My students are always impressed with my laser demos in class and some students want to build their own. After considering all sorts of options, I decided that the Mitsubishi 500mW 638 Diode (ML501P73-02) from DTR's Laser Shop was an ideal choice. This offered enough power to have fun, but even at full power, didn't produce too much heat.
https://sites.google.com/site/dtrslasershop/home/diodes/mitsubishi-635nm-500mw-diodes
The biggest problem was deciding on a heatsink that was reasonable cost, that worked well. I love the $20 Z-Bolt Heat Sink, but for the sake of my students, I do try to keep the cost down.
http://shop.z-bolt.com/Heat-Sink-fo...dftrk=gdfV25268_a_7c1640_a_7c6357_a_7cHS_d_1a
A search of Amazon showed the following:
$6.99 2pcs Aluminum Radiator Heatsink Heat Sink Holder Mount For 12mm Laser Modules Black (21.6 Grams)
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Rad...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07GP3C9PW
$8.99 2pcs Heat Sink for 12mm Laser Diode Module Aluminium Heatsink Holder Cool 20x27x50mm (31.6 Grams)
https://www.amazon.com/Module-Alumi...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07BF7SW5C
$11.99 2pcs 12mm Aluminum Cooling Heat Sink Holder Mount for 12mm Laser Diode Modules 32x62mm (116.9 Grams)
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Coo...3&creativeASIN=B07GPHWKH6#feature-bullets-btf
So I purchased all of the above and tested them with the red laser module. The supply current was 680mA going through the diode.
The $6.99 (2 pcs) heat sink: With a starting temperature of 70F (21C) after 5 minutes i measured 89F (31.6C) on the diode. I was surprised that such a small heat sink could do so well.
The $8.99 (2 pcs) heat sink: With a starting temperature of 70F (21C) after 5 minutes i measured 88F (31C) on the diode. I had hopped that this would do better than that, but it only did slightly better than the first.
The $11.99 (2 pcs) heat sink: With a starting temperature of 70F (21C) after 5 minutes i measured 82F (27.7C) on the diode. It did so well, that I let this run for 15 minutes and ended up with 87F (30.5C) before I got tired of testing. This is the heat sink that impresses the heck out of me, because I didn't expect it to do so well.
Next I'm re-building the power supply because I wanted to try some changes before I finish and write up the build for my students, but it looks like this is turning into one fun little project.
Bob Diaz
https://sites.google.com/site/dtrslasershop/home/diodes/mitsubishi-635nm-500mw-diodes
The biggest problem was deciding on a heatsink that was reasonable cost, that worked well. I love the $20 Z-Bolt Heat Sink, but for the sake of my students, I do try to keep the cost down.
http://shop.z-bolt.com/Heat-Sink-fo...dftrk=gdfV25268_a_7c1640_a_7c6357_a_7cHS_d_1a
A search of Amazon showed the following:
$6.99 2pcs Aluminum Radiator Heatsink Heat Sink Holder Mount For 12mm Laser Modules Black (21.6 Grams)
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Rad...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07GP3C9PW
$8.99 2pcs Heat Sink for 12mm Laser Diode Module Aluminium Heatsink Holder Cool 20x27x50mm (31.6 Grams)
https://www.amazon.com/Module-Alumi...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07BF7SW5C
$11.99 2pcs 12mm Aluminum Cooling Heat Sink Holder Mount for 12mm Laser Diode Modules 32x62mm (116.9 Grams)
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Coo...3&creativeASIN=B07GPHWKH6#feature-bullets-btf
So I purchased all of the above and tested them with the red laser module. The supply current was 680mA going through the diode.
The $6.99 (2 pcs) heat sink: With a starting temperature of 70F (21C) after 5 minutes i measured 89F (31.6C) on the diode. I was surprised that such a small heat sink could do so well.
The $8.99 (2 pcs) heat sink: With a starting temperature of 70F (21C) after 5 minutes i measured 88F (31C) on the diode. I had hopped that this would do better than that, but it only did slightly better than the first.
The $11.99 (2 pcs) heat sink: With a starting temperature of 70F (21C) after 5 minutes i measured 82F (27.7C) on the diode. It did so well, that I let this run for 15 minutes and ended up with 87F (30.5C) before I got tired of testing. This is the heat sink that impresses the heck out of me, because I didn't expect it to do so well.
Next I'm re-building the power supply because I wanted to try some changes before I finish and write up the build for my students, but it looks like this is turning into one fun little project.
Bob Diaz