Not sure if this is a diode?

[Ohmmmmm]

Hey guys I am new to the laser forums and fairly new to the laser building world. Ok that was a quick introduction but anyways I pulled this out of an old portable movie player and I know that that isn't gonna burn anything but the diode isn't like anything I've eve seen before. In fact I'm not even sure this is a diode at all. It has three pins though. Will i be able to make a laser with this? Here I'll post a picture once I figure out how lol.

 

[NKO29]

Yeah, get a picture up first. Chances are it will be a flat laser thingy like a c-mount but smaller/different.

 

[Ohmmmmm]

Ok well im sorry i cant figure outnhow to post a picture but it is a diode looking thing with three pins diagonally placed. Will that help you identify what kind of diode i have?

 

[jeffreythe00]

imgur: the simple image sharer

Now as for the diode, you never mentioned where you got it. You could surely make a laser with any diode. Whether or not the diode is a high powered and or visible. Thats still up for debate until you reply.

 

[Ohmmmmm]

Ya I pulled it from on old portable movie player.

 

[jeffreythe00]

Then what you most likely have is a low powered IR reader diode. You COULD make a laser with it but since it is IR there is no point. Plus those reader diodes are really low powered.

What you want to look for is a 16x or higher DVD burner. This will have a red diode inside that you can harvest and make a 150mW+ red laser. Bluray burner drives work as well.

 

[Ohmmmmm]

Oh well, now I have pieces of a movie player layer around. Good thing it was broken beforehand though, I just thought I cod harvest a diode from it. I have two question. Do you think RadioShack sells diodes or would I have to buy one online. And I have a old blue ray play, not a burner, would the diode in that be any good? Would it burn stuff?

 

[jeffreythe00]

Haha, ive done that in the past too. No worries.

Radioshack most certainly does not sell diodes that you can buy nor harvest as far as I am aware. Even if they did, they would be overpriced.

My suggestion would be checkout DTR'S laser shop.https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/

If not you can search ebay, newegg or any other place that sells DVD burners and you can try your hand at harvesting them. There is plenty of info on these DVD burners on the forum so do your homework . Sometimes you even find some KOOL optics to play with.

You will also need several other pieces to build your laser. Definitely do NOT attempt to build a laser from a Kipkay video. You will endup with a sad dead laser and maybe even a burned Retina.

 

[Ohmmmmm]

Yes I know lol I used to watch kipkays videos. Thanks I'll go check out that website and read more about building lasers!

 

[jeffreythe00]

Alright cool!

I hope you can put good use to all of this good information on our forum here! Better yet, I hope you can build yourself a mega awesome laser!