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Newbie looking for a cheap DIY LPM tutorial

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ZeroLaser

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Does anyone know of a DIY LPM tutorial that a beginner could use without ending up with a big price tag?
 





ARG

ARG

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What's your budget?

My ARGMeter's are coming out open source for DIY very soon, but they will cost you >100$ to DIY a TEC version.
xd1JUP9.jpg


You can DIY this for >50$
http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/diy-thermal-lpm-under-50-a-51129.html
 
Z

ZeroLaser

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well i actually meant watts, but if there is performance plateau where you can get much more accuracy than that for the same price then i would definitely want the greatest accuracy for the same price. Lol

i just need something to ball park it for the moment.
 
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ARG

ARG

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The accuracy depends on the calibration, which can't be done on your own without an LPM (you can use a laser that you had metered by someone else)
 
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Z

ZeroLaser

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i apologize, but i am rather new....what is involved in calibration? other than just using a standard to adjust the reading.
 
ARG

ARG

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laserlight84 said:
i apologize, but i am rather new....what is involved in calibration? other than just using a standard to adjust the reading.
Click to expand...

You take a stable laser lab laser, point it at a calibrated LPM, take note of the reading then point it at the uncalibrated LPM and set the the correct gain on the Opamp.

k3Xo3zm.jpg
 
Z

ZeroLaser

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ok, well that sounds simple enough. :) i can do that....i think. Thanks. :)

Now, i just need to find a super cheap kit/tutorial. i am working on shoe string budget. :(
 
ARG

ARG

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laserlight84 said:
ok, well that sounds simple enough. :) i can do that....i think. Thanks. :)

Now, i just need to find a super cheap kit/tutorial. i am working on shoe string budget. :(
Click to expand...

Can you put a number to your budget?
 
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Z

ZeroLaser

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i was hoping to find a more detailed tutorial possibly with a parts list AND where to pick them up, but if that is all there is then i guess i will just have to figure it out. :/ when will your $100.00 LPMs be available?
 
ARG

ARG

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They are 100$ to DIY, they will be sold at 150$. Available in a week or two.

You can pick up all of that on digikey.
 
Z

ZeroLaser

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Ok, well thank you for the tips and tolerating my noobness

will there be instructions for your DIY? what tooling will it require? any software compilers our anything like that?
 
ARG

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Working on instructions. Requires a soldering iron and a computer with internet connection.
 
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