My first red laser build

[x90z75ek]

This is the first red laser I built.
It has a 7mW 635nm red diode, a DDL driver (which was too long to fit in the host so it had to be cut in half and one half was placed under the other) and the current is around 50mA.
This wavelength is much brighter than 650nm and it's possible to see the beam in complete darkness. I can also see a little difference in color from 650nm, but others have said they see no difference.
I actually completed this laser almost a month ago, but I taught I'll wait until I get a better battery to post it however it seems it's not going to happen that soon so I just posted it now.
The batteries it uses now are three L1154 button cells.
Special thanks to Eudaimonium for providing me with this diode (and ReNNo who gave Eudaimonium the diode) and Billg519 who gave Eudaimonium the switch he gave me for this laser.
Here are some pictures:

 

[bloompyle]

WOOT WOOT! I just got one of these diodes, did you clip the pins down a little bit? These pins on mine are super long! I didn't know it had a visible beam in darkness though :drool: I definately have to go set this up, I'll just put my Rckstr on it's lowest setting. How long will it survive on 50mA?

 

[ReNNo]

I'm glad that you found practical use of this diode.
This is very unusual host, and I like it...

Recommended current for this diode is 40mA, we can only hope that it will last on 50mA.

What I like about this diode is heat dissipation.
I powered this diode for 2-3 minutes and diode stayed cold. Hard to believe

Beam is visible in dark.

 

[Eudaimonium]

I'm glad that you found practical use of this diode.
This is very unusual host, and I like it...

Recommended current for this diode is 40mA, we can only hope that it will last on 50mA.

What I like about this diode is heat dissipation.
I powered this diode for 2-3 minutes and diode stayed cold. Hard to believe

Beam is visible in dark.

The "host" is actually a plastic laser attachment fit for plastic toy gun.

We'll try to fix up a pressure pad on handle of the gun - that'll be badass.

It's a very nice diode though, I think I can also see a bit shade difference, but only when holding 650 nm and 635 nm side by side.

 

[x90z75ek]

WOOT WOOT! I just got one of these diodes, did you clip the pins down a little bit? These pins on mine are super long! I didn't know it had a visible beam in darkness though :drool: I definately have to go set this up, I'll just put my Rckstr on it's lowest setting. How long will it survive on 50mA?

Yes, I did clip the diode pins, they were really long.
I would have set a lower current if I could, but since the driver had to be cut like this it would be impossible to fit a regular resistor on it, so an SMD resistor had to be used and the closest Eudaimonium and I had to get that kind of current was 22ohm.
The beam can be seen, but it's really hard.

 

[Eudaimonium]

Yes, I did clip the diode pins, they were really long.
I would have set a lower current if I could, but since the driver had to be cut like this it would be impossible to fit a regular resistor on it, so an SMD resistor had to be used and the closest Eudaimonium and I had to get that kind of current was 22ohm.
The beam can be seen, but it's really hard.

That's because you have 100mW green and 200mW bluray and 240 mW red next to it, maybe?

Compare it to red el-crapo keychains, not some amper-eaters.

 

[billg519]

Congrats on completing your first red, and a 635nm, too. Even at 7mW (maybe you're getting a ferw more with the 50mA) the 635nm will be visible in darkened conditions. Have you tried for any beamshots with a little smoke or fog? Nice, creative build using materials at hand.

 

[x90z75ek]

Congrats on completing your first red, and a 635nm, too. Even at 7mW (maybe you're getting a ferw more with the 50mA) the 635nm will be visible in darkened conditions. Have you tried for any beamshots with a little smoke or fog? Nice, creative build using materials at hand.

Thanks! I haven't tried any beamshots because I don't have a smoke machine. The only thing I could use for smoke are matches. Also I just measured the current and it's only 22mA now, but what could I expect from three button cells. That's why I need a better battery like a 10180 li-ion.

 

[Gryphon]

Your first red build and you went with 635nm, very nice!

 

[bloompyle]

You could get a good bit of smoke from burning paper towles. Set it on fire for about 1-2sec, put it out but let it smolder (orange glowing edge) it will smoke then but won't burn away quickly. Keep doing that a few times and that gets more smoke than matches. You get about 2-3 times as much smoke with every smolder as you do with putting out a match.

 

[Coeysesdfa]

Cheers for your first build!very cool!

 

[x90z75ek]

You could get a good bit of smoke from burning paper towles. Set it on fire for about 1-2sec, put it out but let it smolder (orange glowing edge) it will smoke then but won't burn away quickly. Keep doing that a few times and that gets more smoke than matches. You get about 2-3 times as much smoke with every smolder as you do with putting out a match.

Good idea. I'll try that.

 

[daguin]

Excellent, creative use of the materials on hand. :gj:

Peace,
dave