i bought a laser from tmart ( i know it was a bad idea) but in the end i have a great host. so i was thinking of useing the host but putting a 1w 808nm diode in it. i know that this is a dangerous diode being how powerfull it is and in ir. but i think i can handle that. my question is are there any problems that might happen if i do this, is there something that im not thinking of that might cause the diode to not be a good match for this host. here is the add for the crappy laser, so you have an idea of what my host would be.200mW 405nm Focus Flashlight Style Blue-violet Laser Pointer (1*18650) - Tmart.com
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i might be stupid
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Meatball
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Don't try that. That's a bad idea for a noob, and for an experienced builder.
Try reading this thread over and over again, and then decide on a laser which will be a bit safer. http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/i-want-build-laser-thread-52972.html
Get a good idea of how the electronics work, how to use them, how to use a laser, and then finally, learn the importance of laser safety glasses. There are some new red diodes out there pushing 400mw you can find if you peek in our group buy section!
Yay lasers!
Try reading this thread over and over again, and then decide on a laser which will be a bit safer. http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/i-want-build-laser-thread-52972.html
Get a good idea of how the electronics work, how to use them, how to use a laser, and then finally, learn the importance of laser safety glasses. There are some new red diodes out there pushing 400mw you can find if you peek in our group buy section!
Yay lasers!
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ok i dont have any real powerful lasers my most powerful being 100mw. true this would be my first laser build but i am an electronics student and no stranger to a soldering iron, i do have protection although it seems not worth it for my current lasers. my main question boils down to will my lenses have any issues. and will the heat sink be enough
Last edited:
Meatball
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A 1W emitter will be your no nonsense multi-mode emitter with or without a fast axis corrector lens installed on the diode. If you find a diode with an FAC, you will only need a Red AR coated aspheric lens to focus the beam down to a "usable" square dot which would be good for burning non-organic things.
An acrylic lens may deform, melt or simply block too much light to be suitable. Have nice, coated optics for higher power beams.
808nm diodes can be the most efficient of diodes, going beyond even 50% out/in. But that usually means there is a full watt or two that needs to be dissipated away from the diode as heat. You'll will need a beefier heatsink unless 20% duty cycles don't bother you.
Take from me, eye protection is ALWAYS worth it.
Save up for and buy your eye protection before you even buy the diode. It ensures that you will wear the glasses since you bought them, and it will ensure that you actually finish your project since you put some money into the glasses.
An acrylic lens may deform, melt or simply block too much light to be suitable. Have nice, coated optics for higher power beams.
808nm diodes can be the most efficient of diodes, going beyond even 50% out/in. But that usually means there is a full watt or two that needs to be dissipated away from the diode as heat. You'll will need a beefier heatsink unless 20% duty cycles don't bother you.
Take from me, eye protection is ALWAYS worth it.
Save up for and buy your eye protection before you even buy the diode. It ensures that you will wear the glasses since you bought them, and it will ensure that you actually finish your project since you put some money into the glasses.
Meatball
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After learning how to handle diodes, and all their finicky ESD susceptibilities, after you've built a functioning laser diode driver, and have built a functioning, current controlled diode based laser, and after you've learned how to use that laser with glasses on, and how to keep it out of reach from friends, family, and animals..
you can then turn that 1W diode into a pretty sick table-top lab style IR burner.
And you could do it with ease, with safety, and most importantly, with style.
Basically, learn on the cheap components so that when you DO (and you will) goof up, you only waste $10 at a time, and not $50 at a time. Those higher power emitters are a shame to lose to silly mistakes.
Here, I have dug out for you one of the best threads that a laser building noob can read. Read it twice. Study it. Build your first laser, and you won't have guys like me calling you a noob anymore.
http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/learn-mistakes-can-happen-anybody-50044.html
Don't forget to enjoy building your first laser. Not everybody gets to do that kind of thing, and not everybody can even understand what you're doing, so remember to have fun.
And if you have many more questions, you can always ask. We'll help you out.
-TT
you can then turn that 1W diode into a pretty sick table-top lab style IR burner.
And you could do it with ease, with safety, and most importantly, with style.
Basically, learn on the cheap components so that when you DO (and you will) goof up, you only waste $10 at a time, and not $50 at a time. Those higher power emitters are a shame to lose to silly mistakes.
Here, I have dug out for you one of the best threads that a laser building noob can read. Read it twice. Study it. Build your first laser, and you won't have guys like me calling you a noob anymore.
http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/learn-mistakes-can-happen-anybody-50044.html
Don't forget to enjoy building your first laser. Not everybody gets to do that kind of thing, and not everybody can even understand what you're doing, so remember to have fun.
And if you have many more questions, you can always ask. We'll help you out.
-TT