DIY Blu-Ray Project. Help please :)

[Elektrotechniker]

Ok, so I decided to build my own DIY blu ray laser. It will be my first laser project .So far, some of the components I will order are are following:
1 [highlight]PHR-803T Blu-Ray SLED[/highlight] http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1231191166
1 [highlight]Aixiz module[/highlight] Where to get it from??
1 [highlight]MXDL Host[/highlight] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5731
1 [highlight]Flexdrive[/highlight] http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive.php

I am not sure wether I need a heatsink or not, becuase I heard that an aixiz module can cool the diode up to a point. Now, as for the host, can I use the one I mentioned above? If yes, what type of batteries are the best to use? Please help me buy the appropriate parts for my first project. Thanks in advance.

 

[ndrew2505]

i have aixiz module if tommy doesnt have any. you can buy them off ebay as well. yes you should have a heatsink if you want your diode to LIVE!! : but seriously you should get a heatsink too. jayrob, dark-horse, and likeitbright are just a few options you have for those. all of them do awesome work.

 

[phoenix77]

BRAVO Well stated drew Silvershot, drew has called it right on the head. For some GREAT beginners advice, see " TIPS FOR BEGINNERS " by Spyderz. Not only is it filled with great advice, but it also covers a lot of questions that a beginner has concerning the building of any laser, regardless of the color. He also provides links to most every part he makes reference to. I wish there had been something like that up for me when I TRIED to build my first RED LASER. It was a miserable failure. Reading Spyderz " TIPS " will help make your 1st build a success

 

[Elektrotechniker]

ah well. I finished the ddl driver.I thought I should make my own to save money and to have more fun. So, no handheld laser. However, things went very well. I successfully set up the current to 100mA and I also measured the Voltage which is 8.20 V. here are some pics of the driver itself:
P.S the 3 last pics were taken before the driver had been completely finished.

 

[Elektrotechniker]

my BR is finished. the only prob is that it doesnt burn! i am running the diode at 100 mA . I tried to focus the dot but I failed to light a match What do you guys think the problem is?

 

[Th0ughts]

100 mA = ~70-90 mW

That would be lucky if it could light a match.

 

[daguin]

100 mA = ~70-90 mW

That would be lucky if it could light a match.

I would disagree.  I can light a match with 35mW of violet.  At ~90mW it should light a match very quickly.

Many people do not actually get a violet laser fully focused.  When it is focused, it is a virtual pinpoint spot.

Do you have laser goggles to limit the "blaze" of the violet light so you can see when it is really at its smallest? Are you holding the laser in your hand? If so, you may just be "wiggling" around enough to "spread" the light around too much.

Make sure it is focused. Place the match in a holder of some kind. Brace your hand or place the laser into a holder of some kind. It will light a match under those conditions.


Peace,
dave

 

[Th0ughts]

[quote author=Th0ughts link=1231597367/0#5 date=1232487004]100 mA = ~70-90 mW

That would be lucky if it could light a match.

I would disagree.  [highlight]I can light a match with 35mW of violet.[/highlight]  At ~90mW it should light a match very quickly.

Many people do not actually get a violet laser fully focused.  When it is focused, it is a virtual pinpoint spot.

Do you have laser goggles to limit the "blaze" of the violet light so you can see when it is really at its smallest?  Are you holding the laser in your hand?  If so, you may just be "wiggling" around enough to "spread" the light around too much.

Make sure it is focused.  Place the match in a holder of some kind.  Brace your hand or place the laser into a holder of some kind.  It will light a match under those conditions.


Peace,
dave[/quote]
I guess I have a shaky hand. Thank you for clarification.

 

[Elektrotechniker]

thank you. I dont have the 405 nm goggles yet. but I tried many different focusing spots. yet nothing.

 

[wolfblue]

I just finished my first PHR a few days ago. It will light matches at 105 mA, but it takes a few seconds. Sometimes quite a few. The beam waist is about half a mm. I know people pop matches in a instant, but assumed they were using more power. And I only tried one type of red match. Does anybody think the beam could be smaller than 0.5mm ?

 

[daguin]

thank you. I dont have the 405 nm goggles yet. but I tried many different focusing spots. yet nothing.

There seems to be some incredulity about my 35mW blu-ray match light claim.  Here is a link to a video I just made to show it working.  

This module is one of the ones I use in my lecture pointers, but turned up all the way to 33mW,  

The match is a normal paper match with a red head.

The distance is about 10 inches.

http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg201/imdguin/?action=view&current=35mWMatchLight.flv

I know -- Someday I'll learn how to embed these things correctly  :-[

Peace,
dave

 

[Elektrotechniker]

plz some1 give me more info I am running it at 100 mA and cant light matches! lol daguin what current are you running your diode at?

 

[jnrpop]

Try using a new Batt, BRAND NEW. I just fired up another Blu-ray Labby style build with a LM317 circuit just like yrs and i couldn burn anything. Swapped over to a fresh new batt and Bang, instint burning and match never stood a chance. I focused it with two sets of sunglasses on which is naughty but im waiting for my goggles, i dont make a habbit of looking at the dot either, specially at 100mw or so.

But try new Batts, i use new 9v batts and they will need to be changed regularly because LM317 based circuits have a drop out.

 

[daguin]

plz some1 give me more info I am running it at 100 mA and cant light matches! lol daguin what current are you running your diode at?

The video was made with an SF-AD112 diode running at about 45mA (33mW).  

This is the exact set-up that I use for my lecture pointers (but turned down to less than 10mW).  This module is one that is just waiting to be placed into a host.

As you can clearly see, a properly focused 33mW of violet laser light will light a red match within seconds.  

I can barely get this posted.  I haven't a clue how to "edit."  The time counter on the bottom of the video is valid

Either you are not getting the laser focused (for whatever reason) or you are moving too much.  A properly focused violet laser is a virtual "pin point" of light at close range. If it is large enough to look like a small "spot" to you, it is not focused yet.

Peace,
dave

 

[Elektrotechniker]

jnrpop, how can I thank you mate? I tired a brand new 9 v batt and in the proper focus place, the match lit in an instant I guess I overused that alkaline 9 v one so it was normal that the diode couldnt burn...
Thanks eveyone who helped me in this project, especially the #laserchat people. jnrpop, thanks again for making my day brighter

 

[wolfblue]

A week ago, I was a bit skeptical that I could light a match with 80mW. Now I think I could do it with 35mW. I said my beam got down to a half mm, how it looks in smoke. Today I looked at some slices in blue electrical tape. And turns out its much smaller. like a quarter mm. If I could get it down to 1/8 mm, I could pop matches faster at 35mW than I do now.

I wonder if the gains mentioned in this forum with glass are part better transmission, and part smaller beam.

Also, if you need to focus and don't have a cigar, you could consider a low power option in your driver. So you could look at the spot on some dark surface. You could even remove the lower power setting after your familiar with the focus. I have my focus ring marked with a dot of yellow paint.

--John