My second red laser project (with pics)

[alessnilsen]

Hi! I'm building my second red laser project, is a more compact version of my actual red laser. It uses a 24X DVD burner laser diode (from a LG GSA-H55N [my favorite burner for getting LD's]) that runs at 415mA, I don't know how much mW they put out, I think is around 250mA, if someone know let me know! :beer:

Instead of building it from a ready MDF box like my other laser, I build it using a custom format of 11cm X 3cm X 7cm. Since every shape of MDF have 0,3mm of thickness, it gave me a internal space of 10,5cm X 2.4cm X 6.4cm, was a bit complicated to get all in place.

Most of the pieces used here was brought from a technological recycle center, avoiding to be wasted.

Here the shapes of MDF:

The box pre-mounted:

Size comparison with my other laser:

First simulation of the pieces in place:

Done the fan opening:

Driver assembly (the resistors of the DDL driver are on the other side of the board):

Glued some lateral MDF shapes:

Generic aspect of the laser:

Test of the driver:

Lens (salvaged from a old Creative 24X CD reader) in a LD housing:

Lens glued in place, but not well focused:

The unfocused "DOT" (rings are common using that lenses :yabbem: ):

Focused beam (not a good photo, but is OK):

Beam melting insulation tape (only to confirm that is powerful):

Assembling the things:

Done the assembly and working:

Now the next thing I need do is pass a varnish into the MDF to make the laser most beautiful like my other laser.

Tomorrow I'll done the varnish and my new laser will be ready to rock! :drool:

To be continued ...

 

[Kamildos]

I like your project man. Check out my red lasers Can you sent me scheme of your driver?

 

[alessnilsen]

:thanks:

I used a LM317 and a 3 Ohms resistor, for security, I added a 470 Ohms resistor in parallel with the LD and the capacitor.

 

[alessnilsen]

Finished the varnish, the laser is almost done! :wave: :beer:

Tonight I'll take some beam shots.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

The current setpoint is about right. I think those are an LOC in that drive, so it should last a good long
time running at 400mA. You have the right idea making the enclosure from an insulating material. Since
these diodes are case negative, if they touch the case of your power supply and it happens to be
grounded, bad things will happen. (Learn from my mistakes.)

 

[alessnilsen]

I don't know what "LOC" means to be. But you're right!

I already done this mistake, short circuiting the LD heatsink with the LM317 heatsink makes the LD die instantly! Already 3+ diodes dead this way (when I didn't have much knowledge).

I isolated the place of the LD to avoid short circuit and to avoid dust from the fan from coming to the lens, my other red laser have this issue, the lens get dirty and dirty, the fan exhaust the heat, but it suck the air through the laser aperture too, so dirty enters and reach the lens.

Laser "dot" of my new laser:

Laser "dot" of my other laser (see how the lens is dirty! :yabbem: ):

Thanks!!

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

LOC stands for Long Open Can, also known as the LPC-8xx.

 

[cheech226]

I like the wood box look. Good use of the salvaged components too!

 

[alessnilsen]

My LD must be one of the LPC-815 (found some photos of the exact laser housing), long die, open can. Did you know how much mW they produce at 400mA? It was from a 24X DVD burner GSA-H55N.

Generally it comes in two different housings:

And here the LD:

I like the wood box look. Good use of the salvaged components too!

Thank you!!

A new beam shot (probably the best beam shot of this laser using fog from the insulation tape):

And, with my green DPSS laser:

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

It's probably producing around 250mW @ 400mA. LPC-815 - Lasers Wiki

 

[alessnilsen]

250mW? Good!

Then my laser caution tag is correct. Thank you!

 

[BurningLaserGuy]

Good job! Man, your laser looks antique, interesting ideea!

 

[alessnilsen]

Thank you!

That's the most perfect build I done, "zero" LD's died and "zero" lenses trashed, almost 90% reused parts (except the MDF, the RCA power input and the LM317T)!

 

[scythe]

Good job mate

 

[alessnilsen]

Thanks! :beer:

 

[ChaosLord]

That's a neat build. Good job!