Building my first white laser! Help appreciated :D

[r34p3rex]

Hey guys, looking to get back into lasers again Figured building a white laser would be a good summer project

Anyway, I've been reading some guides, and compiled a list of things I will need (let me know if I am missing anything!)

1) Full Color Driver Extension for White Fusion Kit - by FireMyLaser
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-full-colour-driver-extension-white-fusion-kit-44052.html

2) White Fusion Mixing Kit - by Sightfx
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-white-fusion-laser-mixing-kit-42013.html

3) 2x Aixiz Modules (1 for red diode, 1 for the 455nm diode)

4) Some sort of enclosure

What I need help on is selecting diodes. What diodes would you recommend for this build? I'm looking to use the casio 455nm in the build if possible (more power and better colors, correct?)

All help is appreciated

 

[ZRTMWA]

Make sure you have some spare cash for all of the switches, possible fans, and other electronics you may need. You probably won't have everything you need when you start building.

Do you have a soldering iron? That's pretty much a necessary.

For the green module, you can either go with O-like (my #1 choice) or Dealextreme. With the 445nm in there, the max power green you'll be needing is 100mW but you probably won't get over 90mW (because you don't want to overpower the red). I'm sure you sa the Chroma Sightfx made with the 445nm (in the White Fusion thread).

I'm not sure what red you should use. You could ask around and see if anyone has a red from an 8x (BDR-203) or BDR-205 (12x). Those seemed promising. But those won't fit in an Aixiz. You'd have to buy a Copperhead module from Sightfx for $15 (I think they're $15). You're only other choice that would be high powered enough to match the 445nm is probably a Flat Plastic Red from a DVD burner. LarryDFW tested one up to 400mW I think but then had mixed results towards the end of the experimenting. However like the reds from the 8x and 12x blu ray burners, you can't just use the standard Aixiz module (they aren't 5.6mm). You would have to basically surround the diode with solder inside the Aixiz. See here: http://laserpointerforums.com/f50/flat-red-laser-diode-testing-2nd-phase-47044.html

You're definitely going to want to get a 650-G-1 lens for the red no matter what you choose. They should increase the power of your red by 25% when compared to an Aixiz plastic lens. I think Jayrob also found that the $10 Aixiz glass lens work really well with the 445nm. See here for 650-G-1: http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/f...fication-fit-aixiz-25-increase-red-46332.html

Check out Jayrob's clear plastic enclosures from Digi-key too, I really like them.

I've been really interested in this kit for a while now although I can't say I have a white laser. I know I'll think of more stuff after I post this. I'll post later if I do.

 

[r34p3rex]

Make sure you have some spare cash for all of the switches, possible fans, and other electronics you may need. You probably won't have everything you need when you start building.

Do you have a soldering iron? That's pretty much a necessary.

For the green module, you can either go with O-like (my #1 choice) or Dealextreme. With the 445nm in there, the max power green you'll be needing is 100mW but you probably won't get over 90mW (because you don't want to overpower the red). I'm sure you sa the Chroma Sightfx made with the 445nm (in the White Fusion thread).

I'm not sure what red you should use. You could ask around and see if anyone has a red from an 8x (BDR-203) or BDR-205 (12x). Those seemed promising. But those won't fit in an Aixiz. You'd have to buy a Copperhead module from Sightfx for $15 (I think they're $15). You're only other choice that would be high powered enough to match the 445nm is probably a Flat Plastic Red from a DVD burner. LarryDFW tested one up to 400mW I think but then had mixed results towards the end of the experimenting. However like the reds from the 8x and 12x blu ray burners, you can't just use the standard Aixiz module (they aren't 5.6mm). You would have to basically surround the diode with solder inside the Aixiz. See here: http://laserpointerforums.com/f50/flat-red-laser-diode-testing-2nd-phase-47044.html

You're definitely going to want to get a 650-G-1 lens for the red no matter what you choose. They should increase the power of your red by 25% when compared to an Aixiz plastic lens. I think Jayrob also found that the $10 Aixiz glass lens work really well with the 445nm. See here for 650-G-1: http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/f...fication-fit-aixiz-25-increase-red-46332.html

Check out Jayrob's clear plastic enclosures from Digi-key too, I really like them.

I've been really interested in this kit for a while now although I can't say I have a white laser. I know I'll think of more stuff after I post this. I'll post later if I do.

Thanks for the great feedback Would you happen to have the link to the color balancing tool? I remember there used to be a calculator to help you determine how much of each color you needed.

Would an LPC-815 + 650-G-1 produce enough power? I was thinking of running the 455nm at the lowest power possible (~250mw IIRC)

 

[Bionic-Badger]

The 445nm is not quite as bright as green, but still quite a bit brighter than red, so you'll have to see. Even if the LPC-815 isn't bright enough, the only way you'll get more juice out of it is by using two lasers and combining the two using a cube.

I think some of these 445nm diodes can actually output a TEM00 beam as low as 45mW. Not sure how they get that specific mode though.

 

[chipdouglas]

Don't forget, you have to have green as well.

 

[ZRTMWA]

Thanks for the great feedback Would you happen to have the link to the color balancing tool? I remember there used to be a calculator to help you determine how much of each color you needed.

Would an LPC-815 + 650-G-1 produce enough power? I was thinking of running the 455nm at the lowest power possible (~250mw IIRC)

Here's the tool, called a Chroma, that Tocket over at PhotonLexicon made. I'm not sure if it works any more, there was some discussion about it in the WF thread:
Chroma - a laser color blender


In case you didn't see it, here's the example Sightfx made. You can see that even with 350mW (pretty much the max) you only need 80mW of 445nm to balance it out.