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Is this driver good?

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Danielmarius

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Hi all, I'm new here, I build my own cnc laser engraver with a Nichia NDB7875 445nm 9mm Laser Diode, 2.5W rated to a max of 2.5A and I'm looking for a good, stable and cheap driver for the laser. Is this one good for me?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331280958905&alt=web
 





No it is not, that appears to be a voltage regulator, not a constant current regulator, laser drivers provide constant current and adjust voltage as needed to provide constant current. Using that is the same as using no driver at all, you may as well connect your diode to some power supply or batteries without a driver, and that's not a good idea because it won't last long. Use a real laser driver, not a voltage regulator.

Alan
 
Pi R Squared said:
No it is not, that appears to be a voltage regulator, not a constant current regulator, laser drivers provide constant current and adjust voltage as needed to provide constant current. Using that is the same as using no driver at all, you may as well connect your diode to some power supply or batteries without a driver, and that's not a good idea because it won't last long. Use a real laser driver, not a voltage regulator.

Alan
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply Alan, can you suggest me something else, or if I build one from a LM317 voltage regulator, 1N4001 diode and 2 resistors of 10 ohms?

What about this one?
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=111788124570&alt=web
 
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Danielmarius said:
Thanks for the quick reply Alan, can you suggest me something else, or if I build one from a LM317 voltage regulator, 1N4001 diode and 2 resistors of 10 ohms?
Click to expand...

Well if you build your own from a LM317 the resistor needs to be about 1 to 1.1ohms, these can only do a max of 1.5A so you would need two in parallel and that can be done but I don't really recommend a linear driver for a laser of that power, they can accept a wider range of voltage but will get hot easily if the voltage isn't just right.

Also I don't recommend 2.5A, keep it to 2.2A - 2.4A, that diode can decrease in power above 2.2A although generally 2.4A is the safe level. I have a laser I built with that diode and am driving it at 2.2A with this driver:
Survival Laser Driver
That driver though is for a flashlight style host so it's maybe not be the right one for you. Have a look here:
https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/flexdrives/x-drive
DTR also sells on eBay and Amazon. Or look here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/x-drive-x-boost-88589.html
But if you need something with modulation then someone else will have to advise you.

Alan
 
Pi R Squared said:
Well if you build your own from a LM317 the resistor needs to be about 1 to 1.1ohms, these can only do a max of 1.5A so you would need two in parallel and that can be done but I don't really recommend a linear driver for a laser of that power, they can accept a wider range of voltage but will get hot easily if the voltage isn't just right.

Also I don't recommend 2.5A, keep it to 2.2A - 2.4A, that diode can decrease in power above 2.2A although generally 2.4A is the safe level. I have a laser I built with that diode and am driving it at 2.2A with this driver:
Survival Laser Driver
That driver though is for a flashlight style host so it's maybe not be the right one for you. Have a look here:
https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/flexdrives/x-drive
DTR also sells on eBay and Amazon. Or look here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/x-drive-x-boost-88589.html
But if you need something with modulation then someone else will have to advise you.

Alan
Click to expand...

Thanks Alan, I'll have a look on those, although a TTL driver would be more suitable for me
 
The drive you are looking at is voltage regulator. You need a current regulator for laser diode.
 
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