My First Laser With Custom Host.

• Mar 18, 2009

• #1

Ehgemus

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This is my first laser with custom made host. The laser is 8" long with push button on/off on the back. The host holds 3 AA batteries. I have a lathe and a mill and have been making parts for paintball guns for years, Is I figured i would just make the host myself. I use the rkcstr driver. The diode is a open can diode for a sata dvd burner drive. speed of drive is unknown.
Please send Pm if you would like to see pictures, I do not have enough post to insert pictures.
:'(

 

• Mar 19, 2009

• #2

Tw15t3r

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Do post your pictures once you get enough postcounts. You're only 1 post away! ;D

 

• Mar 21, 2009

• #3

T

tony70516

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reminds me of the dealextreme 200 mW burner. and ive heard great things about it. go with the dx its only 41 bucks. send them a special request to ship to the us theyll do it. (granted that you are in the us) because no one really buys higher end lasers from o like but dx 200 mW red focusable has 100 % great reviews. one by styropyro. he owns it hell tell you about it.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11315

 

• Mar 21, 2009

• #4

bugattidude

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sorry it took me a while... heres the pictures

looks good

 

• Mar 21, 2009

• #5

elitesniper

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Nice job! Might i suggest putting the button inside the back so it is flush with your housing just like the kryton? Oh also this reminds me of the kryton!

 

• Mar 21, 2009

• #6

jayrob

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Really nice job!

Does the entire head turn for focusing?
Jay

 

• Mar 21, 2009

• #7

Jimmymcjimthejim

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Very, VERY nice!

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #8

Ehgemus

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Thanks guys! I was going to put the switch in a recess but got lazy. :-?

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #9

Ehgemus

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jayrob said:

Really nice job!

Does the entire head turn for focusing?
Jay

Click to expand...

no it does not, there is a sit screw on the other side you have to loosing and pull the laser out a little to adjust it. I like to keep it tucked in to protect it.

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #10

Ehgemus

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I would just like to add that if anyone wants something custom made please send me a PM. Here is a heat sink i made and sold ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280310663672

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #11

gotwake424

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That looks really nice, Great job. Question tho, did you thread the end cap so you untwist is when you put the batteries in?

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #12

Ehgemus

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yes the cap has threads on it.

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #13

Mohrenberg

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Um...i'm shocked nobody has pointed this out to you yet!

the red diode takes 3v to operate at full power
the rkcstr driver takes something like 2.24v to operate

voltage needed to run a red diode with a rkcstr driver = 5.24vISH or more....

3x AA would be 4.5v???

unless your using the 3.6v batteries, but then your going to go over 12v at full charge....bad for the driver.

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #14

billg519

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Mohrenberg has a good point. You may not be getting anywhere near full power out of this laser with 3 x AA @ 1.5V. Does the laser burn strongly? Can you test it on an LPM? With a rkcstr driver and dvd red diode, you would do well with 2 x 14500 lithium (AA size) giving 8.4V at full charge. You could use a dummy 3rd battery, or simply machine your host shorter by one battery length, giving you a more compact unit. Great machine work, by the way. Did you anodize it? What mA is your driver set at? As a machinist, you could also do away with the aixiz housing and it's sloppy lens nut, by machining your own head and lens nut. You could epoxy an aixiz glass lens into your own brass lens nut. Great work and welcome to LPF!!! You'll be making a bluray soon ... Lasers are addictive ... When you do, post it.

 

• Mar 22, 2009

• #15

Mohrenberg

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possibilities are endless with your own lathe and mill......i wish i had em :'(

 

• Mar 23, 2009

• #16

Ehgemus

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Mohrenberg said:

Um...i'm shocked nobody has pointed this out to you yet!

the red diode takes 3v to operate at full power
the rkcstr driver takes something like 2.24v to operate

voltage needed to run a red diode with a rkcstr driver = 5.24vISH  or more....

3x AA would be 4.5v???

unless your using the 3.6v batteries, but then your going to go over 12v at full charge....bad for the driver.

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing this out. I am new to all this and still learning. My volt meter is old and I don,t thank it is working right. i am looking to buy a new. all I did was turned the driver all the way down and than slowly turned it up until the diode burned brite witch is all the way up. the laser will pop balloons at about 16 feet away, but will not light matches.