Micro-Drive laser driver by rkcstr

I thought about it originally, when I was making my site, but I never did. And, I haven't really thought much about it since.

It's a good idea and I may do it some time.

I've been waiting for my last order since the 16th of April. NO worry's though just slightly put out.

That leads me to say that in the comming years when Dr. Ryan is fixing up patients were going to have
to source some other drivers :'( :'( :'(. Maybe he'll pass the tourch to meeeee!

I'm guess you're international (outside of the US)? I've really been disappointed by the US Postal Service lately with their international shipping. Priority and Express services are fine, but the First Class International service has been really unreliable, inconsistent and frustrating for you and me both. In the past, most people would tell me they'd get their packages in about 5 days consistently, all over the world. But now, some people still get them in about a week, but others are waiting, 2, 3, 4, 8 weeks, maybe more, for their items.

So, moral of the story: if you can afford it, do the Priority Mail International. If you're patient (and cheap ;D) then you can stick with First Class International.

Anyway, I'm still in the process of getting some drivers factory assembled. It would probably be somewhere around 500-1000 of them, so there would be plenty to last a while. I'll be pretty busy in the coming months (well, rest of the year, too), but if I can just stuff an envelope, it should be manageable.

But, that will mean that I won't have a huge variety of offerings either. Probably only the Test Load (I'm hoping to have those manufactured as well) and full-range adjustable driver. I may not offer kits anymore (they take time to cut up the boards/parts and bag them), possibly no fixed value drivers (maybe in a partly assembled form with solder-your-own resistors) or other ranges. I will still have the parts for the other ranges that I can sell separately for you to modify, but I won't have time to actually change them myself.

I may get some "partly" assembled, like the fixed value drivers with no setting resistors soldered on and/or the adjustable drivers without the pot/resistors for those who were not interested in the full-range drivers to make what they want by soldering on the necessary parts. But, that will depend on if the manufacturer will allow for a reasonable price for leaving some of the parts off of a small number of boards or not.

But, like I said, my time will be really limited, so I'm doing my best to come up with options that will still accomodate customization while also being time efficient for me. If anyone has any other ideas for me, feel free to share!

Announcement, posted in post #2:

05/09/2009:
The manufacturer has contacted me and is working on a quote for assembly of the drivers. Once I have a cost, I will revise my current prices. If the cost is reasonably low, then I will likely lower prices. I don't expect the cost for assembly to be very high, so in all likelihood, I WILL lower prices! No word yet on when I may have any more available for sale, but I'm trying to make them available ASAP. Also, once I get assembly arranged and in process, I will probably be holding a "pre-sale" to cover costs, but selling them with a PRE-SALE DISCOUNT! Keep your eyes open for that

i got my adjustable drivers a few days ago and im having trouble with one of them.

i soldiered a phr diode to one of the drives and the diode barely lit up, i tried turning the pot up but there was barely a noticeable difference and i didnt want to turn it up too much because i was scared i might fry the diode.

i put it down and it suddenly lit up a bright blue beam, i checked my soldiering again but it was perfect, i re soldiered it again anyway but again it was either a bright beam >80mW as it burned well or <1mW as it was not visible at 1ft.

i found that gently tapping the driver would make it work if it was dim.

i soldiered the same diode onto the other driver and it works flawlessly.
i then soldiered an open can 20x 650nm diode to the first driver and it did exactly the same thing.

i have checked the soldering on the driver and i cant see any fault, do you have any idea what is causing this? i can post pics tommorow if you want.

Sounds like you may have an intermittent connection on the driver somewhere. My best guess would be the pot. If you can, take a close look at the 3 points at which it is soldered to the board and make sure they have good connection. But, most likely the problem would be internal, meaning if the pot is damaged inside and not making good contact to it's resistance tracks.

You can send it back and I'll replace the pot. Or, if you feel you are able, I can mail a new one to you to replace.

Are you currently shipping drivers? I'm not having much luck receiving a driver. thanks Edit: Rkcstr will be shipping drivers soon. I found out from his website that he's waiting to get them in stock.

Good, I will probably need another one

i want to buy one with 101 ma to germany

Sorry guys... don't have any to sell at the moment. It's been a very long waiting game just to get a quote for assembly and it allowed me to run out of PCBs while I waited.

I hope to have that figured out soon (as soon as they get back to me), but I'm also trying to just get an order for more PCBs submitted (bare boards). Unfortunately, that has been delayed as I can't do final fit testing (I've updated the design slightly) until I get back to my apartment because I've been stuck waiting on car repairs in another state (the past week in my "hometown") until hopefully today or tomorrow.

So, I'm not gone, haha. I'm still here and still trying to get things worked out so that there is plenty of my drivers and such to go around. It's just taking some time and I've also been busy studying for my USMLE (AKA 'Step 1' or 'Boards') coming up, which is one of the most important and difficult exams of my life... so, I should be studying RIGHT NOW

good luck with the car and tests ryan..

Good luck with those exams. Hope you get the manufacturer thing straightened out too!

Well, the manufacturer that I contacted about a month ago about production of my drivers doesn't seem to be going anywhere very quickly, so I contacted the company that I've used before for my PCBs about assembly as well. Hopefully I'll hear back from them tomorrow and get something going very soon.... I know a lot of people here are waiting and I am too.

I'm currently finalizing costs for the assembly of my driver. I hope to have a definite cost within the next few days.

Here are the changes that are to be expected for what I will have to offer:
- The assembled driver will utilize a newly updated PCB that has clearer labeling, updated layout to improve ease of use, holes in the output pads to allow for simpler soldering of wires between the laser diode and driver (and thru-hole connections to bottom pads) and one less part to simplify kit assembly and reduce costs (the reverse diode on the output).

- Offerings will consist of:
1. Assembled full-range (30-430mA) drivers
2. Limited offering of fixed-current driver kits (only about 100 will be available)
3. Adjustable driver kits of ALL old ranges (full, low, high, 6x).
4. Test load KITS ONLY. No assembled test loads for the time being.

- Availability will NO LONGER be intermittent due to my schedule. Since drivers are assembled, it will allow me to merely stick them in an envelope and mail! I'll still be limited to how often I can stuff envelopes, but hopefully no more than a few days.*

Once I get costs finalized and new prices figured out, I will be holding a PRE-SALE for the drivers (assembled, full-range) at a DISCOUNTED price! It will be an opportunity for those of you who have been waiting so patiently to get your order in early AND save some money The pre-sale will go on to help cover assembly and other associated costs as I will be having a large amount of drivers made at once.

I appreciate all of you who have been so understanding and patient! Your (and my) interest in this hobby helps to support me in my education!

*EDIT: Just wanted to add, there may be times where I'm either out of town or will have a block of time that I can't mail out anything. So, basically, I should say that there will be far fewer times of lack of availability.

Yay for rckster! Cant wait

Congratz on getting the production issue sorted out, now you will probably get even more orders. :gj: Ill be down for some as soon as the pre sale starts