building my first, yay!

[crocie]

Hey guys, im brand new to this forum and have decided to build a laser! (was easily convinced to after reading a few threads )
It's for a physics assignment at school (build some electronic thing, can be anything) and i wanted something flashy that i will still use after completing it.

could you guys help me with some noob questions? :

i have decided to go with one of jayrobs builds (http: //www .laserpointerforums. com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1217045236/0)

have found available host:
http: //www .gadgetsdirect. com .au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=110&products_id=10995

driver: (out of stock! any others?)
http: //hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive. php

Purchasing heatsink from jayrob

thinking of some wickedlaser red-laser (blue) protection specs


The last thing i need is a diode, im completly open to recommendations
what im looking for:
visibility, the more the better (this would be AWESOME)
and burnability (2nd to visibility )
and lotsa powa! 200-500mW would be sweet, but that may be unrealistic due to heat? I'm not quite sure, i hear jayrob makes some mad heatsinks.
red/green? i think green has issues with IR, probs noob question again ;D

and, i think there called, housing modules?
AixiZ/Meredith
can they both focus?


any other tips are much appriciated
ill try to learn as much as i can from net before i build.



so- it's pretty much exactly what everyone else wants ;D i also plan on making a second later, with a blu-ray diode.

 

[Switch]

You could get the rkcstr driver.But if it's for a school project I guess you would be rewarded points for building your own(though it will make it harder to fit inside a flashlight.

For visibility green would be much better, but for now you can forget about diy-ing that.I suggest a 20/22x diode.You can run those close to 300mW, plenty of power, and even though the wavelength is high and won't be as bright as a 640nm (or even a 16x I've heard) it's will still be bright way beyond cheap laser pointers at the dollar store.Also you can do some burning demonstration with that kind of power, and it would be a pretty impressive project to show.

As for the module, yes it's for focusing(or rather collimating in our case) and providing a minimum amount of heatsinking.Technically meredith is of a higher quality , but way way more expensive, most people usually go with aixiz.

A good place to start looking for parts you need is the Buy Sell and Trade section of the forum.

Good luck

 

[chopper]

I'm no safety expert, but I would be careful about how much power you use if you don't plan on distributing eye protection to the class.

How powerful of a red is OK without protection?

Edit: I'm also looking for a flexdrive... can't wait till they're in stock!

 

[crocie]

thanks guys!
yea, these look good,

rkcstr driver
http: // www .laserpointerforums. com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206947255

any hints on some descent diode sites?
http: //stonetek. org/shop/index. php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180

hows that^^?




[EDIT]



If i were to buy/scab a DVD burner, which brands are typically best? (higher power, and such) (Samsung /LG /SONY /Pioneer?)

[EDIT2]

umm, driver current, how do i know what i want my driver current set at?

 

[crocie]

http: //stonetek. org/shop/index. php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180
Hey, what kind of performance can i expect from this kind of diode?

also, can i just ask for the rkcstr driver to be preset to this diode? like, when i assemble it, how do i make sure im getting the most power out of the diode?

i think im a little confused :s

 

[lazerguy]

That is a 16x diode. These are good and stable, and the ones from Stonetek will give you about 200mW at 300-350mA, I think. Plenty of power for a burning show.
 You will not achieve much more performance with a 20x than with a 16x either. The 16x will output maybe about 50mW less, but that's hardly noticeable in burning power. And such a small difference is not at all noticeable in brightness.

I think this is what you are confuzed by, crocie:
The rckstr driver has a small variable resistor, a potentiometer. It looks like a small screw that can be turned clockwise/counter-clockwise to control the amount of current flowing to the diode, which affects the power of the diode in mW. So, simply said, you can adjust the power of the diode with the screw on the driver.

Good luck with the build!

 

[crocie]

thanks lazerguy! answered pretty much everything

but unfortunatly ive discovered i can't use a rkcstr drive, and i need a flexdrive (which is apparently out of stock )
http: //hacylon.case. edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive. php
anyone know how long its gona take for more stock? (the 2 week signs been up for a while )

on the site it asks if you want to preset current mA. How do i know what current i need?

ty!

 

[chopper]

This post has a graph that might help if the diode is like the senkat that they are posting about.

http :// www .laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206154865/77#77

 

[Spyderz20x6]

thanks lazerguy! answered pretty much everything

but unfortunatly ive discovered i can't use a rkcstr drive, and i need a flexdrive (which is apparently out of stock )
http: //hacylon.case. edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive. php
anyone know how long its gona take for more stock? (the 2 week signs been up for a while )

on the site it asks if you want to preset current mA. How do i know what current i need?

ty!

Hey --

If you are doing a jayrob build, you might wanna buy a 20x open can. These can do 300mW at 420mA. You can PM TheMonk and buy one for $36 installed in an AixiZ module, and the current you want is 420mA, because with a jayrob heatsink, this will give you a nice, long duty cycle. The power difference between a 16x and a 20x is actually quite noticable. Check out the link in my signature for ALOT of info on building your first laser.

BTW, the 16x set at 300mA and the 20x set at 420mA have a ~100mW difference

 

[crocie]

hey, i already ordered from stonetech using paypal, payment hasn't cleared yet, but i dont think i can reverse it :s

edit
i sent him a message, if he cant cancel, no worries

 

[Spyderz20x6]

hey, i already ordered from stonetech using paypal, payment hasn't cleared yet, but i dont think i can reverse it :s

Oh...

Well then you want it set to 300mA.

 

[crocie]

i think im gona make this one of my hobbies, might make a green and bluray later.

so, how did you arrive at those numbers? 300 and 420ma i mean, and 200 and 300mW.

 

[Spyderz20x6]

i think im gona make this one of my hobbies, might make a green and bluray later.

so, how did you arrive at those numbers? 300 and 420ma i mean, and 200 and 300mW.

Experience

Don't count on making a green :
You have to get an IR pump diode, buy a KTP crystal that is rated for your power output, allign it by every micrometer with the diode, glue it in place without screwing it up, and collimate it. You have a 90 out of 100 chance of failing. This is NOT for Diy'ing, and it is ment to be factory made. So, don't count on it

Sorry to burst your bubble, but i thought you should know before hand.

BTW, there is no such thing as a green diode.

 

[crocie]

lol, yea i read about the colour conversion and crystals and such right after typing that, pitty about the IR

ty chopp,
graph is informative, i take it opencan is better? guess these things generate quite alot of heat, huh?

 

[Davo]

[quote author=crocie link=1223985900/0#9 date=1224129008]hey, i already ordered from stonetech using paypal, payment hasn't cleared yet, but i dont think i can reverse it :s

Oh...

Well then you want it set to 300mA.[/quote]
ordered my 300ma driver, and 16x diode, cant wait to build a red burner  


edit: hope it all arrives early next week so i can take a blu ray and a red laser out on my camping trip

 

[crocie]

ok, ive ordered a 20x off theMonk

and the host i wanted is out of stock, they only discovered after i'd payed
ill use this one instead: http: //www .dealextreme. com/details.dx/sku.3405


does anyone know a driver compatible with this build that i can order and recieve asap? my assignments due in a little over 2 weeks :s