Hey all! I was excited to find an entire forum dedicated to lasers! First, a short introduction. I was a US Navy nuclear power plant operator for 12 years. I got out in order to spend more time with my 3 boys. They are all active in Scouts so I get to go camping on a semi regular basis. I've always wanted to start a fire with a laser but never really took the time to figure out how to do so. I've slapped together a couple of simple LED flashlights and bought several more online with way more power than those you find in the store. I have boxes of salvage stashed around my house (never know you need something until after you throw it away) and I realized I have at least half a dozen old computer 16x or faster DVD R/ RWs laying about, an old laser printer, and heat sinks galore. Figured now is as good a time as any to put them to use!
Started research on instructables and youtube and wound up here. Now I've been reading for the past couple days and think I'm ready to launch my own build. I need to go ahead and order a couple of things (safety glasses, Aixiz modules, LM317s and I'll probably order 1n4001 diodes as well even though i know i have a box full of old circuit boards somewhere). I think I'll just follow one of the many "1st laser" threads here and see how it goes.
The only question I'm still really having trouble with is: figuring out specs for the diodes in these burners? :thinking: I've googled the model#s, I've tried things like "what kind of laser (or diode or led) in DVD burner" Everything I've seen so far indicates they will be red or IR. Is it going to be a huge deal to exactly match the module and driver to these DVD burner LEDs. Or should I just go ahead and get started? Then worry about exact specs when I get around to ordering a higher power laser so I can match everything up for optimum performance on that build. Thanks!
Started research on instructables and youtube and wound up here. Now I've been reading for the past couple days and think I'm ready to launch my own build. I need to go ahead and order a couple of things (safety glasses, Aixiz modules, LM317s and I'll probably order 1n4001 diodes as well even though i know i have a box full of old circuit boards somewhere). I think I'll just follow one of the many "1st laser" threads here and see how it goes.
The only question I'm still really having trouble with is: figuring out specs for the diodes in these burners? :thinking: I've googled the model#s, I've tried things like "what kind of laser (or diode or led) in DVD burner" Everything I've seen so far indicates they will be red or IR. Is it going to be a huge deal to exactly match the module and driver to these DVD burner LEDs. Or should I just go ahead and get started? Then worry about exact specs when I get around to ordering a higher power laser so I can match everything up for optimum performance on that build. Thanks!