Feedback on an idea please

Just had an idea to help guys who are new to building or want to start building. The plan is to offer everything they need with good instructions and proper tools required to do so.

What I'm thinking:

2x LPC-826 Diodes (2 for 2 tries, one mistake allowed.. cheap and still semi fragile to keep them on their toes)
1 driver (pre-set to a decent current)
The host and supporting parts (possibly SL kits)
One of my hand built test loads (just like the selectable available on SL)
Brass module w/ lens
Required wiring
Required heatshrink
And instructions of course.

I would be able to offer these at a pretty decent price as well, the most expensive part being the survival kit and that could be optional as they could about run these lpcs in any heat sink or host if at right current. I've been stocking up on all of this stuff, but do we really need this and is it a decent idea? It's not really profitable but I would be glad to help out.. it would mostly just help me to justify buying in bulk and getting a discount which would translate down to these kits.

Sounds like a pretty nice Idea. I know I definitely would've liked this when I first started out Good luck!

I would probably buy one. I'm not sure that the new comers are hungry for a sub 1w 660nm. Risk and liability aside...idk. The pros seem to stick with the current structure that reduces the case of intent. There have been some rather blatant topics on the forum with questionable motives. I wouldn't hand them a cat toy laser. BUT I am sure some members would pick up these kits at the right price. The SL 501B needs a heatsink that they don't sell. Not sure about the battery tab. What host are you considering?

We could do 501b and have EP or rich crank out the sinks with a spot for a contact board in the bottom of sink kind of like some other 501bs I've seen.

Also, I don't mean new as in just joined and a few posts. I mean new to builds. I would expect the purchasers to already have glasses and some lasers in their collection but be looking to start at building. Certainly not handing these to any new person that signs up. Im sure there is a liability issue somewhere but if the item isn't assembled it's still only parts.

I personally gave up on nickle plated brass modules over two years ago as copper blows them away. Even though i sill have several brass ones left in my stock, I use copper for everything now. If you can find a 501B host for a good price with the heat sink, that would be the way to go, IMO. IDK about adding a test, or dummy, load as one needs to have a DMM to use it and the knowledge as well. I have several of these and I built them all myself.

paul1598419 said:

I personally gave up on nickle plated brass modules over two years ago as copper blows them away. Even though i sill have several brass ones left in my stock, I use copper for everything now. If you can find a 501B host for a good price with the heat sink, that would be the way to go, IMO. IDK about adding a test, or dummy, load as one needs to have a DMM to use it and the knowledge as well. I have several of these and I built them all myself.

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Wouldn't you agree it's a required tool to build lasers? I wouldn't dare build anything without testing a driver first. Also I would certainly have a DMM on my desk if I was going to start building or soldering circuits and such.

It's not a wide audience you would need to have certain tools, but all of he extras could be optional of course to keep it budget friendly if needed be.

Oh and your right about the brass also.. but an LPC-826 doesn't require the additional cost involved with a copper module. I've successfully run quite a few LPC-826 past the max suggested currents with little to no heat issues whatsoever. I'm using large heat sink on the bench, but i monitor temp with a thermocouple inside the module cavity.

Just my 2 cents, but I believe you need a lot more than these to successfully build lasers. A dummy load without the DMM just seemed to stick out to me. It also takes some experience to use it properly.

What have you stocked up on that you need to offload? The only things I had to go out of my way for were, a solder station, leaded solder, and 26ga silicone wire. And that was because I was trying not to buy online for those things. If the bottom line is that you want to sell a build kit with a 650nm do it. I would be interested. But with what is available right now you don't need a dmm or a press kit to put available parts together. Maybe just offer the diodes in a module with the driver preset inside and leads. If it were me I wouldn't invest anymore until I see how it goes from here.

paul1598419 said:

Just my 2 cents, but I believe you need a lot more than these to successfully build lasers. A dummy load without the DMM just seemed to stick out to me. It also takes some experience to use it properly.

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Thank's Paul that is what the thread was about and I value your opinion. It would certainly be with some instructions and urls of videos for how-to use one. I also agree that this is only half or less of what you'd need to start building.. but other people offer the extras easily.

DMM - eBay or Amazon (radioshack)
Press Tool - DTR or Pyro
Heatsink compound of choice (ebay, amazon, newegg)
Vice or clamp for press set
Soldering iron (also experience using one)
(PLENTY more I can't think of)

It's like handing an Arduino to someone with no programming experience or any idea how hardware works.. I would explain the necessary tools, but having only some of the components needed to start building would also aide in keeping the clueless and wreckless unincluded I hope.

If you are going for an LPC 826 then a brass module would be more than enough. You could also offer PHR 803T diodes or sleds - you can pick these up for around $ 5 a piece and its fun to extract the diode and all the optics.

With the single mode reds AMC drivers around 350 mA are perfect and give around 200 - 250 mW. Just be careful insulating the heatsink from the host as AMC drivers are regulated on the negative. This is a bad combination with a case negative diode if its not properly insulated. Heres an example of one of these builds (this is as simple as the driver needs to be!):





For the PHRs just use a low drop out linear you can build yourself for a few dollars.
If the regulator has a low drop out you can use 2 cells to run it. An LM317 for example isnt and will require 3 cells for the Vf of this diode. The LM1084 chips I used in the Krytons below were low drop out and as you can see the PHRs make quite impressive lasers.



Just giving some ideas on how to make it cheap and fun. If the people can not only build the laser, but do it from scratch ie extract the diode and build the driver themselves they will learn a lot in the process. Better than just connecting 2 wires to a preset driver in a module. :beer:

dden4012 said:

What have you stocked up on that you need to offload? The only things I had to go out of my way for were, a solder station, leaded solder, and 26ga silicone wire. And that was because I was trying not to buy online for those things. If the bottom line is that you want to sell a build kit with a 650nm do it. I would be interested. But with what is available right now you don't need a dmm or a press kit to put available parts together. Maybe just offer the diodes in a module with the driver preset inside and leads. If it were me I wouldn't invest anymore until I see how it goes from here.

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I don't have nothing in major quantity nor do I have a lot of money invested it was just some of the things I could offer all at once. Any of it could be optional and this kit wasn't in mind for someone to just connect 2 wires and go, I mean something you actually have to build from scratch.

Meaning it would require a press kit, wire, solder and the like. If you didn't want to run your driver and set it yourself I could do all that as well.. but if I'm pressing the diode, soldering leads and driver and setting current then it may as well be called plug n burn.

I could offer it that way as well, like I said I wanted everyone's feedback and I appreciate it. I also had a chat with a few other larger vendors who gave me some heads up so I will have to take everyone's view into consideration before making any moves.

Also just an FYI if I make a kit to try with you guys I will only do a small quantity first round maybe 3-5 to see if it sells. If it does, I already have enough stuff that I could fill at least 10 kits.

Thanks for the info grainde I actually have some sleds also but I haven't got to extracting any of them been tied up with builds for other guy's here and projector harvesting. SOON though.