Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest

Re: Blue Ray Diode Harvest?

What Gazoo said. Take the 4x-8x one (250mW) for example:

Power in (V*I) = 5.2V x 0.135A = 0.702W (702mW)
Power out = 250mW (according to spec sheet)
Electrical to Optical efficiency = 250/702 = 35.6% (the other 64.4% is discarded as heat)
(Keeping in mind that this is PWM so this is not the average power)

jayrob said:

Well, I'm taking the big plunge here. I just bought a BWU-100A drive for $290 bucks shipped. Jack from Optotronics is telling me that he is skeptical about the description of the diodes on the Sony page. He thinks that the descriptions of the mW ratings, is the power they consume, not the output power of the light. But it clearly shows temp/power/current/voltage etc... Any comments here?

I am assuming that the 2 X drive that I bought, (BWU-100A) probably has the 2 X diode listed here:
http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/pro/laser_diode/blu_ray.html

Opinions please...
Jay

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Re: Blue Ray Diode Harvest?

Good luck Jay! Do you have an idea of host you are going to use? Are you going to use one of your heatsinks?

Re: Blue Ray Diode Harvest?

desslok said:

Good luck Jay!  Do you have an idea of host you are going to use?  Are you going to use one of your heatsinks?

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I have ordered several potential hosts. All of which are very inexpensive:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5387
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.686
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5095
For sure this one will work: (using 3 X 3.6 AAA size)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3405
Because I can see from the customer photos, how it comes apart. But, I am hoping that one of the models with the button on the side, works out.

Yes, I will be using a Meredith module in a custom heatsink, similar to the MXDL reds that I am used to building. I will take pictures of the harvest and the results of the testing in a new thread...
Jay

Re: Blue Ray Diode Harvest?

Cool. Let me know which one you pick. I hear you on the switch. I like the thinness of the cr123 type, but I dislike having the button on the tail. Anyways, good luck, and I look forward to pictures....

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

Update...This drive is on its way to me:
http://www.speedlabs.org/index.php?page=part_4_0_inside_the_bwu-100a
According to the above link, this is the spec sheet to the diode that the drive contains:
http://www.nichia.co.jp/specification/ld/NDHB510APAE1-E.pdf

Two diodes according to this link:
http://www.speedlabs.org/index.php?page=part_4_1_exploring_the_custom_nichia_opu

445nm - 5.5 volts/120mA current for 50mW?? Looks like it's not the diode from the Sony spec sheet... Should be a good diode though huh? Opinions please!...
Jay

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

The day of the blu burner is at hand ;D
Carry on !!!

Mike

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

445nm hmmm what whould that look like?

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

Should be more blue! Gazoo sent me this link:
http://photo.net/photo/edscott/vis00010.htm
High hopes here...
Jay

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

I like blue better but it wont fluoresce surfaces ohh well cant wait to see the result.

Re: Blue Ray Diode Harvest?

TheMonk said:

May be this can give you an idea.

2x 120mW
4x 170mW
8x 250mW

http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/pro/laser_diode/blu_ray.html

Click to expand...

You're probably only gonna get about 50 to 60 mW out of that 2x one.

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

You're probably only gonna get about 50 to 60 mW out of that 2x one.

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Yeah...That's what I figure. But, a blue RPL would cost over $1000 bucks for 30mW. I may end up with 50 or 60mW for about $300! I would imagine it should be able to burn as well...
Jay

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

jayrob said:

You're probably only gonna get about 50 to 60 mW out of that 2x one.

Click to expand...

Yeah...That's what I figure. But, a blue RPL would cost over $1000 bucks for 30mW. I may end up with 50 or 60mW for about $300! I would imagine it should be able to burn as well...
Jay

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And hopefully able to dispatch any red ballons that get in the way of the black ones.  Do you know which lens you are going to use?  I thought about getting a glass Meredith for mine, but heard they don't focus down as well as the acrylic.

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

And hopefully able to dispatch any red ballons that get in the way of the black ones.  Do you know which lens you are going to use?  I thought about getting a glass Meredith for mine, but heard they don't focus down as well as the acrylic.

Click to expand...

Lately I have been favoring the Meredith modules for a couple of reasons. Although they cost more, it is a one time purchase. I like that the case is shorter, giving more room for DIY lasers...no cutting it down. (then again, it is the outer case that is shorter, so I guess the AixiZ is actually shorter measuring from where the LD mounts) Also, If you have two Merediths, you can easily swap the lenses. The glass lenses let more 'light' out and gives better power measurements, showing a better looking beam. But, Meredith acrylic lenses burn just as good as the AixiZ acrylic. As another side note, the diameter of the Meredith acrylic lens, is the same as the AixiZ acrylic, so you can put an AixiZ lens in a Meredith module. I have 4 Merediths now, and I have one of them fit with an AixiZ acrylic lens. Makes it easy to test the effect of different lenses...
Jay

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

It might still be far enough at the lower end of the spectrum to fluoresce....it will be very interesting to see the beam color coming from this diode. I have a feeling it will be a good burner too.

We need to figure out the formula for measuring the output with the LPM-1. We know for the 405nm diode, we set the LPM-1 to the 473nm setting. Whatever reading we get, we multiply it by 1.75, which will be very close to the actual output.

I am guessing if measuring ~450nm, we would take the reading and multiply it times 1.25. I think it wold be fairly close.

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

Tragedy! I learned a very expensive lesson today. I usually use my vise to press the diodes into the modules or 5.6mm Meredith adapters. I thought I could use a 'C clamp' to do the same thing. Actually, I have used it before...

What I found out today, was that it could twist the module...just as it gets pressed tight, you know, that last little 1/8 turn, to make sure the LD is pressed flush. As the module twisted, it 'spun' off to the side just a 'hair'. Guess what? The module 'sheered off' one of the pins on the LD!. I'll give you one guess which pin it was. Worse yet...it happened to be the most expensive LD that I have. Yes, this project is now on hold until I can find another good deal on another drive. I'm not going to spend $700 plus on a new one. I will never use the 'C clamp' style again. Althouth I deserve to be 'kicked when I'm down', because it was a very stupid mistake, please try to hold back. Because I am very down on myself as it is. Sorry to let you guys down. Trust me, I will do this project at some point in the not too distant future...
Jay

Re: Blue Ray DVD Writer - Diode Harvest?

Anyway, here are some pictures of the harvest, so you can see the drive, and where the diode is located...

It looks like two diodes. They are lenses though. It may have more than one diode, but if it does, it's not the 5.6mm round type. There was only one of those type of diodes. Next picture is the other side...

Take off the thin sheet metal...

You can see the diode at the upper right...

The last picture I have, is of some other lenses and stuff that looked like maybe they may be worth keeping. I don't know anything about these optics...

Yeah...just about 5 minutes away from connecting it up to my test driver that I had already built. What a shame.
Once again, I WILL do this project. And when I do, you can be sure I will share the results...
Jay