Making my first homemade laser help

[rx7sr4]

Hey

I'm wanting to build a homemade laser out of a dvd burner diode and i have read the tutorial here on it but i want mine to fit into like a little LED flashlight or even better. I don't understand why it needs 7v? why not just 3 AAA batteries like in the LED flashlight.

Can anyone help?

 

[daguin]

Hey
I'm wanting to build a homemade laser out of a dvd burner diode and i have read the tutorial here on it but i want mine to fit into like a little LED flashlight or even better. I don't understand why it needs 7v? why not just 3 AAA batteries like in the LED flashlight.
Can anyone help?

The difference is the voltage required for the LED and the laser diode are different. Plus current regulating drivers need their own voltage on top of the laser diode. You can use 3 AAA's *IF* you use a boost driver like the flexdrive.

Peace,
dave

 

[rx7sr4]

Thanks for the reply. That has opened my mind up about a few things.

Well, how can i make a complete hand held laser pointer that isn't the size of a flashlight? is it possible to put it into a wicked lasers core housing of some type? i can make a housing with my lathe. Is there a driver that i could buy that could fit into a small place like the "core" laser?

Thanks

 

[daguin]

Thanks for the reply. That has opened my mind up about a few things.

Well, how can i make a complete hand held laser pointer that isn't the size of a flashlight? is it possible to put it into a wicked lasers core housing of some type? i can make a housing with my lathe. Is there a driver that i could buy that could fit into a small place like the "core" laser?

Thanks

Check the "stickys" in the buy/sell/trade board. There are a couple of small drivers available from different members here. Also check the "tutorials" and the "experiments" boards for ideas about small lasers.

Peace,
dave