Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

my first laser build :)

Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
54
Points
0
its a 5mw module i bought from ebay
the box is a slightly used project box(could have been abit smaller, it powered by 2 x 1.5 v AAA's which ill be swapping for a cr2 when i make some changes to it. im using a piece of wood at the minute to keep it in place but im getting an alloy heatsink/holder soon so i can get rid of it so the laser is straight :')
ive got a toggle switch on the side and a keyswitch at the rear, better safe than sorry!

i was soldering a blue led in to light when the keyswitch is on but it had a tiny bit of trouble with it so ill proably do it tomorrow.

i got the module this morn and was finished in a couple of hours :)
here are some pics :)

DSCF1757.jpg


DSCF1759.jpg


DSCF1760.jpg


DSCF1761.jpg


DSCF1762.jpg


DSCF1763.jpg


DSCF1769.jpg



im going to make some minor changes to this, adding led's, adding the heatsink holder and if i find a smaller box anywhere move it all into that:)

im looking around for a decent portable laser host so i should have a few more pics up in abit :)
 
Last edited:





Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
382
Points
0
Not a bad 1st build at all. I like the computer interlock switch and the idea of a blue "armed" light. I don't see a driver circuit, but many 5mw reds I've had just used a current limiting resistor on a small PCB that may be in the housing.

As far as the wood block.......
5mw doesn't put out much heat at all. The housing its in should be fine IMO. The wood is restricting airflow to it. I think I'd take a piece of soda can (1" wide?), put a hole in it for the housing, near the rear, then bend a 90* so its flat to the case bottom. Then, I'd hot glue it in place and the housing just inside the box.
That way its easily removed if you do change hosts later.

I'm working on my 1st and deciding on a host has been a challenge. Presently its just in the Aixiz housing running between 50-70mw and its barely is warm to the touch after a few minutes of continuous use.

Again, nice 1st successful build.
 

Kulhu

0
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
172
Points
0
yea 5mw diode lasers do not put out any head at all, however nice build!
 
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
3,948
Points
63
pleas show us or tell us what you are using for your driver. because if you are using straight battery:

1- your diode will die soon
2- you are way over 5mw so be careful.

about being careful, good job on using a toggle switch and a key interlock.!!

michael
 

Kulhu

0
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
172
Points
0
pleas show us or tell us what you are using for your driver. because if you are using straight battery:

1- your diode will die soon
2- you are way over 5mw so be careful.

about being careful, good job on using a toggle switch and a key interlock.!!

michael

That looks about 5mW to me, and the driver is in the module[probably].
 

ped

0
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
4,889
Points
113
Yeah those modules have the driver built in.

Nice first build. Basic but the principal is correct. Next step move up to something bigger :lasergun:


And dont worry about the heatsink, at 5mW the Aixiz module is enough.
 
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
54
Points
0
thanks fo all the great feedback :)

chipdouglas:
it has a tiny driver in there with about 4 components, i used a little bit of super glue to hold the module in place but little enough so i can get it out so i dont really want to pull it all out to show you but i looked when i got it and it does have one in :) ill get a better driver when i get a more powerful diode ;)

and ive just put the led in so it lights when the key switch is on. ive got the best resistor i could find to limit the brightness without turning it off cause it was really bright but it is still pretty bright as you can see in these pics... :)

DSCF1773.jpg


DSCF1775.jpg
 
Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Messages
3,220
Points
0
Any 'real' online electronics supplier will have those. Newark, mouser, etc. Last place I think I ordered some for some argon-ion psu's was mouser only because I was getting a bunch of other stuff from them as well.

If your really on a low budget though, and have really old computer crap piled up, you can scavenge one off of an old PC case usually. But this would be mostly pre-pentium 2 stuff.

Even allelectronics has them

http://www.allelectronics.com/index.php?page=search&search_query=key+switch&x=0&y=0
 
Last edited:

awlego

0
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
160
Points
0
Nice first build! I laughed at the comment about the wood holding the laser ;)
I recommend working up to a homemade RGV build - they are quite spectacular when finished. My RGV is in a project box that looks almost identical to yours :)

Best of luck with future builds.
 

Rafa

0
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
437
Points
0
We're missing beamshots!
I think 5mW of red will not give too much beam :crackup:

Nice first build! I laughed at the comment about the wood holding the laser ;)
I recommend working up to a homemade RGV build - they are quite spectacular when finished. My RGV is in a project box that looks almost identical to yours :)

Best of luck with future builds.
An RGV for the 2nd build? I think it's a little bit diffcult for being the 2nd. I'd go for an 405 or 445nm build.

Anyway my first build was a LOC (dead now :crackup:)
And my second was a 780nm, useless, doesn't burn, you dont see it. Piece of crap.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
382
Points
0
Actually, after reading Rafa's beamshot comment I took a $1 <1mw 630-680nm Family Dollar store pet pointer/chaser out. I had to put smoke in front of it but it did have a faint visible beam in a well lit room as long as it was in the smoke/fog. I'm satisfied with the dot shot the OP posted though. ;)

As far as your next build, I made the test load module and 3 LM317 drivers from the schematics here on the forum. The test load IMO is pretty much a must to have along with a DMM when working with laser diodes. This allows you to set the current not exceeding the diodes limit before connecting it. Even if you buy a prebuilt driver, you'll want to know or set the output for the diodes range. Members on here sell kits, diodes, heatsinks very reasonable. The amount of information on this forum is amazing. I'm still reading daily after 3 weeks! Safety goggles.....ok...they are on the list as "not an option, but a must have" if you plan on building lasers.

Sorry for the long post, but I figure with the "1st Build" title, many new to lasers will read this thread. There is much more than what I've said, but the more time taken reading threads in the forum, the more you will find out what you really need to know.
 
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
54
Points
0
rafa, i got the keyswitch off ebay, just search keyswitch and you'll get a load of results, and it was £3 :)

ill take a picture of the beam(with deoderant) now, you can literally see nothing without smoke even in pitch black :\

and im gunner try and find out everyhting i need to know to make a laser out of a blu ray sled :)

be posting pics shortly!
 




Top