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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

How do I get started?

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Nov 4, 2014
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Hello, I just joined the forum today and would like to start building. I have all kinds of tools and meters to tinker with electronics, but I am confused about which supplier to buy from and what specifications to start out with (Sorry...even the Sticky threads are confusing me). This seems daunting because it is my first laser project. I have owned lasers in the past and know little about how they work.

Thanks for any help!
 





ARG

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I removed your duplicate thread. Please only post once per topic.

If you want to get started read the stickies. If they confuse you then ask for clarification.
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2014
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Thanks to you all. I guess I should have checked YouTube first! If any of you have recommendations about specific channels or online suppliers that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
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There are a couple videos in my channel and
another guy named tingawinga5. The videos
are mostly dealing with DVD diode
extraction which is no longer cheaper or
necessary, but there is other info that
still applies. We just buy the diodes new
or already extracted now.
 
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Nov 4, 2014
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You guys rock! I'll check out the videos and DTR. Thank you Stalker and Alex.
 
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It looks like building a blue laser first is cheapest. Does that sound right? I looked through DTR's site at different components and the blue and red diodes are much cheaper than the green. It seems like you get green lasers cheaper than blue lasers from different retailers though.
 
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
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It looks like building a blue laser first is cheapest. Does that sound right? I looked through DTR's site at different components and the blue and red diodes are much cheaper than the green. It seems like you get green lasers cheaper than blue lasers from different retailers though.

Blue 445nm diodes are going to be some of the cheapest around, yes.

Green lasers are cheaper then blue 445 lasers at lower powers. Compare a 5mW 532nm pointer to a 5mW 445 pointer, 532nm will most likely be cheaper! If you go to higher powers 445 will be cheaper. Compare 500mW of 532 to 500mW of 445nm, the 445nm will be cheaper.

-Alex
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
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It looks like building a blue laser first is cheapest. Does that sound right? I looked through DTR's site at different components and the blue and red diodes are much cheaper than the green. It seems like you get green lasers cheaper than blue lasers from different retailers though.

The cheaper greens you see are DPSS laser at 532nm, very different from the diodes you see DTR selling. The green diodes, at 520nm, are relatively new. Roughly 2 years ago, 532nm dpss was the only readily available green laser (outside of gas lasers on ebay). Now they are mass produced and have gotten cheaper.

Although any green in the ~1W range is going to cost more than an equally powerful laser of another "common" wavelength.
 
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Thanks for the info Chaos. That makes total sense to me now that I see the price trend you mentioned.
 




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