Heres a few pictures of me playing around with an experimental build. It's more me just trying to learn and figure out things for myself. I machined a heatsink to fit into a small mag light housing and I made the focusing adjustment and lens holder. I did learn a lot playing around. This wasnt a serious attempt at building but more learning. I have a couple questions if someone here can be kind enough to answer. If you look at the beam dot there is a weird line going across it. I'm not sure what it causing it. It's not in the lens. I'm thinking maybe it's a reflection from inside the focusing adapter mits made from bronze. Second question. I'm using a diode from a DVD burner. I cannot get it ant more powerful with my test driver (lm317). I cannot see the beam and the dot doesn't put out any heat. At least none that I can feel. Am I not supplying enough current? Either way im enjoying working on it. I'm kinda of a DIY person so if I can machine the parts and make any of it myself I do so because i enjoy it. And it saves me lots of money.
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