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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Help for a new builder.

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Sep 22, 2015
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Hi guys,

I'm new here. I was wondering if I could get some help with a new build I want to do. I need a 3W laser or something of that caliber for some wood burning. It has been a project idea for a long time of mine and I had the inspiration from this instructables: 3W 4'x4' Arduino Laser Cutter/Engraver

I have found cheap 3W C-Mount diodes on ebay and need help from there basically.

EDIT:
Here is the diode: http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-mount-Pac...iode-LD-FAC-/371181810699?hash=item566c28f40b


Thanks,
Aaron
 
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diachi

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Feb 22, 2008
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Hi guys,

I'm new here. I was wondering if I could get some help with a new build I want to do. I need a 3W laser or something of that caliber for some wood burning. It has been a project idea for a long time of mine and I had the inspiration from this instructables: 3W 4'x4' Arduino Laser Cutter/Engraver

I have found cheap 3W C-Mount diodes on ebay and need help from there basically.

EDIT:
Here is the diode: C Mount Package High Power 3000mW 3W 808nm 810N Infrared IR Laser Diode LD Fac | eBay


Thanks,
Aaron



For starters, you don't want to use that C-Mount diode - they are IR and just about completely invisible. They are also harder to work with in general, as mounting them and focusing them is a little more complicated.

You'd be much better off with this diode: https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/ndb7a75-3-5w-445nm-diodes in a copper module with leads and a 405-G-2 lens (someone correct me if I'm wrong on the lens...).

You'll also need a heatsink to put the module in that will keep the laser cool enough. This would do if you attached it onto your average PC CPU cooler with some screws and some thermal paste in between. http://www.amazon.com/HeatSink-Holder-Mount-laser-modules/dp/B00K8GUIJY

Cooling: One big problem I ran into when I first put this together was the laser diode overheating if I ran it for too long. The heat-sink is NOT sufficient to disperse all the heat from the laser, to fix this issue I added a small computer fan mounted right next to the laser. After this addition I haven't had any problems with heat even when running it for 9+ hours straight. I also added a fan next to the stepper motor drivers because they also produce a lot of heat even when the laser cutter not running, if the power is on these guys will get very hot.

Your driver will probably need modulation so something like a FlexMod P3 would probably be best (again, someone suggest something better if you know of something!): https://innolasers.com/shop/index.php?id_product=11&controller=product - You'll also want to heatsink the TO-220 transistor if you use this driver.

You'll also want a pair of Laser Safety Glasses for 445nm. Something like these would be perfect: Eagle Pair® 190-540nm & 800-1700nm OD5 Laser Safety Goggles

Again - someone may chime in with better suggestions here.
 
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The only issue with those is the price. I'm a college kid and don't have much spending money. I realized that they were invisible-mostly invisible.

Would I need a driver if I use a regulated power supply? I don't plan on making it a hand-held.

Do you have any cheaper suggestions as well?
 
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The only issue with those is the price. I'm a college kid and don't have much spending money. I realized that they were invisible-mostly invisible.

Would I need a driver if I use a regulated power supply? I don't plan on making it a hand-held.

Do you have any cheaper suggestions as well?

The only problem with a regulated power supply is soft start. Maybe rig a massive cap in there to provide the soft start and to smooth the ripple.. LD's like clean power, ripple is bad. You can use a blue m140 LD that is roughly 2w. Its a visible beam and I think its a bit safer than IR as it is very obvious when the laser is on. Don't forget safety glasses.

Fill out your profile info (location) before you do anything else. Many people here will flip at you for not doing it. Dont forget to post an intro!
 
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Let me clarify on the "regulated" power supply. It is adjustable (both V and A) so perhaps regulated isn't the correct word. So could I use it and start it off slowly and then bring it up to specs?

Also would 2W be enough for the wood burning?

And where would I post my introduction?

Thanks,
Aaron
 
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Let me clarify on the "regulated" power supply. It is adjustable (both V and A) so perhaps regulated isn't the correct word. So could I use it and start it off slowly and then bring it up to specs?

Also would 2W be enough for the wood burning?

And where would I post my introduction?

Thanks,
Aaron
Technically far smaller numbers still burn if focused, which is what youll want to do. Assuming this is an engraver/printer type thing (i forgot to look at the link you added sorry ;)) youll want as small a dot as possible.
 
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You do NOT want to use any near IR laser under 1570nm, 808nm will look invisible or a tiny bit pink but it's diffuse reflection, that is just the light scattered at the burning dot in all directions is enough to cause retinal burns and blindness.
Even though you can't see 808nm it still travels through your eyes lens and is focused onto your retina.
1570 nm is considered eye safe because it will not pass through to your retina. You still would not want to shoot one into your eye, but the diffuse reflection is not dangerous like 808nm or 910nm.
Laser rangefinders often use 1.57 um or 1570nm, 1um = 1000nm.
A C02 laser is around 10400nm to 10600nm and are often used for laser cnc or etching machines.
You can buy a ready made C02 laser table on ebay for a grand or less.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/co2-laser-c...er-engraver-/191678818417?hash=item2ca0f2a871
 
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You'd be much better off with this diode: https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/ndb7a75-3-5w-445nm-diodes in a copper module with leads and a 405-G-2 lens (someone correct me if I'm wrong on the lens...).
A G2 lense wont perform well here as the smallest beam spot is needed. A 3 element lense us perfect. As the 3.5w 445nm diode is multimode, it also wont perform well. A 16x 405nm (1w) fron dtr, on the other hand, would be perfect for an engraver despite being just 1w
 
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I have two diodes I've been eyeballing.

https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/9mm-445nm

https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/445-m140-didoes

The top one is capable of 3W and the bottom one is capable of 2W. What lens should I get? I need the smallest possible dot for the most precise cutting and burning. Also what heatsink (I think you guys refer to them as hosts).

Like what i said earlier, a 3 element lense will give u the smallest beam spot. Both diode that you list are multimode in which the beam spot wouldn't be as small as a single mode diode. Hence, it wouldn't be ideal for a engraver.
 




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