- Joined
- Apr 17, 2017
- Messages
- 55
- Points
- 18
Hello everyone, my name is Alyre (pronounced Uh-lear, like the jet company). I am currently a physics undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts of Lowell and hoping to focus in Optics, Photonics, and Laser Physics.
My newfound love for lasers started about a year ago when I asked myself the question "What can I make that closely resembles a lightsaber?" I stumbled onto styropyro's Youtube channel and instantly had the itch to build some high powered lasers.
I thought about purchasing a pre-made laser that I could burn things with, but opted against that because:
A). They are expensive, at least the good ones are,
And B). I personally enjoy the puzzle of building it all from scratch.
I eventually settled on building a 405nm 150mW laser, which took a few attempts but I eventually got it to work over the summer.
A few days ago I got bored and decided to break my laser out again to test the specks, i.e. the input voltage, amperage going to the laser diode, ect. All of a sudden though, my laser's wattage output has significantly reduced. It used to be able to light up most of a dark room when powered on but now it output is about 2mW or less.
I'm not heartbroken over what may be my diode dying (Im not sure if I messed something up or if the diode is just on it's last leg) but actually thrilled for what my next build will be. I'm thinking of either a laser pen 635nm at 5mW, a 9mm diameter 650nm diode at 5mW, or a 1-2W 455nm burning laser pen. I'm also open to any suggestions as long as the build won't cost me a small fortune.
And before anyone says it, I know, always where laser goggles when a laser is in use and don't shine it at any living creature.
I have already learned so much from this forum and I've only begun to scratch the surface of the knowledge that is waiting to be unlocked.
Thank you all who have managed to read this far, but I wanted to give you all a proper introduction to who I am and why I'm here (besides the lasers, of course).
Once again, thank you, and have a wonderful day.
My newfound love for lasers started about a year ago when I asked myself the question "What can I make that closely resembles a lightsaber?" I stumbled onto styropyro's Youtube channel and instantly had the itch to build some high powered lasers.
I thought about purchasing a pre-made laser that I could burn things with, but opted against that because:
A). They are expensive, at least the good ones are,
And B). I personally enjoy the puzzle of building it all from scratch.
I eventually settled on building a 405nm 150mW laser, which took a few attempts but I eventually got it to work over the summer.
A few days ago I got bored and decided to break my laser out again to test the specks, i.e. the input voltage, amperage going to the laser diode, ect. All of a sudden though, my laser's wattage output has significantly reduced. It used to be able to light up most of a dark room when powered on but now it output is about 2mW or less.
I'm not heartbroken over what may be my diode dying (Im not sure if I messed something up or if the diode is just on it's last leg) but actually thrilled for what my next build will be. I'm thinking of either a laser pen 635nm at 5mW, a 9mm diameter 650nm diode at 5mW, or a 1-2W 455nm burning laser pen. I'm also open to any suggestions as long as the build won't cost me a small fortune.
And before anyone says it, I know, always where laser goggles when a laser is in use and don't shine it at any living creature.
I have already learned so much from this forum and I've only begun to scratch the surface of the knowledge that is waiting to be unlocked.
Thank you all who have managed to read this far, but I wanted to give you all a proper introduction to who I am and why I'm here (besides the lasers, of course).
Once again, thank you, and have a wonderful day.
