My first build - what was yours?

[Trevor]

I don't think I've ever posted my first build. Probably for good reason.

Well... I put it together in 2009, I think just before I joined LPF, but just after I found it. I bought a PHR module from Kendall at HighTechDealz, doing around 100mW via a Rckstr driver. I put it in a heatsink from Z-Bolt.

...but at that point, I was still pretty wary of high powered lasers. So I mounted the module in a heatsink on top of a project box. It's got a keyswitch on the side that, when you turn it on, turns on an LED to show the laser is armed. Then you flip a switch to turn off the LED and turn on the laser.

So that's my first build... what's yours look like?

Trevor

 

[Trevor]

Thats a pretty nice first build! the keyswitch is a nice touch good job

You wouldn't say that if you saw the inside.

Trevor

 

[Livinloud]

650nm in a C6 host running at 428mA still needs to be LPM'd



EDIT: Thank you Trevor, it is very classic and im in the process of stripping another C6 to polish it i hope to strip another one and then anodize it a bright red

 

[Gun]

A 532nm 30mW Fasttech Module running off a 3V wall adapter, it's in a mountable aluminium heatsink.

 

[Laik]

Nice little build, i like the safety features My first build was a 50mW DX module i soldered a spring onto and pressed into an empty pen host. I have yet to do a (what i would call) 'real' build because soldering a spring onto a module and pressing it into a pen host is pretty easy. My first 'real' build attempt failed due to many things.

 

[BowtieGuy]

My first build was not all that long ago (march). It was a 9mm 445nm, in a blue generic host with a 2.1A X-drive, g-2 lens and a copper heatsink.

I just recently had a chance to LPM it, and was pleasantly suprised that it metered at 2815mW!

 

[LtKernelPanic]

Hmm my first completed laser was my 4mw 635 pen (yeah don't do a pen build for your first) but on final assembly I broke the switch and had to wait for another to arrive so I guess technically my first fully assembled laser was my 170mw 6x 405nm build. As of two days ago both still worked when I recharged their batteries. Build threads for both are linked in my sig.

 

[Things]

My first build was inside a huge project box with a 16x 660nm diode. I kept blowing the diodes up, so I ended up pulling apart a little red spiro I had and using that as the driver. The box wouldn't even fit in your pocket, and used D cells to power it. I don't have any pics though, this was probably around 2007

 

[n2stuff]

My first was a 1/2mW HeNe kit back in 1988 from Metrologic. She still running today.

 

[LaZeRz]

First build was a lpc-815 hotlight. Next attempt was at a 445nm hotlight which ended up in tears. Managed to destroy my A-140 and driver.

 

[Kookapeli]

My first build was a LPC-815 in a cheapo 9 LED torch, running at 250ma
(the one on the far left)

 

[brunes01]

Hi!

That`s my first build!

9mm 445nm Diode by DTR with 2.1A x-drive!

I went for the Survival Laser Stainless Steel host assembly with extended and tapered copper heatsink.


Cheers brunes01

 

[grainde]

Thats an impressive first build Trevor!

My first build was a C6 with a flex V5 @ 1.5 A and M140. Got 1.95 W with a G2! :beer: