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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

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Hi all,

I am new to this forum, I was looking for some information regarding a new pointer device I am designing and stumbled across this forum.

I while ago I built a simple laser using an off the shelf 635 module

the switch on this recently broke. I use it for machine alignment purposes.
This inspired me to improve on my original design.

The biggest improvement I could make would be to make the red dot smaller and brighter. I cannot work out the best ways of doing this.

Can some one offer me some solutions to help me get started.
the current dot is probably around 2-3 mm diameter if I could get it to about 1mm and increase the focus the pointer would be great.

Also the laser point needs to be not burn the eyes visible:)


Thanks, Andy.
 





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Hi welcome to the forum.

Are you looking to rebuild your pointer or start from scratch?

In any case, the answer is to use a laser diode that has as good divergence as you can get for an application like this. Different laser diodes will produce different shaped beams, and those beams will spread out the further the light travels.

Secondly, you'll probably want to be able to focus the beam. That way you'll be able to get as small of a point as possible. Again, distance plays a big roll here. The closer the aperture of the lens is to the target, the more likely it is that you will be able to really get the beam focused well.
 
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I am looking at something like this to get me started.

33D635-5
3.3mm Laser Diode or Module, Driver Circuit, Housing and Lens
US-Lasers: 635nm-5mW - Red Laser Diode and Red Diode Laser Module

I don't understand the electronics portion of the laser so hopefully I can get something that is plug and play.
And I will build a housing for the lens.

Any thoughts

Those are pretty expensive, and it might be tough to find a housing module for a 3.3mm diode.

Here, for under $21 bucks you get a red diode, a driver, and a module with a focusable lens. You won't find a better deal:

LPC-815 20x DVD Burner Sled. 660nm, 250-300mW

AixiZ Module for 5.6mm Laser Diodes

GhostDrive

Order the driver for 119mA and you should be good to go. It's going to be brighter than your 5mW 635.
 
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Those are pretty expensive, and it might be tough to find a housing module for a 3.3mm diode.

Here, for under $21 bucks you get a red diode, a driver, and a module with a focusable lens. You won't find a better deal:

LPC-815 20x DVD Burner Sled. 660nm, 250-300mW

AixiZ Module for 5.6mm Laser Diodes

GhostDrive

Order the driver for 119mA and you should be good to go. It's going to be brighter than your 5mW 635.

Thanks but the main purpose is not to build a high power laser.
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...r5bUW6uDDRfi3cIGg&sig2=k2hVvMzM3MKU_xMgdH1gCQ

I need to have as little glare as possible and an accurate dot to indicate positions.

the reflection even from the black tape is too much to look at. Or is this a trick of the camera.
 
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Thanks but the main purpose is not to build a high power laser.
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...r5bUW6uDDRfi3cIGg&sig2=k2hVvMzM3MKU_xMgdH1gCQ

I need to have as little glare as possible and an accurate dot to indicate positions.

the reflection even from the black tape is too much to look at. Or is this a trick of the camera.

Yeah, that's why I said to only set the driver to 119mA so it wouldn't be too crazy bright. The lasing threshold on that diode is 85mA, so you have to at least hit that before it will turn on. After that, more juice = brighter.

There are lower powered diodes out there though which sounds more like what you're looking for. Good luck!
 
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Yeah, that's why I said to only set the driver to 119mA so it wouldn't be too crazy bright. The lasing threshold on that diode is 85mA, so you have to at least hit that before it will turn on. After that, more juice = brighter.

There are lower powered diodes out there though which sounds more like what you're looking for. Good luck!

Ok that could work

But I think the reflection might be too much

Can you recommend a good targeting material that will absorb the reflected light?

For the price of the kit I am willing to give it a go.
 

c0ldshadow

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welcome, enjoy the site
peace
-ave
 
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Ok that could work

But I think the reflection might be too much

Can you recommend a good targeting material that will absorb the reflected light?

For the price of the kit I am willing to give it a go.

So I absolutely don't want to steer you in the wrong direction here. I'd like someone else to chime in on this if they could.


So I've been thinking about this a bit and:

1) Using an LPC-815 at 119mA you will be hitting around 25-30mW (according to Dr. Lava's graphs).

2) According to the Relative Laser Dot Brightness Calculator, 30mW of 660nm (LPC-815) will appear to the eye as bright as 8.43mW of 635nm.

So in theory, it will be a bit brighter than your previous pointer, and when focused to a finer point probably even more bright. If you for sure want a dim dot, I'd look for another solution. I'd hate to have this not work for you.
 
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according to this thread I will be restricted in Australia to a CLASS 2 laser anyway. so I have to design this laser with this in mind.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f53/actual-laser-laws-country-53770.html

CLASS II (2) LASERS: Class II lasers are lasers that emit accessible visible laser light with power levels less than 1 mW that normally would not produce a hazard if viewed for only momentary periods with the unaided eye.
 
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according to this thread I will be restricted in Australia to a CLASS 2 laser anyway. so I have to design this laser with this in mind.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f53/actual-laser-laws-country-53770.html

CLASS II (2) LASERS: Class II lasers are lasers that emit accessible visible laser light with power levels less than 1 mW that normally would not produce a hazard if viewed for only momentary periods with the unaided eye.

OK I found that in NSW you are able to posess a >1mW laser IF you have been a member of an authorised astronomical society for longer than 3 months or if you own a prohibited firearms permit... the astronomical membership is cheaper :) and more fun.
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/services/firearms/laser_pointers
 
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Someone correct me if im wrong. But Im pretty sure in Australia its only illegal to import a laser over 1mw, you can import the materials needed to make one over 1mw though. So you can have whatever power you want if you dont buy it completed. ( buy diode, driver, and other things needed to assemble.)

Oh and you cant use it outside if it is over 1mw

Good luck
 
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Someone correct me if im wrong. But Im pretty sure in Australia its only illegal to import a laser over 1mw, you can import the materials needed to make one over 1mw though. So you can have whatever power you want if you dont buy it completed. ( buy diode, driver, and other things needed to assemble.)

Oh and you cant use it outside if it is over 1mw

Good luck

Consider your self corrected. Have a look at the link in my post above. Any laser pointer >1mW, (it does not specify home-made / imported / locally manufactured) trust me the police in NSW are not going to care how it came to be.. Is a prohibited weapon..

Oh and if you import the materials needed to make the laser pointer then it is not actually a laser pointer until it is assembled.... So this is tenable.

if it is a Class 3 or above you need a license, and to obtain a license you need a reason to have one..

note there are different laws in different states.
 
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