First Laser, can't buy stuff online at the moment

[Toaster]

A Laser 5mW+ IS NOT illegal. Pointing it at people or machines, however is.

 

[Toaster]

A driver can supply constant current to a diode. With a resistor the current is based off of the power supply voltage. That is the simple answer, there is a lot more too it though lol

Here is a driver:
http://www.o-like.com/userfiles/image/red laser diode driver /red diode driver 1.jpg
http://www.o-like.com/userfiles/image/red laser diode driver /red diode driver 2.jpg

I do not suggest those drivers, The pot pretty much doesn't work on the ones I have tried

 

[udanis]

I do not suggest those drivers, The pot pretty much doesn't work on the ones I have tried

I was just showing him pictures

 

[renegade109]

A Laser 5mW+ IS NOT illegal. Pointing it at people or machines, however is.

Ok, thanks for pointing that out

@udanis: yea, I am aware of what a driver is and looks like and thank you for pointing out exactly what it does.



Can someone please give me a list of items that can and cannot be salvaged for laser diodes of AT LEAST 5mW?

Will these work?
-CD-RW drive
-DVD-rom drive on a pc
-DVD player
-Gamecube

if none of the above will fire a 5mW laser beam then I'll either buy one off of amazon or buy an old HD-DVD xbox drive-thing

Also, is it possible to build your own driver? I cannot find any on amazon

 

[Kookapeli]

i suggest you read the stickies and this first http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/i-want-build-laser-thread-52972.html

 

[udanis]

Ok, thanks for pointing that out
@udanis: yea, I am aware of what a driver is and looks like and thank you for pointing out exactly what it does.
Can someone please give me a list of items that can and cannot be salvaged for laser diodes of AT LEAST 5mW?
Will these work?
-CD-RW drive
-DVD-rom drive on a pc
-DVD player
-Gamecube
if none of the above will fire a 5mW laser beam then I'll either buy one off of amazon or buy an old HD-DVD xbox drive-thing
Also, is it possible to build your own driver? I cannot find any on amazon

NP
DVD Burner, Blue-Ray or HD-DVD Drive
Search for things before you post?
Laser driver - It can be done

 

[renegade109]

@Kookapeli: Yes, I am aware of the stickies but was still a bit confused. I needed to confirm a few points myself as I found it hard to believe that a dvd player laser would not work (humans naturally believe good news better than bad news... bad news, in this instance, being that I do not have a dvd burner at my disposal and would have to spend money XD)

@udanis: that it? seems like a very limited list... however, I did find that there are xbox HD-DVD laser replacements sold on amazon for as low as $13-20 so getting a blue diode will not be a problem . Also, thank you for the link on how to build a driver, that makes things SO much easier now that I don't have to buy one from a random site that my dad wouldn't trust, lol. And yes, I did search (see reason for double-checking above). I also found a good laser module too.



So here's what I need [(CHECK) indicates I can obtain these parts]:
-Xbox HDDVD laser diode (CHECK)
-driver parts (CHECK)
-laser host (CHECK)
-lense (CHECK)... do I need it though? If yes, then will a plastic one work?
-heat sink.... probably won't need one and I havn't checked amazon yet (gotta leave somewhere now but I'll check later).


Thanks guys for all your help and I can't wait to get started on this!

 

[Kookapeli]

If you get an Aixiz style module the lense will come with that. The lense is needed so you get your round dot and or beam, otherwise it will be like a coloured flashlight

 

[renegade109]

got it, thanks for all your help!