diy heatsink

[danq]

additional thought, for the younger readers:

Projects like this are one reason why I never throw away 'extra' hardware... whenever I repair something, or get something that needs assembly, if there are any extra parts I save them; and often when something is beyond repair I will take it apart and stash the useable parts - like washers, screws, nuts.
Over time I've built up a supply of miscellaneous hardware, so quite often I have what I need to build a quick project or prototype. I've actually used parts this past month that I've had since 1975! and I'll bet that's pretty common for the older folks on this forum...

DanQ

 

[FireMyLaser]

I know what you mean, I'm just like that too.
Maybe we all should take pictures of our "usable stuff" laying around, just for fun  :

 

[CL_]

wow, a lot of replies ;D, and a 10 cm washer would be huge, so, what kind of metal would work better as a heat sink, steel or brass or iron or aluminum, or any other commonly available metals? :-?

 

[chido]

Definetely aluminum.

 

[CL_]

could i get aluminum at a hardware store? i go there alot, but im not sure about aluminum

 

[danq]

Wow... I just learned something! of the metals in this table, Al is only beat by sodium, magnesium, and beryllium!

Gonna have to quick go amend that other post :-[ :

er... waitaminnit... that's per unit mass.. but Al is less dense...

ok, here's the deal: according to this table, Al has roughly twice the thermal capacity of steel, per unit mass. But steel is three times as dense. Thus steel is 1.5 times more heat capacity per unit volume. At least that's what I think at the moment

Gonna have to quick go un-amend that other post :

DanQ

 

[toked323]

yea buy aluminum washer, they are more expensive but worth it, i use them in my flashlights and they last long before heating up

 

[CL_]

hum, very interesting, u guys r very intelligent

 

[jayrob]

Sounds like a lot of running around to do! Then, you want it to look good too right? What about making good contact to the module?

A picture speaks a thousand words! These heatsinks last a lifetime and are worth the price I am asking...
Jay

 

[TheMonk]

yea buy aluminum washer, they are more expensive but worth it, i use them in my flashlights and they last long before heating up

can you post pictures of your heatsink and where did you find the aluminum washer [smiley=dankk2.gif]

 

[likewhat]

Umm, I am going to get a little off topic here but heatsinks are incomprehensibly cheap, they cost like 2 dollars at radio shack or any other stores online for less than 2 dollars. Why dont you spend the 4 hours you would otherwise spend making a heatsink out of nickels (in which case you are already like 5 percent of the way to being able to buy one) and get the lowest paying job ever in which case you would make at least 12 dollars in that 4 hour period and could buy like 6 heatsinks.

 

[danq]

Umm, I am going to get a little off topic here but heatsinks are incomprehensibly cheap, they cost like 2 dollars at radio shack or any other stores online for less than 2 dollars. Why dont you spend the 4 hours you would otherwise spend making a heatsink out of nickels (in which case you are already like 5 percent of the way to being able to buy one) and get the lowest paying job ever in which case you would make at least 12 dollars in that 4 hour period and could buy like 6 heatsinks.

because this way is more fun?

I could buy a multi-watt red laser if I worked (at $125/hr) a tenth of the hours I put in, between here and my workbench...
[smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=tongue.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=tongue.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif]

 

[hydro]

I think all the ideas here are great, some better than others. But I think the best way to see what works for you is to take your flashlight and the LD housing and walk the hardware store. Look around and think outside of the box when looking for a possible heatsink. That is what I did at a ACE hardware store for my Dorcy Metalgear laser. I found a metal shaft collar that just fit the head and LD housing. No physical modification need to the collar just a thin strip of brass and thermal grease to make it fit tight. If any one need specific detail let me know and I can walk through what I did.

Le

 

[toked323]

the monk no picts now i will soon, i found them at a local hardware store called ingersoll hardware, they are a small store not like the home depot at but way better

 

[CL_]

is there anyway to make jayrobs heatsinks so that the diode housing doesnt stick out so far without losing thee ability to focus the laser?

 

[jayrob]

is there anyway to make jayrobs heatsinks so that the diode housing doesnt stick out so far without losing thee ability to focus the laser?

cl, that's why I use a set screw in my heatsinks. So that you can adjust the module to the position that you like. The cleanest look, is to have the focus ring sitting flush with the face of the heatsink. (still leaving a little room for focussing)
Jay