noobs make noob mistakes

[unclewho]

I decided to get a laser out of a dvd burner that was no longer working and i successfully located and removed it.
except i couldnt figure out how to remove it from the cast iron tomb it was incased! so i thought hey the top of the
diode looks pretty strong ill try and tap it out. firstly it didnt come out and secondly i shattered the little glass lens
that is at the end of the diode. It still works but its unfocused beam is now even further unfocused! i was wondering
if this will still work in a housing and will still get a beam? i eventually figured out a way of removing it which was to
saw one side of the case and using pliers peel away the casing. if i shake the diode i can actually heard the glass moving.
Should i try and remove the glass with a needle or something?

 

[daguin]

If there are pieces of glass (the window) still in the opening, they may interfere with a good beam. If they are off to the side, sometimes you can secure them there.

In any event, you need to get it into a module with a lens so you can focus the beam. The module should also have some heat sinking to pull heat away from the diode. Lastly, you should have a current regulating driver to control the current (and thus the output) as well as protecting the diode from "spikes."

Have you read the info in the link below in my signature? Have you read the FAQ and the Stickies in the Welcome board?

Peace,
dave

**EDIT** Don't shove a needle in there. There are VERY fine wires in there that can be broken pretty easily that way.

 

[Pontiacg5]

I seem to remember people cutting the cans off of diodes like this so they were open, I don't recall what exactly for, but I remember it for some reason.

These are 9mm diodes, a similar style case. If you had the dexterity I think you could cut the front off of the diode and leave it open like these diodes.

http://www.*****************.com/shop/product.php?id_product=60

I would wait to see if someone with a touch more experience confirms this! I think you got really lucky, hitting it with a hammer like that, I blown diodes with a lot less force than that!

I guess I can't post a link, here's a picture of a open diode though

 

[chipdouglas]

just because you are a newwwb i will elaborate a little on to what dave said., when he means lens, he is NOT speaking of the glass that you already broke. the bare diode does not have a focusing lens. the glass you broke is a protective shield more or less. you need an actual lens assembly and a housing for your diode.


also good job adding pix... it makes explanations so much easier

michael

 

[unclewho]

I seem to remember people cutting the cans off of diodes like this so they were open, I don't recall what exactly for, but I remember it for some reason.

These are 9mm diodes, a similar style case. If you had the dexterity I think you could cut the front off of the diode and leave it open like these diodes.

http://www.*****************.com/shop/product.php?id_product=60

I would wait to see if someone with a touch more experience confirms this! I think you got really lucky, hitting it with a hammer like that, I blown diodes with a lot less force than that!

I guess I can't post a link, here's a picture of a open diode though

I already ordered a Aixiz Laser Module Housing last night, so are you saying i could carefully cut the top off to make that small opening the same diameter as the can?

 

[daguin]

I already ordered a Aixiz Laser Module Housing last night, so are you saying i could carefully cut the top off to make that small opening the same diameter as the can?

Click on the search button and search "decan" and/or "decanning"

Peace,
dave

 

[unclewho]

Click on the search button and search "decan" and/or "decanning"

Peace,
dave

i got the half the can off and the diode is good now, just gotta wait for the housing and figure out what this driver is that i have to make.

 

[Ash]

i got the half the can off and the diode is good now, just gotta wait for the housing and figure out what this driver is that i have to make.

You can buy a driver from here:
http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive.php
or here:
rkcstr.com, Micro-Drive and laser diode electronics
:san:

 

[unclewho]

You can buy a driver from here:
http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive.php
or here:
rkcstr.com, Micro-Drive and laser diode electronics
:san:

Can i harvest a Driver from a cheap laser pointer? i dont want to pay $20 for a driver. would it work if i just use 2 AAA(orAA) and add a resistor knowing that it will lower the current well below its rated for?

 

[john_lawson]

Can i harvest a Driver from a cheap laser pointer? i dont want to pay $20 for a driver. would it work if i just use 2 AAA(orAA) and add a resistor knowing that it will lower the current well below its rated for?

dont skimp on a driver you'll regrett it just get a flex or rckstr or youll fry your diodes

 

[Pontiacg5]

Can i harvest a Driver from a cheap laser pointer? i dont want to pay $20 for a driver. would it work if i just use 2 AAA(orAA) and add a resistor knowing that it will lower the current well below its rated for?

Yes you could, but not if you want your laser to last any longer than a couple of minutes.

If you don't want to spend 20, buy a cheap green laser pointer and take it apart to use its driver. You should be able to find a 5mW green for around $10.

 

[daguin]

Can i harvest a Driver from a cheap laser pointer? i dont want to pay $20 for a driver. would it work if i just use 2 AAA(orAA) and add a resistor knowing that it will lower the current well below its rated for?

The driver in the green pointer was designed to drive several hundred mA @ 3V. You need about 170mA @ 5V. You do the math.

If this worked, there would be stuff all over this forum about it.

Trust me. There are already plenty of ways to make a mistake and blow a component without trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Buy (or build) a driver designed for what you are trying to do.

Peace,
dave

 

[photonaholic]

About $5 to make yourself......

 

[Morgan]

The driver in the green pointer was designed to drive several hundred mA @ 3V. You need about 170mA @ 5V. You do the math.

Peace,
dave

Hey Dave,

He's looking to drive a Red, if I've understood correctly. 170mA @ 5V sounds like a BR requirement? Or do you mean this as input to a linear driver like the DDL?

M

 

[Pontiacg5]

The driver in the green pointer was designed to drive several hundred mA @ 3V. You need about 170mA @ 5V. You do the math.

If this worked, there would be stuff all over this forum about it.

Trust me. There are already plenty of ways to make a mistake and blow a component without trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Buy (or build) a driver designed for what you are trying to do.

Peace,
dave

I've used cheap laser drivers with pot adjustments to run dvd diodes, in fact I'm using one to run a 635 diode right now at about 50mA. The laser works fine and has worked for a while, I even fit it back into the original pen housing.

 

[BShanahan14rulz]

daguin was talking about the fact that dpss is much less efficient than straight diode-lens laser.
DPSS losses include: 808nm ->1024nm, 1024nm->532nm, and lasing medium inefficiencies, and collimating lens (some greens also have a concentrating lens between the diode and the crystals)
diode-lens losses mainly in the single lens.

That being said, to make up for those losses, you need a much more powerful pump diode, and you need to drive it much harder. Might take 200mA to get a red to put out near 300mW, but 200mA from a green laser's source might only put out 20mW of green in the end.