Need help focusing a 3V DVD Laser.

[Stewox]

Hello everyone


This is my first nooby try on making a laser pointer out of a DVD laser diode , i had tested one diode and i now see that the easiest to work with will be a 3 V DVD Diode which doesn't involve all the fusshuss about resistors and electronic board , i have zero experience with is to that falls off and also i have very limited avalability in my country (credit card purchasing is very rare here)

But i found my self a local "dealextreme" they happen to have quite something and im going to post links (which are unfortunately only in local language) , about this later...


I also , burned this diode because i was going to solder some longer pins to it , after it was all messed up i think i connected both pins and i think i shortened it too long (afaik i did shortened it once when i just loose-attached (very awkward) wires together but it didn't burn - maybe because the positive and negative wires were together so it avoided the diode but idk since i only saw sparks at the battery when activating ) , I think it was a diode from LG DVD burner about 2005 year of manufacturing (yeah very old) , but i have no idea what's the specs of diodes , it was bright of course i couldn't look and the thing was creepy enough i was in full alert of taking care of my eyes.

I have now already ordered a used "brand unknown" ( i was too fast at this and didn't payed attention , there is about 20 DVD drives for like 15$ also remaining) , it's a DVD RW x16 drive from 2009(year of manufacturing unknonwn yet). SO i think im gonna have a better diode hopefully.

I heard that NEC an Pioneer might also have some really good diodes in there , yes 2 not-too-old NECs and one Pioneer are available at my local deal online shop.


Now i found that the diode im needing is a colimator , makes the light go to a beam.

I have some DIY scrap here in one large box , just stuff lying around, and i didn't managed to make a config right , it's all diodes from the DVD drive disassembly some other toy lasers and oh well

But they sell quite close in city , good LED pocket lights with a laser in the center , it's an 8 LEDs round shaped light and the center a laser with probably 10mW or so IDK , it's not good to look in but it's not powerfuly so to speak , it's however quite a noticable laser compared to the toy stuff.

I can modify this light for housing it's quite a good housing for a light since it's very small , but it's steel , some freaking hard aluminum , (i wanted to get to the laser assembly once before (before i found out i only need 3Volt batteries for DVD laser hehe ) but i had to broke it apart beyond any repair, bought new one) That laser is dead because i played with it until i accidentialy connected the soled AFTER the resistor which killed it , SINCE i had no idea i used 3x1.5V batteries as the this Pocket Laser LED is having in a cylindrical shaped slot and you put in 3 AAA batteries , the diodes obviously operate at 3V , hence resistor , it has "510" writen on it.

The laser diod on this pocket light is opened up with visible circuit board , the laser is actually , lol , some kind of glowing material, interesting.


That's the stuff i have available here fastly. (at least for me)


Link1: Lens

CW Colimator lenses , CAX100 , CAX183 and CAY046 ,

Issue: The diameter is not reported
Remark: You probably the 3 in a package.
Translation side text: These colimators are made from good artificial material , use different collimators dending on varying distanced in focal point adjustments.

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Link2: Modules

Here's Something on modules , that's what i need!

I think im going to use the cheapes one , i think it has included some stuff in and i hope it's adjustable for focusing , so i don't need any more additional lenses ?

"Cheapest one" (15 Eur):

You san see the specifications right away , you can also click a little to the right size where some language flags are , those are the manuals and more details of the product.



I had to shorten all the links since the site has werid flash menus without real URLs.

 

[Stewox]

Bump


Is the module casing alone enough to be adjustable ? I don't know if it's able to spin around i don't see it's screw-like on the picture.

 

[Stewox]

SO i need a collimator lense for making a beam , and then a convex lense for adjusting the focal point .

Pretty much yeah , but that could be told in guides ... i mean , there's so little info for those who just want to make a simple build , i really don't have idea making driver circuits and even less time to think about it.

 

[anselm]

Read more.
Start with the first link in my signature.
Make yourself a lm317-based driver, it's very easy.
Also, get an Aixiz module or an O-like module to put your diode into.
Both of these modules can be bought with a lens already included.
You need only one lens to make a beam, a collimating lens.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

 

[Stewox]

Read more.
Start with the first link in my signature.
Make yourself a lm317-based driver, it's very easy.
Also, get an Aixiz module or an O-like module to put your diode into.
Both of these modules can be bought with a lens already included.
You need only one lens to make a beam, a collimating lens.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

I can't get an aixiz module i don't live in US , and i don't have credit card or capability to purchase online everywhere. (yet)

For the driver circuit , well i hope i can find resistors i think i have some of them at home taken from other stuff , but i have no idea about their specification.

Yeah , i hope im welcome Well i gotta start somewhere , i did read a lot before even making this thread but .. it was just something i didn't found anyfreaking where for a few days.

Thanks , i think it'll be relatively easy to make a screw-fittout for the bigger casing that'll rotate around with the convex lense inside for burning. ... i think i got the logic now fairly straight. (ofcourse i knew the vectors and how the light should go but i missed out on scientific names)

The only thing it's hard is finding resistors and all these electronical stuff in my country , i know there are private dealers and specialized stores/sites , it's just hard to find em , plus me , i don't have some big experience , but i remember my childhood i always messed something with wires and electronics and that's if fun for me still (being PC guy ), it's genuine DIY , and it wouldn't be the same if i just went out to really find a build laser , and buy it for 50€... that's just not fun


The other thing is , i have no idea about AMPS , those are ... yeah i know school stuff , but i forgot it , like , i think it's about capacity , or output power ?


Also are there any specs on what are the safe levels , so i don't burn my diodes , i know that soldering is only 600C max and 3 seconds , the diode is suspectible to heat and very fragile , i tried with 2006 DVD and i short circuited it about 2 times and it didn't burn out (sparks were visible)

I actually found out about burning AFTER i burned it with soldering so i thought the short circuit killed it , but it was the omg loads of solder , those pins are so damn small.

Now i got a new diode from 2009, and i didn't yet took it out of the assembly , it's still connected to the cables , it's kind of weird , one pin is soldered out , the other two are soldered to the wire , so that 2 must be positive , the negative is the one out , but the one out MUST be negative , so i guess the casing is negative , the whole heatsinks and the assembly ? Well , i had to know to be sure , because i should use the 1 inch wires that (flat circuit-film wire) are still attached , it would eliminate soldering. NC (not used) and Positive are soldered together , well what do they use the third for , regulation ? should i disconnect the NC ?