Some info on Laserlands heatsinks

Hi peoples,

Heatsinks I am talking about can and must be purchased here :
Cooling Heatsink/Heat Sink for 12mm Laser Diode Module - eBay (item 120600437345 end time Nov-22-10 07:55:04 PST)

Now, what do they looks like :


Link to very big picture:
http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv263/Eudaimonium/PA150368.jpg
Anyhow, I have used them to keep my two red modules, that will go into my scanner, cold enough to survive endless torture I am about to put them through.

I have connected two reds in series and shot 415 mA through them first with a couple of batteries:




However, since that's not going to do, I have disconnected the computer PSU from the correction amplifier board and powered the thing with 12V so I don't have to worry about batteries. To reduce the LM350 dissipation, I added a green module too:


This setup as you see it was run for about 4 minutes straight one time.

Reds got only so warm that you can feel it's warm. Few °C less and you couldn't even tell the difference between pre-ON time and post-ON time. And that's with none airflow at all! Well, minimal, neglectable one.

Outside machining is decent, surface could be smoother but who cares, actually.
Inside, where 12mm module goes, is very smooth and provides maximum heat transfer, and machined with very low tolerance. Too bad Aixiz does not make their modules with low tolerance, forcing me to use small bit of aluminium foil in one of the heatsinks, other one fit just fine.

However, there are two main problems I'd point out here.
First, height of the module.

It's about 5 mm lower than "standard" height for labby modules, for example black Aixiz 50 mW brick. Hence, they need to be elevated to match the O-like dichroic mounts and Aixiz beam height.

Second, assembly.
In heatsinks themselves, holes are not threaded. You mount them together with a screw and a nut on other side, which means you have to hold the heatsink together, then grab hold the nut with something and in same time drive the screw from other side. Quite a task. I'd prefer the nuts to be glued (or welded, why the hell not) to the main body of the heatsink.


Pros:
- good heatsinking power
- large surface to air
- low tolerance machining, e.a. finish on the 12mm hole
Cons:
- nonstandard fitted module height
- assembly style

Considering the price, free shipping and all, overall experience is GOOD and I warmly reccomend those if you need them.

Very interesting, price seems reasonable also.

I bought one of these for my green module in my spyro build. I agree with everything you said about them.

In my case I have a 13mm green module so I had to machine out the hole a bit.

Good product for the price. (Only $8.50)
3 hands would be good in order to hold the nut, turn the screwdriver, and hold the heatsink together with the module in place!!!

With this said, I think next time I will spend a little extra for this heatsink from Z-bolt
LINK: 12 mm Green Laser Module - Z-Bolt&reg Certified Power, 100 mm Leads or Spring

They are a little more expensive ($20) but the quality is much better. It gets even cheaper when ordering more (5-19 heatsinks = $15/ea; and for 20+ it says to call for price). Maybe a GB?

Kevlar said:

I bought one of these for my green module in my spyro build. I agree with everything you said about them.

In my case I have a 13mm green module so I had to machine out the hole a bit.

Good product for the price. (Only $8.50)
3 hands would be good in order to hold the nut, turn the screwdriver, and hold the heatsink together with the module in place!!!

With this said, I think next time I will spend a little extra for this heatsink from Z-bolt
LINK: 12 mm Green Laser Module - Z-Bolt&reg Certified Power, 100 mm Leads or Spring

They are a little more expensive ($20) but the quality is much better. It gets even cheaper when ordering more (5-19 heatsinks = $15/ea; and for 20+ it says to call for price). Maybe a GB?

Click to expand...

You mean, 3 pairs of hands? Yeah ! :na:

I am aware of Z-bolts heatsink, it's bulky and it's anodized so it does not connect to stuff when touched, unlike these. I'm thinking of throwing a clear laquer spray on the botton half so I can safely secure it on baseplate.

Group buy might not succeed, I mean how many people do need those currently? I just got mine so rule me out Sorry, I don't think you'll have more than 10 people.

Well, I'm just counting ones building actual scanner, so maybe some new guys making their first builds could be interested.

Dunno, actually might be worth a try... :undecided:

Yeah, I'm not sure of the GB either. I guess I was just thinkin' out loud. :crackup:

I just remember hearing good things about the Z-bolts from EF and that is a good point you bring up about them being anodized.

For securing yours to the base plate, would a self-adhesive thermal pad work?

Kevlar said:

Yeah, I'm not sure of the GB either. I guess I was just thinkin' out loud. :crackup:

I just remember hearing good things about the Z-bolts from EF and that is a good point you bring up about them being anodized.

For securing yours to the base plate, would a self-adhesive thermal pad work?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure yet, I was thinking something along lines of more permanent solution, like slow-drying epoxy, which will give me time to allign stuff before it dries.
However, I'm far away from completing my scanner so I'll have time to work that out.

I'll make a thread soon showing 4 modules all lit up.

op: