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DIY red lasers were already taking a hit with the cheap and powerful blu-rays, but with the 445nm they have nearly been left in the dust. 
I remember when red lasers were the only type of laser that a normal hobbyist like us could build, and we would be happy with 100mW. There was a thread recently that inspired me to build another red laser for old times sake. 
>>http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/am-i-only-one-who-prefers-red-405nm-51824.html
For this build I made a labby nearly entirely of stuff pulled from old computers and stuff I had just sitting around. I really didn't need another red laser, I just did it because I could.
Here is the laser with my 445nm build in the background:
I used an old computer power supply for the power source, scrapped an LM317 from an old driver that got swapped out for a flexdrive on a PHR build, got the heatsink from a computer and just drilled a hole through it, found the knife switch from searching through my old electronics parts that I bought when I was 11, and had the diode just sitting around. The diode might have been pulled from a DVD burner, I don't remember though because I have had it for a while. It is a LCC, my favorite type of red diode. It has a 650nm Aixiz glass lens that was just sitting around, I think I got it from a cousin that didn't need it...lol.
You can see I stuck a heatsink on my LM317 in this picture (also found in a computer), I used the 12V leads of my PSU so the LM317 dissipates a LOT of heat. I should have used the 7V leads, but this will do.
And to fit in with the 445nm craze, here is over a watt of unfocused 445nm on the laser. I'm still waiting on Aixiz to ship those dang 405nm glass lenses, without it I can't use my laser.
I know the build isn't pretty, but that isn't what I was going for. I encourage everyone to go ahead and build a red laser for old times sake, they are still pretty cool.
Video!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kc4RyOMDjo
I remember when red lasers were the only type of laser that a normal hobbyist like us could build, and we would be happy with 100mW. There was a thread recently that inspired me to build another red laser for old times sake. >>http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/am-i-only-one-who-prefers-red-405nm-51824.htmlFor this build I made a labby nearly entirely of stuff pulled from old computers and stuff I had just sitting around. I really didn't need another red laser, I just did it because I could.
Here is the laser with my 445nm build in the background:
I used an old computer power supply for the power source, scrapped an LM317 from an old driver that got swapped out for a flexdrive on a PHR build, got the heatsink from a computer and just drilled a hole through it, found the knife switch from searching through my old electronics parts that I bought when I was 11, and had the diode just sitting around. The diode might have been pulled from a DVD burner, I don't remember though because I have had it for a while. It is a LCC, my favorite type of red diode. It has a 650nm Aixiz glass lens that was just sitting around, I think I got it from a cousin that didn't need it...lol.
You can see I stuck a heatsink on my LM317 in this picture (also found in a computer), I used the 12V leads of my PSU so the LM317 dissipates a LOT of heat. I should have used the 7V leads, but this will do.
And to fit in with the 445nm craze, here is over a watt of unfocused 445nm on the laser. I'm still waiting on Aixiz to ship those dang 405nm glass lenses, without it I can't use my laser.
I know the build isn't pretty, but that isn't what I was going for. I encourage everyone to go ahead and build a red laser for old times sake, they are still pretty cool.
Video!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kc4RyOMDjo
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