FS: White Fusion Laser Mixing Kit

[jayrob]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

Just took this tonight...

Have to show it off!

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

Just a thought, haven't anyone considered using glue, epoxy or whatever to really secure the lasers ones being tuned in place? You don't need to go crazy with it, just enough so the lasers cant move. And IF a diode would die (I suggest to really under-power them in this case) you can just brake the glue and pop in a new diode, tune, then glue again.

There really is a lot of tension from those compression springs on the mounts. Plenty for the job as long as you don't adjust them out too far.

We have suspected them for issues of stability twice now and both times it has been something else. I guess it is the nature of springs that make them the first suspect for issues of variable changes.


Thanks,

Ryan

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

That is Schweet Jay!

 

[jayrob]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

:thanks:

I have had mine mounted in it's housing for a couple of weeks and just took a beam shot in the night sky tonight. (shown above)

Your kit is holding my lasers in perfect alignment still!

 

[jayrob]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

Here's some more beam shots! (no smoke or fog, just the beam in the night sky with the camera on 'auto exposure')

You will be very happy with this build if you can get perfect beam alignment... (and power/color blend)

If it was not for this kit from sightfx, it would be very difficult to get the kind of alignment needed for these kind of 'full length' beam shots.

Kit from sightfx... :takeit:

 

[Darkarmyofone]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

This kit ROCKS!!!! Im SO about to put my green and red in.

I'm assuming a PHR would not be an option... even as a temporary blu-ray source?? or would my colors be all off? i have GGW's, but wanted to know if i could get away with a freak PHR i have, and a 405-G1 lens. outputting about 170mWish...

Yes...no...maybe so.. lol

And AMAZING JAAAY!!! Jesus... You have one of the most incredible minds on this forum, I cant wait to get mine going!

After i get my first flexdrive version going, im gunna do another one with flex-mods! 28million baby! I wish one was already build though... so we could see it! i mean.. we could get ANY color we wish!

Sounds amazing and I can hardly wait!!! I just have to re-stock Dark Lasers... as you can see... everyone bought like.. everything lol. i've never seen so many sold out buttons. So I have to wait a bit before I tackle the rest of this project. but im sure i can get my green and red in there just to play with

Tyler - Dark Lasers

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

You will have to adjust your green output anywayanyway so your freak PHR should be ok till you upgrade.


I had an 8x build that was modulated with another driver that is now getting a flex mod replacement.

It's a rough prototype build.

The heat sinks have been replaced with the latest and 3 flex mods are ready to replace that big all in one RGB driver which will make room for internal batteries. The only thing Holding be back is that I killed the 8x BRD that was in there ...it was a 203


anyway once I get the laser funds to get another 8x I will finish it back up and add some a 5v regulator and 3 pots as set up as voltage dividers for manual input as well as a plug to take imput from my sound card DAC.

May take me a while but I will put out a tutorial for ya

cheers,

------*SightFX*------

 

[jayrob]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

This kit ROCKS!!!! Im SO about to put my green and red in.

I'm assuming a PHR would not be an option... even as a temporary blu-ray source?? or would my colors be all off? i have GGW's, but wanted to know if i could get away with a freak PHR i have, and a 405-G1 lens. outputting about 170mWish...

Yes...no...maybe so.. lol

And AMAZING JAAAY!!!

You can always put it in there for experimentation, but remember that it will most likely not last at that power.

I am showing power measurements 'after the sled optics' in the figures shown here: (earlier in this thread)
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/custom-7-color-diy-laser-kit-42013-4.html#post558718

If you get the blu-ray rotated to the best possible position through the polarized cube, you will still have about 20% loss through the sled optics. The green will easily overpower the other lasers if you don't get the 'blend' just right.

That said, probably the most room for variation is with the blu-ray...

P.S. The GGW 6X diode that I used, was my best (long wavelength) diode that I had in a personal build. It is visually brighter than normal... Must be a longer wavelength. But this makes for a nicer blend. Take a close look at that turquoise beam shot shown above!

 

[Crazy Jay]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

I just have to re-stock Dark Lasers... as you can see... everyone bought like.. everything lol. i've never seen so many sold out buttons.Tyler - Dark Lasers

That's what happens when you are successful at running a business. People will buy like theres no tomorrow

 

[Darkarmyofone]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

I try to be anyways, ^^^

and your a lucky duck with that high-wavelength GGW. thats awsome, wish i could find one. I HAVE seen a few PHR's that are just as bright as my normal GGW's, maybe i'll find another soon.

@sight - thats a badd-ass build man!, sucks the 203 died! any beamshots form it? and whats that black thing infront of there the laser would come out? just curious...

Tyler - Dark Lasers

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

That was a 5V regulator that came with the RGB driver board for convenience. Those small arched jumper wires in the middle of the driver are sending 5V from that regulator to the modulation input for all 3 drivers. At the point that this picture was taken it was not hooked up to any variable (0-5V) source. Just that onboard 5V used for tweaking the max gain for the lasers. That was one thing I liked about this board.

Flex mod drivers are superior in many other ways though. With the driver in the pic I needed to go out and find 1/2W resistors for the values I needed to set the current. The Flex Mods does that with range jumpers and then bias & gain pots. They are also much smaller in total.

Sorry Dark I didn’t get any beam shots before it died I’m kicking myself for not. I’m always spending my time on the next thing and need to stop and enjoy what I have built already

Here is my latest build all buttoned up in a nice small box

The GGW I had for it didn't turn out (Not led but not up to spec either). Only red and green in there at the moment so I havn't tried to balance the color yet.

This is as small as I am ever going to make a build with this kit. 4.4" L x 2.4" W x 1.1" H (111.76mm x 60.96mm x 27.94mm)


Here is a shot of it open.

Notice the copper battery holder on the lid. It has that extended piece that makes contact with a similar piece on the bottom and conducts the + side of the batteries down to the switches. I did it this way so I wouldn't have a wire stuck to the lid so that when I open it up I can put the lid somwhere that it will not get scratched.

I changed mounts to this nylon standoff pedestal. I like it a little better.

All and all I like this build. The only mistake I made was that when I cut the whole for the 3 botton rocker piece I did it on the wrong side and that forced me to mount the kit in the box. I like to mount the kit and everything else to the lid. That way when the "box" cover is removed I can leave the kit on the lid and have a platform for adjusting the lasers alignments or replace modules. The only other thing I may change is to have the batteries mounted laying down which may force me to change drivers because of space. I could then use CR123s laying down rather than these CR3s and get a longer life between charges.


I'm going to order a GGW tomorrow so I can finish this up. I will get some beam shots when I do.


Thanks,

Ryan

 

[Darkarmyofone]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

thats awsome Sight! Im gunna make SURE and mount mine in the lid. and im going to incoorporate a few "reed switches" in my build details to come soon on that!

Yall would LOVE some of the reed switch mods i've done. I sell magnetic rings (for your fingers) and wear just one, and the wave of yor hand 1" away from the reed switch will complete the cuircut, making it possible to change colors with the wave of a hand!!! *grin* yall will see, i'm going ALL out on mine dudes,

Im still debating wether or not I want to use RKCSTR's or LM317's like you did.

Would you be willing to build me a 3 peice driver like yours, with the pots accesable... or no? I'd like it to run off of ONE battery.. but i dont know if it is possible. did the heatsink isolation thing you did enable this to be done?

Because I was thinking of using a FLAT rechargable lithium ion battery, and add a jack for recharching, or a hatch on the bottom to swap them out. still brainstorming on that.

But main ? is, can I use ONE battery (any battery doesnt have to be CR2 or CR123) Just curious if the greens case positive dealio would interfere with my lithium power souce..

Lemme know ^_^

Tyler - Dark Lasers

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

The insolationted mounts will keep that + case lead greenie from causing you any trouble. Check it for conductivity to the sled with your MM before you kick it on the first time though. Also make sure the end of the green can't hit the bolt at the lowest setting.

Batteries are Batteries as long as you have the voltage you need and they can handle the current draw your fine. You will also want them to have enough amp hours to give you a desirable life between charges.

I Have the parts to make you this driver but honestly I am going to go with 2 RKCSTRs or 2Grooves and a stock Green. The drivers I am using are fine but for the next build I want to use larger batteries so I need the space that the bought driver will give me.

Great idea about the Reeds! That gives me another great idea! Look up "Hall Effect Transistors" and "Hall Effect Switches". the HE switches would be a bit better for what your doing because there are no michanical parts / connections to ware out. The idea it gave me though was to use hall effect transistors to vary the input to Flex Mod drivers. by waving or placing a magnet in different locations around a triangle you can get all kinds of different colors! That and x/y scanners or a even a spiro would be awsome for freestyling a little laser show.


Thanks,

SightFX

 

[Darkarmyofone]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

Thats AWSOME!!!! MY build will power on and off remotely Via REED SWITCH and I'm going to make it change colors via REED switches as well! what a great Idea!! (I take credit!! ) lol

But check this out man, just found this link for a DUAL power supply, that has two output lines, one puts out 5v's (wich im sure we can mod to 7-8 colts for rkcstrs, and the other channel puts out 3.3volts (PERFECT for flexdrivers!)

Check it out, Dual voltage power supply - Hack a Day

What input voltage does a flexmod require? if its less than 8 V's we could utilize this power supply possible. I havent read into it too much, dont know what kind of power input it needs, probably more than our little CR123's can handle. but It's worth it to take a look, you, Jayrob, Daguin, IgorT, all of you would be able to discect that power supply better than i. Cuz im not sure if it will work, but ri saw the two channels, a high voltage channel for the red/blu-ray's, and a low 3.3volt to the greenie! just thought it might be a usefull peice of equipment we could improve on, or utilize as is. check it out for me would ya SIGHT?

And I am going to use a HUGE lithium cell, I found one thats 4.8mm thick, and fits in that clear acrylic box size you use PERFECTLY! with JUST enough room to allow the set-up to be bolted to the lid. OR instead of having it on the lid, maybe i'll buy the next size up battery (lithium flat rectangular cells, rechargable) and lay it on the bottom of the box, it would fit perfectly, and only reduce depth by 4.8mm's. then you have TONS of room for drivers, spyrographs, flexmods, W/E! Im going to do it this way, and the battery comes with a tiny recharge/protection cuircut! so im going to add a power jack to the enclosure, and NEVER have to open it to change batteries, only to adjust the lasers if i ever had to (wich i wont most likely once everything is permanently set, tightened, and calibrated.

Thats my MAIN goal, along with a slide slot for difraction gratings! and maybe room for a spyrograph!!! (2- mirrors only, i dont think i can fit 3 like I want) and add controls for them as well!!1 it could be sooooo awsome!! I'm going to try my hardest! Wish me luck guys!

Tyler - Dark Lasers

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

Good Luck,

I don't see a need for regulating the voltage unless your main source is higher than the drivers max spec. I'm almost certain that the voltage is self regulated with a constant current driver going to an LD.

what are the specs on your huge lithium battery? do you have a link?

If you found a perfect fit you need to share

-Ryan

 

[sightfx]

Re: Custom 7 Color DIY Laser Kit

I ordered another 8x Blu-ray drive yesterday from Newegg. http://laserpointerforums.com/f46/8x-lg-wh08ls20k-169-99-a-43791.html

I will then be able to finish rebuilding my projector lasor setup with flex drives and an updated kit. I also plan on adding TEC to that one so it will be interesting how it works with the adjustable heat sinks. The plan is to build a tray of pasty heat sink compound on the cold plate that the heat sinks sit in. It's the only way I can think of to add TEC to these babies and keep them adjustable. I suppose you could add tec to each one but then the heat would be in the enclosure. I want the heat to transfer out of there.

The tray of past seems like a good idea to me but if anyone has a better idea let me know.

That's the good news. The bad news is that work is sending me to Dallas TX next week so I woun't be able to play with the new drive for a week or more. It's going to kill me. It also means that I can't build and restock my kits next week as I intended.


I will be posting the name the kit contest tomorrow so if you have been wanting one of them but can't efford it here is your chance to grab one for free.

I thought up "Beam Engine" a while back so you will have to do better than that to win I just know someone has the naming gene out there and has the perfect name.

thanks,

Ryan