CR123A housing HAS blue ray.

[rog8811]

I was going to wait until I had the blue ray diode fitted but as there are a number of threads on home brewed housings so I thought I would offer up this one....

I found a bit of stainless tube that is a perfect fit for CR123A batteries, the front cap was an odment of stainless from the scrap box. Front of end cap is a stianless washer, rear cap with battery spring I had to make, both ends epoxied in place.  
The brass bit is machined out to accept the circuit board and switch, it is also the heat sink for the module.

Joining the cap to the barrel was sorted by taking apart the lens of a camera (I had already stripped out the range finder) two threaded parts of a lens assembly fitted and epoxied in place.

Regards rog8811

 

[rog8811]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

...in the absence of the LD...here is an artists impression of the finished item

Regards rog8811

 

[Kenom]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Damn! Nice. See Now that is why it's nice to be a machinist and have access to metal working tools.

 

[rog8811]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

That is so true Kenom, this build would not be easy without the machine tools...But equally it would not be impossible to do something similar if you find the correct size tube to work with.

jasturbo02 has the right idea, visit the hardware shop with batteries in hand and see what you can concoct

Regards rog8811

 

[Merlous]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Very nice Rog, I can't wait to see that as a finished project

 

[LarryQ]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

Really nice effort!!!

Are you going to be able to get enough voltage for a BR diode??

6 volts supply after the voltage drop of an LM317T may not give enough voltage to get a BR to lase.


LarryQ

 

[rog8811]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

I am thinking that I will go for capacitor, reverse protection diode and a dropping resistor.......no regulator...unless I can find a thread with details of a reg that will work at 6v.

Regards rog8811

 

[a_pyro_is]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Might want to try the l200 that Mike has been using, or an lm2991.

 

[rog8811]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

@ pyro, thanks for the pointers, I had a look at them they are too big for this project...I would prefer to regulate but I need to find the right one....

This one is available in a TO92 package...seems to be 5v@100ma...says not adjustable but with a pre-determined dropping resistor would it do the job?

http://www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM78L05.html

Regards rog8811

 

[Gazoo]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Hi Rog,
Very nice job on the housing.

I will be using the 78L05A with the TO-92 package and a 9 volt battery. It can be used as a current regulator just like the LM317T, but it does have a 2 volt drop. I am thinking if you want to try, you might be able to power it with 2 RCR123's. It would still be cutting it a bit close, but since we will be powering the diode with low currents, I see no reason why it would not work. However I would adjust it first using a 9 volt input, then try it on RCR123's. I will also be using a 50 ohm precision pot to adjust the current. Styropyro pointed out an ebay store that has these, the regulator, and capacitors for cheap:

http://stores.ebay.com/Techno-Star_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZQ2d999QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Following is the full data sheet for the 78L05A. Save the file to your computer and rename the extension from jpg to pdf...it is a pdf file..

 

[rog8811]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Thanks for that Gazoo, It does look to be right on the edge for input volts, I guess it depends a bit on the minimum voltage that the particular LD I use needs to lase.

Regards rog8811

 

[a_pyro_is]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

I haven't used the L05A before, but if you use it as a current regulator like Gazoo suggested it looks like a good one to try.
In my experience the larger cased ICs tend to be more stable, and produce less heat. Do you have any more room in that brass piece? The T0-220 or T0-263 cases are only 4.5mm thick.
Please keep us posted That is gonna be one sharp looking pointer.

 

[Gazoo]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Thanks for that Gazoo, It does look to be right on the edge for input volts, I guess it depends a bit on the minimum voltage that the particular LD I use needs to lase.

Regards rog8811

Well according to Daedal, we are looking at roughly 4.5 volts and ~40ma's.

You don't have any overhead with the CR123's, but you would with the RCR123's.

 

[Archane]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Rog, start making more, I'll take one when your done =)

Seriously I bet you could sell alot of those. using a flashlight is fun but lets face it, smaller = better
Maybe see how many people would want them see if it's worth your time and maybe make some good money in the mean time.

 

[rog8811]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

@ Gazoo I guess it would make sense to go the 78L05A, RCR123 route then...I had better get some on order. Thanks for the info.

@ Archane, Although I could probably get my hands on more of the stainless tube other parts would be more difficult to source, I would need to do some serious thinking about what would be neede to make more......In other words don't hold your breath

Just to show the size of this better I have photographed it alongside a sentorch...

Regards rog8811

 

[Gazoo]

Re: CR123A housing awaits blue ray.

Yup Rog, for the easiest to find and cheapest parts, I think that will be your best bet.

I did receive my blu-ray sleds from Daedal today, but it went straight from my mailbox into a drawer. I am not going to start on it until I have all of the parts..