4 diodes better than 1. DIY Array on the cheap

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You can add some resistance, although with the 405nm diodes the voltage can vary by hundreds of mv, which requires quite a large amount of resistance (and its probably easier to just use separate regulators anyway)

 

[GooeyGus]

I just want to add, for anyone thinking of doing this, I have an idea that might make things a bit better, beam wise.

Rather than having your four beams in a 'line' next to each other, have two of the beams next to each other and bounce them off the very TOP of the mirror, and then raise two of the diodes a tiny bit and reflect them such that they BARELY pass over the top of the first two mirrors. This will give you a 'square' of four beams which will be much cleaner/easier to work with than a line of four spots.

 

[laserfreak3d]

I just want to add, for anyone thinking of doing this, I have an idea that might make things a bit better, beam wise.

Rather than having your four beams in a 'line' next to each other, have two of the beams next to each other and bounce them off the very TOP of the mirror, and then raise two of the diodes a tiny bit and reflect them such that they BARELY pass over the top of the first two mirrors. This will give you a 'square' of four beams which will be much cleaner/easier to work with than a line of four spots.

yea thats how mutch multiple diode systems work

 

[Sk8trboipyro]

[quote author=Hemlock Mike link=1229985350/0#12 date=1229997595]It is said that the Greeks used arrays of mirrors to concentrate sunlight on enemy ships  ;D

Wasnt that busted on MythBusters? =P
[/quote]

Actually, they revisited that myth and marked it as "Plausible" :