Building a powerful red laser

Hey.
I took a look at the styropro's red laser tutorial and here is what I understanded:
I alreay bought a 20X DVD burner diode in an aixiz module, and a driver that he used in the video.
acording to what I saw I should take apart the aixiz module, clip off the not used pin and solder the + and the - to the driver.
then I should solder the lead wires that come with the driver to the driver, and hook them up with 4 AAA batterys. finelly, I should pot mod the laser to be as powerful.

- will it be powerful enough to light matches?
- am I correct with what I said?
- wich host should I put it in? I thought about a flashlight or a mint box...
- if I hook it up to a flashlight, how do I get it connected to the flashlight so when I click the button it will start and stop?

Thanks, you have a great forum here :

depends what current you run/what current your diode can handle/the lens you use.

heres a wiring diagram i made, this one is using a flexdrive, what driver are you using?


The host is entirely up to you,id select one with a decent size heatsink if you want a burning laser.

Look at the diagram to see how to utilize the host's switch to turn off the laser.

The power to burn a match depends on what color match you are using, red laser on red matches takes a while to ignite.

Ok thanks for the comments.
Here is the driver I am using:
http://rkcstr.nfshost.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=201
and if I paint the top of the match with black?
also, where can I get a heatsink? (I'm not looking to buy one off a website cause I short with time)
every flashlight have heatsink?

If you want this to be a lab unit you can use one of these : 12X30mm aluminum mount for AixiZ 12X30mm units | eBay

If not i'm not sure who makes cheap hosts these days.

Do I have to use an heatsink? styropro didn't say so... and I want it to be portable.
A Jayrob flashlight has a small heatsink, why won't any other flashlight will?

I don't know how much heat these put out, but you may be fine without a heat sink if you use very short duty cycles.

Gofilord said:

Do I have to use an heatsink? styropro didn't say so... and I want it to be portable.
A Jayrob flashlight has a small heatsink, why won't any other flashlight will?

Click to expand...

jayrob makes those heat-sinks on his lathe. without a heat-sink you wont be able to leave it on long enough for burning. to burn u must be using laser safety goggles. do you own some?

I built a red using the same diode, driver and module recently.

You should mount the LOC into the Aixiz module with a little heat transfer grease and have a heatsink mounted over the diode portion of the module. I run mine at 240mw and can feel a little warmth on the heat sink after running 40 seconds. After 90 seconds I'll feel noticeable heat on the heat sink.

If you are using a rkcstr driver with 4xAAA (6 VDC) you should not need a heat sink over all of the Aixiz module. I used 2x14500 for power. With 7.5-8.4 VDC going into the rkcstr you will need some heat sink around the rest of the module to cover the driver. I found that this driver runs pretty cool between 6-7.5 VDC.

Do not adjust output of the rckstr driver with the diode soldered or connected in any way to the driver. It is very easy to LED a diode that way. Adjust the driver output (pot mod) to the desired voltage with a dummy load and DMM or a do a current measurement directly from the driver to a DMM (assuming it can handle the current level), then leave the pot alone. Solder the diode to the driver board after you complete driver adjustment.

Be sure to wear laser safety glasses. Especially if you are burning.

millirad said:

Be sure to wear laser safety glasses. Especially if you are burning.

Click to expand...

and don't buy the cheap ones from O-like, they are terrible

ARGLaser said:

I don't know how much heat these put out, but you may be fine without a heat sink if you use very short duty cycles.

Click to expand...

You'll kill any diode without a heat sink in seconds. DO NOT TRY IT! LPC-815s will burn up quickly! ... had it happen with improperly sinked diodes.

Gofilord said:

Ok thanks for the comments.
Here is the driver I am using:
Micro-Drive V3 adjustable driver (assembled) - $13.00 : rkcstr.com, Micro-Drive and laser diode electronics
and if I paint the top of the match with black?
also, where can I get a heatsink? (I'm not looking to buy one off a website cause I short with time)
every flashlight have heatsink?

Click to expand...

If you are using the LPC-815 + aixiz module + the rckstr driver you will have more than enough power to light matches and perform all common burning tricks + more. I built that same combo and believe me, it has plenty of punch. Running at 380 mA and focused at relatively close range (1-2 feet) it will light any sort of match almost instantly. No need to paint the tip black. At close range it will light red tip matches in a split second. Focused across the room (approx 10-15 feet away) it will light any dark colored match quickly and burn holes through black plastic CD cases, etc.

I used a old heatsink from a computer CPU. But that's because I set it up as a bench laser. I don't have any need to carry a red laser of that kind of power portable.

Of course, wear protective goggles when using this laser. It will damage eyesight faster than anyone could blink. It is a powerful little laser.

Wow so many comments...
Ok I have a 5 dollar green protection goggles from a chinese website, are they good for this laser?
can I use a CPU heatsink even if it is portable?
all I have to do is drill a hole in the heatsink, and put the module in it, correct?
BTW, I will not be activating it for more then 10 sec's conssitenly (sorry about spelling)
Do I still need a heatsink? Oh and I also use 4*AAA's.
and do anyone own somthing that can tell me how much mW power is the laser output?
thanks

Gofilord said:

Wow so many comments...
Ok I have a 5 dollar green protection goggles from a chinese website, are they good for this laser?
can I use a CPU heatsink even if it is portable?
all I have to do is drill a hole in the heatsink, and put the module in it, correct?
BTW, I will not be activating it for more then 10 sec's conssitenly (sorry about spelling)
Do I still need a heatsink? Oh and I also use 4*AAA's.
and do anyone own somthing that can tell me how much mW power is the laser output?
thanks

Click to expand...

• They are your eyes, a LPC-815 can destroy your vision when running a decent amount of current through it, get a decent pair, especially if your doing close up burning!

• yes you can if you want but it will be bulky i imagine.

• yes, 12mm i believe.

• I would recommend a heatsink as everyone will, you don't have to, but it will burnout the diode quickly otherwise, so for long life of this build, yes use a heatsink.

• 4x AAA's should be ok.

• The light output will depend heavily on the current you set the driver at, so what is that value you are going to use?

I am about to pot mod it until the brightest point, don't know the mA..