60 WATT 808nm Build Log

[Cyparagon]

According to a chart I have which only goes to 780, giving a value of 1 to 555nm, 650nm has a value of .107, and 780nm has a value of .000015. I can't give a value for 808, but 60W of 780nm laser light would appear as bright as 8mW of 650.

You would have to find a computer PSU that is capable of...

I didn't say [highlight]A[/highlight], I said [highlight]some[/highlight]. Old PSUs are cheap. Including resistors, it couldn't be more than $50 to build a decent one.

 

[Benm]

Well, perhaps its even 1/10.000th then - a bit hard to gauge.

Those charts arent the most accurate at wavelengths on the edges of visible though, and it also seems to vary a bit between individuals. In any case, 808 that appears bright in any way is very bad news for the eyes

 

[MarioMaster]

Re: 60 WATT 808nm Build Log (56k warning)

Hey guys - good news today

This thing is solid - probably weighs more than a brick

Thermistor connection on the side, as well as the anode connection (sitting on top of the transformer that will be supplying power to it in the near future)

First light! Connected to an LM317 circuit and driven at a few hundred mA

 

[MarioMaster]

Setting up some pieces for the power supply

Click Image to Enlarge Image Hosting


Got a test version of the power supply working, here's a shot of the laser running at 10 amps

That's all for now Need to wait until my goggles arrive and my power supply needs major beefing up before it's gonna be able to supply 60-90 amps ;D

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Those are some real HOG power supplies ;D High voltage or high current requires some thinking and design.
Good stuff here

Mike

 

[artix]

So that diode is over 2 inches across? Awesome!

 

[Things]

I wouldnt exactly call it a diode, its more like a "Holy crap it just burnt thru my wall" kinda thing

Its not a single diode though, its a big bunch of diodes mounted in the same little area. I dont think any kind of single diode could handle 90A without turning into a miniature nuke

 

[Benm]

Its still a big honkin laser!

What are you planning to do with optics? By the looks of it, light comes out as a big rectangular and diverting beam, possibly quite difficult shape into something more desireable? If you could focus that down to a 1 cm diameter (or smaller) 'dot', i bet it'd be great for starting fires ;p

 

[Glaserfan]

I too am interested in what this beast of a laser will do once finished ;D

This seems on topic... Anyone in for a simailar cool project?.. Too bad I don't haver the cash lol..

I just searched "diode bar" on eBay.. found these item #'s.

390016987324
390018072100

 

[MarioMaster]

Small update: I got some copper pipe strapping and some terminal connectors today at the hardware store. Hooked up all my capacitors and was able to run the power supply at the max current my bridge rectifier can handle (25A) I got it past the lasing threshold It melted the electrical tape I had stuck on an altoids tin for a makeshift beam dump, so I took a video of it on my IR camera (video is a bit poor since the camera doesn't have a preview LCD)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmI2SBxwG3Q[/media]

 

[StrictlyBudget]

OMG INSANE! is that a Sony diode btw?

 

[Cyparagon]

rawful! No. These are likely made by coherent.

May I suggest not using something as reflective as an altoids tin as a beam dump? Even a block of wood is a better choice. Ideally, a tile of graphite is the best.

 

[FrothyChimp]

For most systems we use graphite. They are easy to get. Just look up graphite electrodes on ebay. You will be overwhelmed with them.

 

[Benm]

I love how that thing lights up the whole area with IR, rendered spooky purply by the camera

 

[MarioMaster]

rawful! No. These are likely made by coherent.

May I suggest not using something as reflective as an altoids tin as a beam dump? Even a block of wood is a better choice. Ideally, a tile of graphite is the best.

The diode is made by Coherent, and yes I'm currently using a black anodized CPU heatsink for a beam dump