1A LM317 driver with current selection switch

[IWIRE]

I glad it was useful! :beer:

I'm just cooking the new design of my laser, I'll use a small heatsink with one side flat and one side with the spikes.

The part with the spikes will be outside, I'll mount the box directly on the heatsink.

That's will help cooling and make the driver have a uncommon appearance.

:yh:

It was useful. Thank you. I'll be interested in seeing what you come up with. I might steal your design. Imitation is the purest form of flattery
Uncommon appearances are good. I'm about as uncommon as they come.

 

[alessnilsen]

Here my latest designs, but all will depend of the heatsink I'll get.

I like more the no. 1, but I already have the heatsink for no. 2.

 

[IWIRE]

I like the lower profile one also. They both look nice though.

 

[alessnilsen]

Eh, I don't was able to find any heatsink suitable for no. 1 in the recycle center, so, I bought a faulty video card that have the exact heatsink for no. 2, is bigger and heavy, black too (to combine with the black laser module :yh than the heatsink for no. 1.

Here is a preview with cardboard of the final assembly:

Now I'll start cutting the MDF shapes.

 

[IWIRE]

Ha ! I do that too ! I'm no good with CAD, it does nothing but frustrate me do to my inability to devote enough time to learn it.

So I draw ideas out on graph paper and make cardboard mockups.

It looks good. I like it.

 

[alessnilsen]

Thanks!

I never tried a CAD software, but looking at it, I think the easy way is paper/cardboard!

First I draw it on the computer, respecting all the sizes, but ignoring the thickness of the shapes, if I like it, I make a simple cardboard mockup, it has exactly 0,25cm of thickness, the same of my MDF shapes, I can correct any mistakes involving thickness, then, I cut the shapes, make the holes for plugs/etc.. and glue it with super glue, if all was successfully, I pass varnish.

Here the shapes:

I'm wondering if superglue will glue the MDF into the metal heatsink, if no, I'll try hot glue.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

For the fan connector, if you have a heat
gun, motherboard fan connectors work
perfect. Put the heat gun on high and heat
from the bottom.

 

[alessnilsen]

Nice idea! I'll try to get one of those connectors.

------------------

Here is a advance preview of my build:

Now I need buy another toggle SPDT switch for on/off and drill the holes to fix the module on the driver box.

:thanks: :thanks:

 

[alessnilsen]

Here the conclusion of this project:

First 450nm build (with pics)