My first build - Desktop 445nm

[Lofteh]

I just finished my first laser build, thought I'd share it with you guys

I'm running it at 1.4A with a Flexdrive V5

The heatsink was off an old CPU. It's probably a bit overkill but I'd rather the diode stay cool than kill it.

I drilled a 12mm hole in the heatsink but it was slightly too large for the Aixiz module so I sanded down the back part of the module and covered it in solder. I then put some heat-conductive compound round it and forced it into the hole with a G-clamp.

I put a bit of compound on the thread of the front part of the module and screwed it in. It's in there pretty solid now and it has good thermal contact with the heatsink.

I'm pretty impressed with the power of these things, good job I used a piece of wood as a beamstop rather than let it hit the carboard box, it did this after a couple of seconds whilst I was taking the photo

And before anyone asks, I know I'm new to this forum but I've been playing with lasers for ages, I'm safe with them and I had goggles on

 

[Ra1nfade]

I like the heatsink but I cant help to ask why your module is sitting out so far from your HS?

Also what are your powering it with?

 

[Trevor]

I like the heatsink but I cant help to ask why your module is sitting out so far from your HS?

Also what are your powering it with?

He actually set it up quite well. The portion of the module that is sticking out is the portion that houses the lens. The laser diode is surrounded by the mass of the heatsink.

This is the best and fastest way to transfer the laser diode's waste heat into the heat sink.

-Trevor

 

[Lotus_Darkrose]

Yup. It seems to be mounted so that the diode is in line with the solid part of the heatsink (not the fins) which is definitely better. Any farther and the diode would have the finned part on its sides which would not help heat transfer nearly as much.

When I say "diode" I mean "aixiz module where the diode is" just to clear that up lol

 

[Ra1nfade]

:facepalm: I didn't look at the pictures close enough any further and the diode wouldnt be heatsinked at all...

Did he mount the driver to this HS as well or is it still in the aixiz module :thinking:

 

[Lofteh]

Thanks for your comments

The driver is outside of all of that taped to a smaller heatsink, I'll come up with a more permanent solution soon.

The positioning of the Aixiz module makes it easy to unscrew the front part containing the diode to either swap it for another module or for any other reason I need to take it out and also, as others have pointed out, puts the diode inline with the bulk of the heatsink and I can hardly feel any temp increase when it's running

It's powered by a modified ATX powersupply and Flexdrive V5

I have plans to mount it on a CNC machine I'm currently building, I've only got the first axis done yet though, but here's a demo of it so far if anyone is interested YouTube - ‪DIY CNC Machine - X axis test‬‏

 

[elnicodor]

Nice build, keep it up!