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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

[Pic Heavy] My DIY LPM!

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Mar 22, 2011
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Hey all! So this post will be added to when I can get some pictures and all that :)

First and foremost, I'd be a fool if I did not thank [COLOR="Dark_Orchid"]Jufran88[/COLOR]. He helped me so much with this. He sold me 2 boards that he used in his LPM for a very reasonable price and answered all my questions and helped me troubleshoot. He really is a stand-up forum member! Check out his stuff, its really great!

A note on his boards. He had them made for use with smd components, but I used some through hole parts soldered to the pads seeing as that's all I had. Works like a charm :)

Here are some photos of the build!

6853428997_dd8382bbe2_z.jpg


As you can see the mounting hole was cut a little too long vertically in the upper left corner of the panel meter. My dad got a little carried away with the reciprocating saw...

6853433295_bddcb91d9a_z.jpg


I like this switch. It's sturdy! But it has a big 3/4" mounting hole.

6853450395_5688c68358_z.jpg


Here's the audio jack and plug used to connect the TEC to the amp

6853446681_f3010fbc5d_z.jpg


Theres the TEC. I secured the wires with some epoxy and thermally adhered the peltier to the big ol' heatsink.

6853442025_eb5a5a09ba_z.jpg


There's the meter up and running!

6853451623_0118f7d4ff_z.jpg


This photo is just because I wanted to sneak a beamshot in here :) The meter was still going up, but the fog kinda hinders that. Anyway, I like the photo so its in here :)

Here are some videos of it!

Here's the LPM Turning On. I had just switched rooms so it isn't zeroed properly until the test. But it does zero!


Here's a test with it using my 428mA LPC-815 Aurora C6. I cut off the end a little short since it goes to 256 and stays there



You may be asking yourself/me how I can know if the measurements are right. Valid question. A while back I got some lasers from Lazerer and got the Power Certificate. I used those for calibration under the same circumstances that they were tested under.
In the end, both lasers come in at their marks consistently!
Also, all lasers I have tested that I have built all come in at around what their "mA to mW" show for each diode. So I'd say I got it pretty good. not to toot my own horn :)

The display is not as deep green as the video shows, but it's still nice. I kinda like its simple color. It's more of a yellow-green color.

Instead of opting for the $30 custom 8x8mm TEC Peltier Jufran used, I found an 12x12mm TEC with less couples on eBay for less than $7! It works just the same, but the final reading takes a little bit longer to achieve. The seller also has 8x8mm ones, but they have a low coupling count.

TEC. It's not the same one I have, I can't find that. But this one is 15mm x 15mm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-2V-2-8W-..._Equipment&hash=item1e695a8624#ht_2212wt_1141

Voltmeter
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Mini-...847?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1517830f

This whole build cost me about $40 in total parts. Definitely happy with the quality for the money. It'll satisfy my measurements to a "good idea" until I buy a professional LPM.

I might build another one at some point with the other board and spare parts I have. But for now I love this thing :) The only thing I'd change would be the TEC and Voltmeter display color :)

:thanks: for the help, Jufran88!

Lemme know what you think!
 
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Well done! I'm glad it all worked out. That's a nice huge heat sink you mounted the TEC too. :beer:
 
Joined
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Nice job on your DIY LPM...:beer:

Is your circuit using a dual rail supply or a
single rail supply like the $50 DIY LPM circuit
by MarioMaster...:thinking:


Jerry
 
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Well I run it off of a single 9V battery so I guess that makes it a single rail! Unless I'm sadly, sadly, sadly mistaken :)



Thanks man!

Yeah... that would be a single rail like the $50 DIY LPM
by MarioMaster.
The only problem is that after doing a few High Power
Laser tests and the Heatsink starts to warm up you
won't be able to zero the meter anymore...


Jerry
 
Last edited:
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Yeah... that would be a single rail like the $50 DIY LPM
by MarioMaster.
The only problem is that after doing a few High Power
Laser tests and the Heatsink starts to warm up you
won't be able to zero the meter anymore...


Jerry

Yeah I realize it does heat up. But I give it breaks after a few. And my highest power laser is ~260mW so I imagine it won't be too big of an issue.
It will suffice until I can afford a real one :)
 
Joined
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Yeah I realize it does heat up. But I give it breaks after a few. And my highest power laser is ~260mW so I imagine it won't be too big of an issue.
It will suffice until I can afford a real one :)

At those powers you should not have that Zeroing problem...:beer:
I was referring to >1Watt Lasers..

Jerry
 
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Joe Mo

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Re: My DIY LPM!

I love that heatsink, I have the same one. It looks very cool with the copper "cooling pipes"
 
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Re: My DIY LPM!

VERY nicely done on such a low budget build, looks like it works great; Congrats!
 
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Nice job! Looks awesome.

Thanks, man :)

GREAT JOB! I might start looking into a building one.

I'd say go for it. It isn't really that bad! calibrating only takes a little while if you have a known output laser!

At those powers you should not have that Zeroing problem...:beer:
I was referring to >1Watt Lasers..

Jerry

Yeah I'm not going to be dipping my toes into +500mW for a little while. Just a little too powerful for my taste. Plus multimode diodes don't really appeal to me. I may jump on a 12x 405 though!

I love that heatsink, I have the same one. It looks very cool with the copper "cooling pipes"

Yeah my dad had it laying around. He's a computer builder as a hobbyist and didnt need it. I had to clip off and file down some of the tubes on one side to get it to stand upright. But I'll explain that when I update the OP with some pictures later on :)

VERY nicely done on such a low budget build, looks like it works great; Congrats!

Thanks man! I really love it. I enjoy taking time to make clean builds :) just makes it that much more satisfying!
 
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Very nice build! You happen to have a few photo's of the unit?

The calibration accuracy depends on the stability of the laser, but it is definately a valid way to do a calibration.
 
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Re: My DIY LPM!

Very nice build! You happen to have a few photo's of the unit?

The calibration accuracy depends on the stability of the laser, but it is definately a valid way to do a calibration.

I'll be takin some photos of it tonight! So keep on the l'll update the OP with them.
Yeah, obviously it isn't 100% accurate, but I can like with 95% ish. It seems to give a good idea of power :)
 




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