I want to make a white laser

[midnightchime]

Ok, so I am bored with all of my lasers and want a new toy. It would be thrilling for me to have a white laser. I have an idea of what I need to do but I am sure there are things that need to be pointed out to me. I plan to knife edge a 1Wgreen 1Wblue and 1W red each wired to individual dimmer switches. Also where would be a good place to get the optics for this build?

 

[NightExplorer96]

That sounds like a cool project midnight!

First, how much funds do you have available towards this project? While reading your post the first thing which caught my attention was the 1W Green you wanted to use. 1W's of Green isn't cheap, even the 520 diode are upwards of $500+

-Alex

 

[midnightchime]

Oh yea, I am quite aware of prices. I am going to buy little by little over time. As for green I was going to get this and run it at 1.7 A which will get me about 1W for $340 https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/ndg-700mw-520nm-laser-diode

 

[diachi]

Ok, so I am bored with all of my lasers and want a new toy. It would be thrilling for me to have a white laser. I have an idea of what I need to do but I am sure there are things that need to be pointed out to me. I plan to knife edge a 1Wgreen 1Wblue and 1W red each wired to individual dimmer switches. Also where would be a good place to get the optics for this build?

Ideally you'd use dichroic mirrors instead of knife edging - that would allow you to get great alignment between all the the beams and a nicer looking white with far less overlap.

 

[midnightchime]

ah like this http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-white-fusion-laser-mixing-kit-42013.html. Where can I get a set up like that?

 

[diachi]

Yes, that would work! Try in the Buy/Sell/Trade section - someone might have one. If you want anything smaller you'd probably need to machine it yourself.

I'm not sure which form factor you're looking for, but there are a bunch of options.

You could use these mirror mounts: http://shop.collimated.com/images/images_big/Mechanics/Flex_Mount.jpg
With these: Dichro Mirrors Rectangular 10x20mm

Or something like this: https://www.thorlabs.de/images/xlarge/6634-xl.jpg
With these: Dichro Mirrors 15mm

Bolt everything to an 8mm piece of Aluminium plate in an arrangement like this: http://c4r0.elektroda.eu/_hv/lasers/laser_RGB.png (HR = High Reflect/HT = High Transmit).

 

[EnjoyJakarta]

Dude, love white laser. If I'm not mistaken, there was a web selling tools to mix them using fiber optics. I think that would be a lot easier (dunno its price). I'll let you and other members when I found it again.