you, Jay, much smaller then I expected. Was the set screw supposed to be packaged with it? Or is it from the host?

jayrob · Sep 13, 2008

Yes, 3 X 1.2 volt rechargeable AAA batteries will work perfectly with the FlexDrive.

The set screw (which is for the module), is in the side of the heatsink. It is very unlikely that it fell out. I put the set screws in place immediately after threading. If it some how got lost, I can send you another one...
Jay

freshert · Sep 13, 2008

Just finished my laser, thanks for the tutorial Jay! There's a slight problem though, the thin washer doesn't seem to make good contact with the host. How can I fix this? The laser dims or turns off, when i shake it a bit, it turns back on... :-?

daguin · Sep 13, 2008

freshert said:
Just finished my laser, thanks for the tutorial Jay! There's a slight problem though, the thin washer doesn't seem to make good contact with the host. How can I fix this? The laser dims or turns off, when i shake it a bit, it turns back on... :-?

Push it down tighter. I use a socket (the kind used to tighten bolts) of the correct size to push the whole washer down at once. If it continues to "come loose" then after you push it down tight, add a drop or two of glue to keep it in place.

Peace,
dave

freshert · Sep 13, 2008

daguin said:
[quote author=freshert link=1213338268/80#90 date=1221323581]Just finished my laser, thanks for the tutorial Jay! There's a slight problem though, the thin washer doesn't seem to make good contact with the host. How can I fix this? The laser dims or turns off, when i shake it a bit, it turns back on... :-?

Push it down tighter. I use a socket (the kind used to tighten bolts) of the correct size to push the whole washer down at once. If it continues to "come loose" then after you push it down tight, add a drop or two of glue to keep it in place.

Peace,
dave[/quote]
Thanks for the tip, hopefully it will work!

daguin · Sep 13, 2008

freshert said:
The laser dims or turns off, when i shake it a bit, it turns back on... :-?

I've been sitting here, giggling, for the last few minutes with the picture in my head, of you shaking your laser to get the light to come out ;D

Peace,
dave

Spyderz20x6 · Sep 13, 2008

daguin said:
[quote author=freshert link=1213338268/80#90 date=1221323581] The laser dims or turns off, when i shake it a bit, it turns back on... :-?

I've been sitting here, giggling, for the last few minutes with the picture in my head, of you shaking your laser to get the light to come out ;D

Peace,
dave[/quote]
Like one of those shake flashlights? ;D

daguin · Sep 13, 2008

Spyderz20x6 said:
[quote author=daguin link=1213338268/80#93 date=1221325606][quote author=freshert link=1213338268/80#90 date=1221323581] The laser dims or turns off, when i shake it a bit, it turns back on... :-?

I've been sitting here, giggling, for the last few minutes with the picture in my head, of you shaking your laser to get the light to come out ;D

[/quote]
Like one of those shake flashlights? ;D[/quote]

No. More like trying to shake the last bits of catsup or mustard out of the bottle

<shake, shake, shake>
<look into the opening>
<frown>
<shake some more>
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Peace, (really)
dave

Tutorial - My 'Pocket Pal' Blu-ray Laser!

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