Help with Driver

Hello everyone im new to the forum and i have a few questions...BTW great forum...
I would like to build two lasers...the main reason is for pointing into space, im into astrology and when using the telescope i would like to point it up to the sky when poining out stars to my friends...
Ok so here is what i have, and yes i id alot of reading lol..
I bought two axiz 650nm 5mW laser module.3.2V to with lens 650 nm OEM, they are red...
They both came with the axiz metal housing and the driver...
I they extracted a laser diode from a 16x DVD Dual layer burner...
I removed the diode from the axiz module and but the 16x diode into the module...
The laser now shines less then the stock 5mw axiz and it get very hot...
After much reading i learn that i have either burned my diode because of wrong mA to diode, im i right?
I would like to believe that i need to make a driver or purchase one, like flexdrive...
As i mentioned, i want to mke two lasers, one red and the other ultraviolet...If i purchase two drivers which regulates between 30-440mA would the work for the red and also (the another driver) for the ultraviolet?
Or do i need two completely different drivers of different mA outputfor the red and ultraviolet?

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks in advance...

different diodes require different operational parameters, so the driver settings will be different.

Also, if you want to point to the stars, why did you chose the two LEAST visible wavelengths.

For maximum visibility, green is the optimal choice.



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Last One Left said:

Hello everyone im new to the forum and i have a few questions...BTW great forum...
I would like to build two lasers...the main reason is for pointing into space, im into astrology and when using the telescope i would like to point it up to the sky when pointing out stars to my friends...
Ok so here is what i have, and yes I did alot of reading lol..
I bought two axiz 650nm 5mW laser module.3.2V to with lens 650 nm OEM, they are red...
They both came with the axiz metal housing and the driver...
I they extracted a laser diode from a 16x DVD Dual layer burner...
I removed the diode from the axiz module and but the 16x diode into the module...
The laser now shines less then the stock 5mw axiz and it get very hot...
After much reading i learn that i have either burned my diode because of wrong mA to diode, im i right?
I would like to believe that i need to make a driver or purchase one, like flexdrive...
As i mentioned, i want to make two lasers, one red and the other ultraviolet...If i purchase two drivers which regulates between 30-440mA would the work for the red and also (the another driver) for the ultraviolet?
Or do i need two completely different drivers of different mA output for the red and ultraviolet?

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks in advance...

Click to expand...

Sorry, but you did a lot of the wrong reading, Judging by the questions asked........

Thank you for the quick response...
You said that,
"the driver settings will be different"
Does this mean that i can use the same type of driver for both and adjust the variable resistor to suit the diode?
Also blue ray and red laser diodes are cheap and easily avaliable so thats why i thought i would go with those, but after looking and th graph you posted i understand that green would be the better choice, can you point me in the right direction as to where i can purchase a powerful green laser diode? and also would the same 30-440mA driver work with the green (at the specified setting)? Thank you again...

Now we have a whole new scenario, green diodes ar not common, and rather out of reach to the average consumer.

A green laser uses a complex set of optics to convert IR light into green.

the best option would be to try these sites....

O-Like, Quality Products, Great Prices or www.rayfoss.com

Thanks for the reply...but u still didnt answer my question on the driver...does anyone know if the 30-440mA driver would work for any of these laser diodes but simple adjusting the variable resistor?

yes it will as long as your diode requires 30-440mA .

the driver circuit I posted for you will handle all the way up to 1500ma.

Do you know how to set your driver prior to hooking it up??

Do you have a DMM??

Just so you know, you might have fried the dvd burner diode from soldering. I killed more then one diode this way when starting out. the trick is you need the iron nice and hot, touch QUICKLY and be done. If the wires get heated just a little too much when soldering, poof. all you get is a dim red light. It takes a little practice, but mostly just the knowledge that diodes are allergic to heat from soldering.

A red diode can be used to point out stars. So can a blu-ray. However the beams won't be very visible to people unless they are standing right behind you. There is an advantage to a lower visible beam though. While you can't see it as easily. esp from much distance to the sides, there is much less light pollution then a green. If you are trying to point out really faint stars, a green beam can be a little more bright then you would like. It's hard to point something out with something that outshines the star.

However if you have a group of 15 people clustered not too close to you, all of whom are being shown something, you might really want a 50mw green. For the green laser, just buy one. Don't even think about making one unless it's buy the module then build a host for the module. However you can purchase a 50mw green quite cheaply.

This thread here has links you will find useful
http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/50wm-unbelevable-cheap-48883.html

As for building the red and uv (blu-ray) as stated above, either the driver you are talking about (assuming it's the rckstr driver 30-440ma) or the flexdrive work well. Just remember to avoid overheating the diodes when soldering. Also, make certain you get a test load to set the current. Or else order flexdrives preset to the desired current.

photonaholic said:

yes it will as long as your diode requires 30-440mA .

the driver circuit I posted for you will handle all the way up to 1500ma.

Do you know how to set your driver prior to hooking it up??

Do you have a DMM??

Click to expand...

Ok thanks, i would try building the driver you posted since that would give me more range on the settings...About the DMM, ys i hve one, but im not sure how to set the driver prior to hooking it up, can you help me?

Thanks for the advice StridAst I guess i would buy the green and continue making the red and UV ones, thanks alot...


About the Driver that Photonaholic posted, what would its size be like after building? i know that the rckstr is very small and would fit in a axiz module, how big would the homemade one be? thanks...

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