Custom Heatsink... WITHOUT LATHE?

[Wolfman29]

Hey fellas.

Just wanted to toot my own horn... I built myself a custom heatsink... WITHOUT A LATHE!

So here it is, in all it's glory!

I know it's not nice and polished, but all of it except that front half will be hidden anyway.

All I used is a hand-held drill and a grinder to make this heatsink! It started out as a five-inch, 3/4" diameter of aluminum. Now it will power a laser!

 

[lasersbee]

Hey.... whatever works for you....:gj:

Jerry

 

[Trevor]

Well done! How snug is the fit to the laser module (or bare diode)?

-Trevor

 

[Krogith]

Hey.... whatever works for you....:gj:

Jerry

I thought the exact same thing...

 

[Wolfman29]

Well, actually, the fit to the Aixiz head is pretty damn tight. It's possible to get in with your bare hands until the last two mm or so, then that has to be hammered in with a rubber mallet. It can be gotten out with a pair of pliers on the focus adapter, though.

 

[qumefox]

If you can find rod stock the right diameter for your application, and your good with a drill press, you can actually do a lot without a lathe.

 

[Wolfman29]

Yup. And that's what I did. Unfortunately, the drill press I had only lasted about three days or so (my teacher gave me his old one, which apparently was essentially broken), but at least I was able to finish that heatsink before it crapped out on me!