laser83
0
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2009
- Messages
- 374
- Points
- 0
I've reached a point where I want to start putting lasers together myself. I understand the basic idea but what's driving me crazy is the concept of the driver. I know it's needed to regulate the voltage, that's its purpose. I could buy a driver with a vague understanding of it but to really start to build lasers I need to know exactly what's needed. I can assemble computers, I know what parts to buy they are easy to put together. I see with lasers having no clue about the parts or what they do is a problem.
I've looked at all the tutorials. The parts in a driver are the: regular, resistor, potentiometer, and capacitor. Now this the issue. I need to understand how the driver works more than anything. What I can't grasp are Ohms, a measure of electrical resistance.
I'll ask for an example then say I want to build a handheld blu-ray laser that uses a 6X diode at 200mW of power. How does that translate for what's needed in the driver? What must each part specifications be? Ohms, voltage?
Perhaps a better question what do I need to know when buying a driver? I see mA is what's focused on in the selling. What does mA in a driver translate to? I know what mA stands for but what is the difference between 50mA driver setting and a 450mA? Is there a rule that certain amount is needed per mw in the laser?
There is so much information here it is an overload for me. Imagine a book that covers world history when you have little understanding of history. There are many tutorials here but getting the basic information has proved difficult.
Better yet If anyone with experience building lasers is willing to chat over on an instant messenger program that would be huge help now that I think about it. Sorry for the dumb questions, but this is the only way I'm going to learn. Unless someone has written a "laser building for dummies" book.
Thanks,
I've looked at all the tutorials. The parts in a driver are the: regular, resistor, potentiometer, and capacitor. Now this the issue. I need to understand how the driver works more than anything. What I can't grasp are Ohms, a measure of electrical resistance.
I'll ask for an example then say I want to build a handheld blu-ray laser that uses a 6X diode at 200mW of power. How does that translate for what's needed in the driver? What must each part specifications be? Ohms, voltage?
Perhaps a better question what do I need to know when buying a driver? I see mA is what's focused on in the selling. What does mA in a driver translate to? I know what mA stands for but what is the difference between 50mA driver setting and a 450mA? Is there a rule that certain amount is needed per mw in the laser?
There is so much information here it is an overload for me. Imagine a book that covers world history when you have little understanding of history. There are many tutorials here but getting the basic information has proved difficult.
Better yet If anyone with experience building lasers is willing to chat over on an instant messenger program that would be huge help now that I think about it. Sorry for the dumb questions, but this is the only way I'm going to learn. Unless someone has written a "laser building for dummies" book.
Thanks,