KapHn8d
0
- Joined
- May 9, 2013
- Messages
- 838
- Points
- 43
I finished my first laser project today. No longer a virgin and my photon-hormones are ready for another, more challenging endeavor.
I wanted to gift a laser to a life-long friend with a birthday coming up, so I thought I would build him one and since it was my first ever attempt, it would either make the sentiment extra special or go terribly wrong... but worth a shot, no?
His favorite laser "color" was blue (from previous discreet conversation), so I ordered a 450nm diode and driver from DTR's laser shop. I went with the Osram because I wanted to keep the power lower for longer duty cycles and less eye hazard (he's getting goggles with his gift). I ordered a host, drilled pill, and battery contact board from Survival Laser. The entire assembly went fairly smooth for me except for having to drill 2 holes in the contact board and bridge the positive and negative leads to the appropriate contacts on the battery facing side (I'm a n00b and didn't catch that at first). I ended up making a little blob of solder in the center section of the contact board for connection with the 18650 flat top when inserted.
Overall, I think it'll be a nice laser for him and I'll always remember my first. I bought a few diodes and modules from wannaburnstuff's clearance this past week and a set of presses/extractors and another host from flaminpyro before he went on vacation. I'm not sure if I'll go that route just yet... kinda intimidated by setting the driver just yet. I have one of Jufran88's selectable test loads on the way, so I'll likely wait for that... but I'm open to suggestions.
Anyhoo... here's the LPM and a couple of pics. My iPhone camera flash went off trying to take a beam shot, but it looked cool enough to keep (the color is very blue with the flash).
Cheers!
I wanted to gift a laser to a life-long friend with a birthday coming up, so I thought I would build him one and since it was my first ever attempt, it would either make the sentiment extra special or go terribly wrong... but worth a shot, no?
His favorite laser "color" was blue (from previous discreet conversation), so I ordered a 450nm diode and driver from DTR's laser shop. I went with the Osram because I wanted to keep the power lower for longer duty cycles and less eye hazard (he's getting goggles with his gift). I ordered a host, drilled pill, and battery contact board from Survival Laser. The entire assembly went fairly smooth for me except for having to drill 2 holes in the contact board and bridge the positive and negative leads to the appropriate contacts on the battery facing side (I'm a n00b and didn't catch that at first). I ended up making a little blob of solder in the center section of the contact board for connection with the 18650 flat top when inserted.
Overall, I think it'll be a nice laser for him and I'll always remember my first. I bought a few diodes and modules from wannaburnstuff's clearance this past week and a set of presses/extractors and another host from flaminpyro before he went on vacation. I'm not sure if I'll go that route just yet... kinda intimidated by setting the driver just yet. I have one of Jufran88's selectable test loads on the way, so I'll likely wait for that... but I'm open to suggestions.
Anyhoo... here's the LPM and a couple of pics. My iPhone camera flash went off trying to take a beam shot, but it looked cool enough to keep (the color is very blue with the flash).
Cheers!
