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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

First 450nm build PLTB450 (with pics)

Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
358
Points
28
Hello! :yh:

Today I finished my 450nm laser! The decision of make a DIY laser was done here and the full project was developed here

I got all the most important parts from China, with Aliexpress. All the parts took about 3 months to arrive!

The LD is a PLTB450 of 1,4W, driven at 1,2A by a LM338.
The module is a 33x33x50mm heatsink with three element glass lens.

Firstly it was intended to be assembled into a wood board, with all the components mounted on it, but since I killed my first LD, was a Nichia NDB7412T of 1W driven at 1A by a LM317.

Original project:
P1460260.JPG


This bad thing freaked me, I was too nervous that I preferred start a new project from scratch. I already received the module at this moment, this helped me design all precisely.

Here the new design:
designs.png


I got all the parts needed for the driver and assembled a MDF box, the heatsink will be bellow the box:
P1460871.JPG


The LM338 is press-glued into the heatsink, this driver have a current selection switch, that can be 1,2A or 200mA, at 200mA the output is very weak, and safer, can't burn anything when focused, at 1,2A the output is insanely bright, burn anything, and the beam is clearly visible, and beautiful. :beer:

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Let's start!

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Here the LD:
P1460931.JPG

P1460936.JPG

P1460939.JPG


Instalation:
P1460940.JPG

P1460941.JPG


First run, at 200mA, is a very thin bean, characteristic of PLTB450:
P1460942.JPG


Focused dot, low power:
P1460951.JPG


High power:
P1460952.JPG


I didn't care about divergence, those shots above are at 8~12m.

Here the whole laser assembled:
P1460948.JPG

P1460949.JPG


And here, a beam shot, since my home is under construction, there's a lot of dust in the air:
P1460954.JPG

P1460955.JPG


That's all shots I have, I hope you liked it, that's my first blue laser build.

When night comes, I'll take more beam shots.

:thanks: :beer:
 
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Joined
May 1, 2011
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Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

Wow 3 months! You must be very satisfied that you finally got to complete it :)
Nice mix of metal and wood there.
 
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
358
Points
28
Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

Good Job! :beer:

Thank you!

Wow 3 months! You must be very satisfied that you finally got to complete it
Nice mix of metal and wood there.

Yes! Every part took 1 month to arrive (excluding weekends).
Thank you! :beer:

Now is night! Time to get some fun! :yh:
 

Pman

0
Joined
Nov 28, 2012
Messages
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Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

Looks like a fun first build. Betting you dont plan your next to take another 3 months:)
 
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
358
Points
28
Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

Awesome looking build! Loving that color also

Thank you!

Looks like a fun first build. Betting you dont plan your next to take another 3 months :)

Yes, was a fun build :yh: I was a bit impatient because of our customs scan that are slowwww!!!!

I'll keep budget for my house.

Now I see that the PLTB450 don't stay lasing at 200mA, when it's cold it lase, but when warm, it slowly goes to LED, not completelly, but the dot still visible.

At night this laser is scary! Visible beam in the sky, like a solid line, everything that touch it will burn.
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
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83
Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

Pretty cool, +1 because I like box builds!
 
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
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Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

Hello all laser geeks out there! I have an important question concerning a project. I'm going to build an1.5 - 2w m140 445nm with a g2 lens. But I need the heat sink to be really small( narrow) and I need a host to be small. All the ones I've seen so far are much to large for my project. Any suggestions?? I would pay for such a build. P.s. I also need it to be focus variable and power variable. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

thanks - crazypersondontmindme
 

ru124t

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Joined
Jan 17, 2014
Messages
555
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Re: First 450nm build (with pics)

I really like your build!!! + rep
 
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
358
Points
28
Re: First 450nm build (with pics)


I really like your build!!! + rep

Thanks! :beer:

---------------

The LM338 have thermal protection? If yes, I can extend the max duty cycle for it.
The laser heatsink don't heat much at full power, I think < 30ºC at 15 min of continuous run time is fine.
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
358
Points
28
I changed the minimum current to 300mA, at this current, the output is weak, but still lasing.

Looking to the beam at low power I can see a lot of purple light together with a little amount of blue, at high power the beam is almost blue, but still a bit of purple light on it.

I think this is caused by the little difference in wavelength from 405nm to 450nm with a bit of wavelength shift caused by the higher current.

I'm new to blue lasers and never seen one before, so, I'm curious about this color. I think how beautiful must a 473nm laser be! :yh:
 




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