Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

I built my first laser!!!! (UPDATED)

Joined
Jun 30, 2008
Messages
286
Points
0
I just can't describe what i felt when connected the power source and that beam went out of the aixiz module...


LOL

I had two 16X closed can diodes from two DVD burners.
Few days ago i bought a rkcstr adjustable driver and a dummy load kit and they arrived today. Everything fine. Very well packaged and sent, and i'll proably buy more from him. I assembled the dummy load (the hardest part was to join the RED and DISCHARGE bridges LOL) and set my driver to 150mA.

I looked for the diodes and when i found them, i put one into an aixiz module and soldered two wires... but... they were too long and one pin of the diode twisted destroying my diode. :(
Don't worry, it was my 3rd broken diode, my first one with all the knowledge i acquired from this forum.

So i took the second one but this time i soldered it directly to the rkcstr driver... but i can't screw the back of the module. Maybe i'll fix this later. After soldering it (very easy, no more than 1 second per solder) i put my googles on, connected the power source (6V) and OMG!!! It lights!!!!

It is strong enought to burn dark paper. But  I think i'm running it at a very low current.

What's the average current (conservative usage) for a 16X closed can?



Now i have a homemade partner for my Dilda.
Next step will be blu-ray. :D.
About 6 months ago i was burning 2 16X diodes after watching a KipKay video. Now i know how to handle a Laser Diode and I have my own custom made one! And all because of reading this forum!


UPDATE: following your advices i set the driver to 255mA. I've also modded the aixiz acrylic lens to make the hole bigger. Now it burns like the dilda... but it has a dimmer dot. I mean, both burn at the same speed and do similar things (beam also looks similar in both lasers), but the dilda has a much brighter dot(about two times brighter). With my lasershades i can perfectly notice a 30cm diameter unfocused spot from the dilda, but i can't even notice a 10cm diameter spot from my homemade laser. I can't explain it, because the diode was from a 16X burner (with lots of use, but 16X).
I've also noticed that the diode heats up quicker now. I have prepared an aluminium host with a quite big (12graims) heatsink, that only needs a hole which will be done in the next days. I'll post some pics when it's finished.
If I were in the US i'd send someone the laser to test it, but as I am far from there, shipping cost would be high...
 





jayrob

0
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
9,862
Points
113
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

Putting 250mA's into that diode will give you about 170mW's. If you want to go to 200mW's, go with about 300mA's. (heatsinked)
Jay
 
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
150
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

hmm jay i am working on mine right now and how long do u thinka 16x closed can will run for (heatsinked) in 300mA becuase i wont mine to last a while :-?
 

jayrob

0
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
9,862
Points
113
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

I think that more that anything else, it will depend on how you as the user, uses it! If you are careful to stick to a conservative duty cycle, it will last longer. (1 min. on / 30 sec. off)

At 250mA's it will last longer. This is still going to give you 160mW's to 170mW's through an acrylic lens.
Jay
 
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
5,410
Points
113
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

I personally wouldn't go over 250mA just because we aren't sure exactly how strong your 16x is. Some 16x LDs we power with 350mA safely, yet some die after a while at 300mA. Either way 250mA will give you a long diode life plus lots of burning fun. Also, if you want a little extra power for your red, buy an Aixiz glass lens and use that instead of the stock lens. Just don't use that glass lens on a DIY blu-ray once you make one.
 
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
150
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

well how much power would u get out of a stonetech 16x at 250mA
 
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
5,410
Points
113
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

laserman55 said:
well how much power would u get out of a stonetech 16x at 250mA
You can run a Stonetek 16x at 350mA for about 200mW. If you want more power try an open can for over 300mW.
 
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
2,735
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!
 
Joined
Jun 30, 2008
Messages
286
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

Spyderz20x6 said:
150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!


Mine is a Toshiba-Samsung TSST H552-B burner diode.
The burner had lots of use, it was my previous burner and i changed it because it couln't burn DL dics (it could when it was new). So i think the diode is not "fresh".

That's why I haven't set that high current. But it burns as is, and I have a 200mW dilda. So i'll keep this at 150ma (maybe 200)
 
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
2,735
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

erdabyz said:
[quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#8 date=1224813127]150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!


Mine is a Toshiba-Samsung TSST H552-B burner diode.
The burner had lots of use, it was my previous burner and i changed it because it couln't burn DL dics (it could when it was new). So i think the diode is not "fresh".

That's why I haven't set that high current. But it burns as is, and I have a 200mW dilda. So i'll keep this at 150ma (maybe 200)[/quote]
In the burner, the diode is Pulsed, not Continuos Wave. So it would last a lot longer inside the burner.
Dildas are usually never 200mW.
 
Joined
Jun 30, 2008
Messages
286
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

Spyderz20x6 said:
[quote author=erdabyz link=1224690167/0#9 date=1224857401][quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#8 date=1224813127]150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!


Mine is a Toshiba-Samsung TSST H552-B burner diode.
The burner had lots of use, it was my previous burner and i changed it because it couln't burn DL dics (it could when it was new). So i think the diode is not "fresh".

That's why I haven't set that high current. But it burns as is, and I have a 200mW dilda. So i'll keep this at 150ma (maybe 200)[/quote]
In the burner, the diode is Pulsed, not Continuos Wave. So it would last a lot longer inside the burner.
Dildas are usually never 200mW.[/quote]


I'll set it to 250mA then.
 
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
2,735
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

erdabyz said:
[quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#10 date=1224886832][quote author=erdabyz link=1224690167/0#9 date=1224857401][quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#8 date=1224813127]150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!


Mine is a Toshiba-Samsung TSST H552-B burner diode.
The burner had lots of use, it was my previous burner and i changed it because it couln't burn DL dics (it could when it was new). So i think the diode is not "fresh".

That's why I haven't set that high current. But it burns as is, and I have a 200mW dilda. So i'll keep this at 150ma (maybe 200)[/quote]
In the burner, the diode is Pulsed, not Continuos Wave. So it would last a lot longer inside the burner.
Dildas are usually never 200mW.[/quote]


I'll set it to 250mA then.[/quote]
Yay!
 
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
17,622
Points
113
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

Spyderz20x6 said:
[quote author=erdabyz link=1224690167/0#9 date=1224857401][quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#8 date=1224813127]150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!


Mine is a Toshiba-Samsung TSST H552-B burner diode.
The burner had lots of use, it was my previous burner and i changed it because it couln't burn DL dics (it could when it was new). So i think the diode is not "fresh".

That's why I haven't set that high current. But it burns as is, and I have a 200mW dilda. So i'll keep this at 150ma (maybe 200)[/quote]
In the burner, the diode is Pulsed, not Continuos Wave. So it would last a lot longer inside the burner.
[highlight]Dildas are usually never 200mW[/highlight].[/quote]

Hey Spyderz20x6,
                            have you even seen this Dilda thread:-

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1224120943/0

;D ;D ;D ;)
 
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
2,735
Points
0
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

lasersbee said:
[quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#10 date=1224886832][quote author=erdabyz link=1224690167/0#9 date=1224857401][quote author=Spyderz20x6 link=1224690167/0#8 date=1224813127]150mA???
Are you kidding?
Turn it up to 300mA, man!


Mine is a Toshiba-Samsung TSST H552-B burner diode.
The burner had lots of use, it was my previous burner and i changed it because it couln't burn DL dics (it could when it was new). So i think the diode is not "fresh".

That's why I haven't set that high current. But it burns as is, and I have a 200mW dilda. So i'll keep this at 150ma (maybe 200)[/quote]
In the burner, the diode is Pulsed, not Continuos Wave. So it would last a lot longer inside the burner.
[highlight]Dildas are usually never 200mW[/highlight].[/quote]

Hey Spyderz20x6,
                            have you even seen this Dilda thread:-

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1224120943/0

;D ;D ;D ;)[/quote]
Um...
Thats one of a kind... :cool:
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
6,891
Points
83
Re: I built my first laser!!!!

laserman55 said:
hmm jay i am working on mine right now and how long do u thinka 16x closed can will run for (heatsinked) in 300mA becuase i wont mine to last a while :-?

i've got mine at 300ma (either 300ma or 350ma, i can't rem if i put that last 25r5 resistor on my driver or not)right now, and it use it ALOT, i'm on my third set of CR2 lithium batteries (i need recharables)

so far it's going good......i can burn electrical tape from like 25 feet away (takes it a few seconds though)

oh, and it's a 16x diode from stonetek and a fix driver from rckstr that i added resistors to (was originally 150ma).
so yeah i think it is at 350, because i added 2 25r5 resistors which are around 50ma each, and a 12r4 resistor which is around 100ma, but according to the test load it's prob around 340mA
 




Top