I am building my first DIY Laser

[SimpleData]

Hi
I am interested in lasers for a long time but I recently started to get interested with inner workings. I read the forum to learn some things and I think I learned a lot.

Now I want to build my first DIY laser (a burning violet one). As far as I know, I need a laser diode, a driver card, a housing and a lens to focus.

I need some advices for buying these components.

Can you help me on these?

Thanks.

 

[jayrob]

I have a few kits for DIY...

Popular is my 4171 or 3405 kits. I have options with drivers pre-installed if you want. With current pre-set. See here:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1233442476/0

Smaller with same options is my Pocket Mini kit:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1231664443/0

There are people selling diodes. I believe they may offer them with options to install into an AixiZ module. See here for one seller:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1232567937

You will be hooked on building once you do your first!
Jay

 

[iskor12]

I have a few kits for DIY...

Popular is my 4171 or 3405 kits. I have options with drivers pre-installed if you want. With current pre-set. See here:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1233442476/0

Smaller with same options is my Pocket Mini kit:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1231664443/0

There are people selling diodes. I believe they may offer them with options to install into an AixiZ module. See here for one seller:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1232567937

You will be hooked on building once you do your first!
Jay

I recomend the Pocket MINI.....It looks great and it easily fits into a pocket.

 

[SimpleData]

I think FlexDrive is a LD. Am I correct?

By the way, buying these kits doesn't seem like "do it yourself". If I buy one of these, I think I won't be able to learn anything. Because everything will be pretty much set up for me.

 

[The_Muffin_Man]

I think FlexDrive is a LD. Am I correct?

By the way, buying these kits doesn't seem like "do it yourself". If I buy one of these, I think I won't be able to learn anything. Because everything will be pretty much set up for me.

All he is providing is the host and the heatsink (unless you get the "Hot" option).  You get to do everything else.  How "do it yourself" do you want it?  Do you want to buy a used X-Box dvd player and rip it apart to get to the diode?  


The flexdrive is a driver...LD = Laser Diode.  

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Don't feel like you're "cheating." Kits are no less do-it-yourself than using a pre-fabricated driver board like the Flexdrive. You still have to wire, test, assemble, even extract the diode in some cases. All the kits do is let you conveniently build the laser without having to find all the parts yourself (and pay for the shipping!)

If you still want to do something more "DIY", at least to learn, a good to start with is construct one of those DDL laser circuits so you have a basic driver.

 

[SimpleData]

Thank you for your answers.

I just mixed up for a second and thought that LD was "Laser Driver" lol.

Do jayrob ship to Turkey?

 

[jayrob]

Yes, the shipping is the same for International ($6 dollars), but there is no insurance at that price. (listed in my threads)

I mark the package as a 'gift', with a description of 'LED Flashlight', and a low value of $15 dollars. International buyers take responsibility at this price, but I have not had any problems...
Jay