Share your inexpensive builds thread

[IsaacT]

Hey Pman, I picked out some stuff and I will PM you when I get home. Thanks again!

Isaac

 

[Pman]

Looking forward to it Mattronium.
Don't want anyone to feel concerned about how inexpensive or simple their builds are!

Your "stuff" is on order now Isaac. I'm usually up by 4:30 and saw your 2 PMs
Not easy trying to look through all the things on that site.

Pete

 

[n2stuff]

Hey Pman
Here's my first build. The link....
http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/my-ghetto-white-laser-rgv-70883.html

I still have it somewhere.

 

[Pman]

Very cool and interesting. Got to look into this more from my computer and not the phone.
REP Can be a lot more fun and rewarding figuring things out than just buying a fully functioning unit.

Pete

 

[Lazerbeak]

That's an Awesome build n2stuff, I love the guidelines :gj: You've probably come a long way now.

~ LB

 

[Mattronium]

OK, I'll see if I can get the pictures working. the first handheld laser I built is this one. it is a free DVD diode in a plain Aixiz module with the back part, I stuffed a LM317 driver in the back part of the Aixiz module. The housing is from two free Harbor Freight 9 LED flashlights, both tail caps are facing out. It runs on 6 AAA batteries, the two flashlight body's are electrical connected thought the case by the aluminum foil strip in the middle.
I decided to run it at 54ma so that it won't be too bright for indoor use, but still bright enough. I'll post pictures of this one and the other one I'm working on now latter.

 

[Lazerbeak]

Lookin' good Mattronium Thanks for sharing! and Congratulations :beer:

Is that epoxy holding your contact to the diode?

~ LB

 

[Pman]

Thanks for sharing matronium. Finding a way to make something is what makes it interesting. REP given
Keep them coming

 

[Mattronium]

Lazerbeak: I'm not exactly sure what you mean by the contact with the diode?
In the first picture I have a wood "spacer" of sorts to secure the spring. Not sure if that answers your question:thinking:?

Pman:Thank you very much for the REP.

 

[Lazerbeak]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Excuse these old eyes of mine

Wood spacer, very cool solution :beer: Haven't seen that before.

~ LB

 

[Mattronium]

Yes, I managed to fit the LM317 driver inside the Aixiz module but I also wanted a diode before the driver to protect it from revers polarity, since I couldn't fit the diode inside I had the diode going through the wood spacer to the spring.

 

[robomont]

what a cheerful thread.i too have been thinking about a cheap green or maybe an expensive one in about six months.i may have missed it.are you selling cheap greens as i may want one of them.
another ? does the 405 kill the bugs faster than the 445.my cheap red seems to temporarily freeze them where as my 445 1.5watt makes them haul ass.
im always looking for a scorpion killer.

 

[Pman]

I personally don't sell anything and have no interest in it. Lots of others do however and if you are looking for a "serious" 532nm there are a few options that are reputable such as something from Hak or laserbtb with the GB that go on.
Tons of options for lower powered 532s.

 

[Lazerbeak]

This is a build that is in progress. I started it a month or so back and got stuck for a while. With Pman's help I finally got the diode lasing and the foundation set. Just thought I'd share

It's using the diode out of an Eekbay 405nm pen and the host is a Streamlight Stylus Pro, I removed the clip and there will be some further modifications, pending payday and a trip to OSH for some copper tubing. There will be some GITD involved as well

For now, the diode is Lasing and I'm immensely happy as it's been sitting on my desk for a while now (I actually removed it from my Sig when I got stuck) LivingLoud's input also helped me connect the dots. Derp, is how I felt when it all finally came together in my head. The 2 AAA's were replaced with a 10440 and some magnetic spacers and Viola!

That's just a GITD dustcap for fun. This isn't the final look. Take that WL :na:

_____________________________

I also finally figured out how the complete my MiniMe build! Why do these Eureka moments always happen at 2AM

MiniMe has been humping the Giant Laser at the bottom of my Sig for the longest and I just couldn't figure out how to complete the build

Recently I bought a $5 airsoft gun with a laser sight...

Secret Agent 007?s P99 Airsoft Pistol w Laser and Flashing Flashlight | eBay

I took it apart and wouldn't you know it, the laser diode fits real good inside my Streamlight Keymate host. Since the Keymate uses 4 button cells and the diode only needs 2 I have room for batteries and the driver

If all goes well I'll put it all together tomorrow with some epoxy and some soldering and post pics.

Happy Lasing

~ LB

 

[Pman]

Nice! Knew you would get it done
Small builds can be a challenge. Sometimes you want to kick your own butt when the light comes on.
Tbe satisfaction that comes with figuring things out and completing a project is worth it though.

I'll post some new builds this afternoon

Pete

 

[Livinloud]

You know i feel slightly dumb for not realizing I had an inexpensive laser build that was not posted yet. Just got a chance to meter it last night on my new Rubicon LPM and then it hit me, post it to Pete's thread so here you go:

650nm C6 with a black heat sink for a sinister or evil look :eg:









(Keep in mind these tests were done on half used batteries since I didnt have the patience to sit around and wait for all of my batteries to charge before using my new LPM)

As you can see it turned out to be a very slick looking build but unfortunately I didnt get many pictures of it in progress since this was my first build. Very stable but not overly efficient diode was purchased from DTR for $21 and the host was FREE from Moh (Won it in his contest a few months back) so the total build cost was $21 and some of my spare time

I think I have some build pictures on my camera but Ill go check that later today.