Build a $10 burning laser

$10 Burning Laser pointer 200-300mw 660nm 1 min duty cycle

SO you want a cheap burning laser - here it is the least expensive burning laser you can build - only $10 for the parts.
BUT, please read this entirely first though!

Cost

$2.50 Diode. (10x) (Single $3.50)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10X-Mitsub...271258?hash=item210c89b19a:g:m-oAAOxy--NRsvkE

$1.50 Aixiz module (Single $2.38)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10x-9mm-La...414557?hash=item215d12811d:g:rncAAOxyY3ZRuuXF

$ .10 Amc7135 (Single ?)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/100pcs-SMD-AMC7135PKFAT-MEL7135PG-L7135-SOT-89-LED-Driver-IC/293687775808?hash=item446127d240:g:9QgAAOSw9r1V9aCE

$2.33 AAA SS Host
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pocket-Han...625105?hash=item3b4b228991:g:JkAAAOSw7bRfGn-k

$1.75 10440 battery (Single $3.50 - get an Efest IMR instead)
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10009177/2528100-authentic-soshine-10440-aaa-3-7v-350mah

$ .75 Misc used including:

wire (4”)
heat shrink tubing (1”)
Kapton tape (6”)
sandpaper (minimal)
solder (minimal)
flux (minimal)

HOWEVER:
Other suggested and/or necessary items:

GOGGLES!!!!
Bench power supply
Multimeter
3rd hand with magnifying glass
Soldering station
Vice
Diode press tool & extractor
Dremel
Laser Power Meter
Battery charger

1000s of hours reading and learning over 10 years
3-6 weeks to get parts
moderate experience at soldering ability and with tools & ESD & optics & electronics, etc.

MY POINT BEING, this is for a super simple DIY laser.
THIS WILL TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE!

If you are new to this forum and:

If you didn't understand the first line ENTIRELY, you need to do some reading on here first.
If you didn't understand the parts list, do some reading FIRST.
If you don't know what an aixiz housing is or a diode press, or the difference between acrylic & glass lenses, do some reading first.

Most seasoned members can show you the parts and you can get them, but there is a good chance you won't know what to do and YOU WILL waste your money, if you don't put the work into learning first.

SIDE NOTES:
1. you need to isolate the module from the host because the diode is case negative; the negative needs to be forced through the amc7135 to work, Thus the need for the Kapton tape
2. there is no reverse battery protection. If you put them in backwards or short it, you LED the diode
3. there is also no ESD protection.

Anyway, enjoy!
BTW, HERE IT IS. 240mw of red

New member here.

Would you recommend similar "advanced current regulators" as drivers of higher power laser diodes? Many of the posts I see use more complicated circuits to do what this single component appears to be doing, and I'm curious if it is scalable.

You are usually better off buying a proper driver from DTR or similar, but do some reading on amc7135 drivers, they will scale in certain applications. It depends on if you need a buck, linear or boost driver and current requirements.

I was simply showing the cheapest way to go. A driver will usually cost between $12-35

Hey @icecruncher, thanks for the beginner guide! I'm an electrical engineer new to lasers and I'm looking forward to making this.

It looks like the housing is no longer sold. Do you know of an alternative housing that would work? Does it just need to fit the electronics and battery or is the included lens also needed for this build.

Thanks!

Any cheap pen-style eBay laser pointer could be emptied out and used as a host

bryanfuel said:

Hey @icecruncher, thanks for the beginner guide! I'm an electrical engineer new to lasers and I'm looking forward to making this.

It looks like the housing is no longer sold. Do you know of an alternative housing that would work? Does it just need to fit the electronics and battery or is the included lens also needed for this build.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

As mentioned, any cheap housing that will work, the lens or any of the LED part isn't needed as the AixiZ Module is what holds the lens and diode for the laser.

icecruncher said:

As mentioned, any cheap housing that will work, the lens or any of the LED part isn't needed as the AixiZ Module is what holds the lens and diode for the laser.

Click to expand...

gazer101 said:

Any cheap pen-style eBay laser pointer could be emptied out and used as a host

Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies! Sorry for the noob question and if I broke any rules by resurrecting a dead thread. I ended up going with an Osram PLT5 450B and got it running at ~250mW output power on a bench supply! Waiting on parts (voltage converter, mosfet, host, batteries/charger) in the mail to fit it into a host.