Totaly new to this stuff, need some help please please please.

Thorsteenster said:

I wouldn't use a file, you get heat and metal shavings.

Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with using a file - as long as you use it properly. Keep the diode pointing down so that filings don't fall into the open can. But other than that, a file is just fine, and it's an approach used my many people here all the time.
YouTube - How to harvest a LOC diode from the LPC-815 sled.

When you get tired of doing it the hard way, look up some place like OdicForce or *****************, or maybe even ebay. You can usually find 100mW, or so, REDs for decent prices and no ripping things apart to get at them, nice long leads (easy to solder), and no worry about scraping off adheasives to get the diode into an axiz or similar. just my 2 cents worth. Good luck and have fun learning.

Not sure why odicforce made it through and the other place got overlayed with ****'s. Don't know what I did wrong (moderators, please don't pound me..), but yoy should get the idea.

I normally use a magnet when im working with fine objects to keep the filings in the right places. Is that going to be a problem with a laser diode? And it will only be hot if i, as my grandfather puts it "use the file as a saw".

Thank you for your concern(spelling?) though.

The leads have a sort of golden coating. Is it conductive? Or not?

Well, there's also an improvisation combination technique ...

You file , or saw, into the side of heatsink just a little, effectively "perforating it" (in the lack of better word) for when you finally twist the heatsink with two pliers, it will snap much more easily and possibly save a lot of time, effort, and diode.

Let us know how it goes! Also, we love pictures! Lotsa them.

Eudaimonium said:

Well, there's also an improvisation combination technique ... You file , or saw, into the side of heatsink just a little, effectively "perforating it" (in the lack of better word) for when you finally twist the heatsink with two pliers, it will snap much more easily and possibly save a lot of time, effort, and diode.

Click to expand...

- That's the best approach. In fact, you can even file a little into both sides and it will make the twist/snap step even easier.

- Magnets should be fine around a laser. Yes, the "gold" metal is conductive.

- 123splat: For some reason the second link you put in was probably banned or filtered on the board. I don't think it means you did anything wrong - probably just some unknown conflict from way back when? Odicforce is fairly reputable / time-tested, so I can't see them ever being filtered. If I had to guess, was your second link *****************.com ?

EDIT: Yep. And it's probably filtered for good reason - they're sketchy.

rhd,
Yeah, it happened to somebody else in another thread. Don't understand why it might be filtered. Others besides my self had had good dealings with them. Who knows. I don't want to grind on anybody, so I won't alter the name with spaces to bust the filter,,, but, when I started out and need some surplus parts from/for lasers, that was the first site which I delt with.

Sorry Lascannon, no intent to highjack. It is, sorta, pertinant to the thread

Laser surplus parts dot com keeps getting filtered for me.
http://www.*****************.com

I didn't mean to say filing isn't a good method, just not for me. I either have a large bastard file with a heavy hand and tendency to slip, or small hobby files which would take forever.

Thorsteenster,
Let me introduce you to my little Dremmel! Not a diode's best friend:cryyy:

Small hobby files are exactly what you need. If you can't wait a forever, (that is, 5 minutes of careful filing) then this hobby is definetaly not for you.

Incredible amount of patience and incredible strenght of nerves needed to success in Do it yourself part of this hobby.

Just use my method. File a little on the sides, then just snap the heatsink. It takes patience and carefulness. So be careful.

Oooh... I almost used a dremmel on mine. I can thank my grandfather for saving my diode. I took a file to one side, and then put it in a vice and sort of pealed it away. That took out half of it. The other half is going to (I hope) come undone once i reach the adhesive just inside the rim. I scored the diode a little around the edge (just a little) but other then that its going extremely well. Im in no hurry, since i have the infamous 3-5 buissness days before my housing arives. I have a few more questions though.

How powerfull is this likely to be?
Will pointing two or more lasers in the same direction create a more powerfull beam?
Whats the cheepest way to protect my eyes?

Thanks guys. This has been an invaluable help.

Adhesive used on diodes inside their original heatsinks is not worthy of the therm.

On the other hand, if you can show us a picture of the front of the diode, we can aproximate an output.

There are 4 types of 5.6mm packaging red diodes which can be told apart by physical appearance.
Out of which, 3 appear commonly : SCC (short closed can) type of diodes can do maximum od maybe 250mA and 150mW of light output, nothing spectacular.

Now, long diodes :
LCC (long closed can) and LOC (long open can) diodes are the good stuff. They do good up to 450mA and can do over 250mW with proper setup.

But first, pictures please

EDIT - Oh, yeah! Safety!
First of all, common sense. Never look into barrel of a gun to find out why it's jammed? Good. Treat your laser exactly the same way. With even more safety precautions such as : keep the beam away from shiny objects (shiny plastic, metal) and generally everything reflective, and you'll be fine.

For last and equally important line of defense, if above fails (and will) and you get a laser beam going for your eye, you'd better hope you have some laser safety goggles in that path.
Such as:
http://www.o-like.com/index.php?mai...oducts_id=26&zenid=u25i2r1glaonjqnq1f1n2rr7k1

Or more expensive but much better:
http://www.dragonlasers.com/product.php?productid=16254&cat=296&page=1

Is it worth getting a pair of the expensive kind? Im not as woried about myself (If i mess up its my fault.) as I am about accidentaly blinding someone else. "Hey Hellen! Check out my new burning laser! Oh... Oh that was my bad..." So yea I would realy like a pair that will make sure any guest users are safe. Is it worth the extra?

Photo's to come, as soon as I've finnished getting the heat sink off. Its taking a little longer then it might, since I burned out the easy to reach diode and am now stuck working with the overbuilt inner diode with the extreme heat sink. Should be done soon though.

It's ALWAYS worth the extra. With cheaper goggles, you may or may not get a pair that is from different, shitty batch and may not be claimed true OD ratings, which would be far too low to protect you.

If you have the money, always go for more expensive pair. You only get one set of eyes.

Let us know with those pictures, how does it go.

I have (thank god) my fathers funding at this point. He probably figures its beter to support educational projects that I can do from home, then to go to the mall and shop lift, get high, and have sex in the familly bathroom like some teens.

So yes. Thank you for the advice. I will get a few pairs(pair?) of the higher quality goggles. Is there anything else you can think of that I might need?

The photos should be up some time tomorrow, when im dont with studying, going to the gym, and re-packaging my tablet. You should be able to identify the diode for me, right? And then a few days after that my housings will be here, and you can see the whole thing(I hope) working.

How does the mW figure compare with the power of the laser?

Well, mW figures, I'll put it like this:
6 mW of laser light is enough to leave a permanent damage on your eyes faster than your blink reflex will protect you.
You have around 250mW of laser power at your disposal. Treat it like a loaded gun.

It is good that you have your parents trust on your side, it's great that they trusts you I started out the same way.

So, what else could you need... hmm
Well you need a housing to put that diode into, aixiz housing that is, here's one:
Aixiz 5.6mm Laser Diode Module

You will need ICs to make your drivers with:
20x AMS1117 LM1117 LD1117 ADJ 1A Voltage Regulator | eBay
^Five bucks, free shipping, twenty pieces Gotta love Chinese bulk component distributors.

That's about it for the starters.
Take it easy with that diode. If you happen to destroy it, you can always get replacement ones:
HighTechDealZ - 650nm 20x DVD Burner LPC815 Sled

But take care of it. Patience is the key here.

Driver: I build it one (took four trys, but I feel so much beter this way)
Housing: In the mail.
Patience: Rapidly running out but I think i'l make it.

Will those drivers work for any laser?