Optical drive's read/write speed in relation to....

[Thorsteenster]

Diode output. Sorry if this has been covered before. I'm doing my first DIY which will be my second laser. I ordered a cheap Lite-On Blu-Ray drive off Ebay and was just noticing the read speed is 4X. I would guess the higher the read/write, the diode is higher powered or just fed more power. Can anyone clue me in on what I can expect, and how hard I can drive it?

 

[Johnyz]

A 4x Blu-Ray should be driven at approx. 180 to 200mA and you should expect something between 120 and 180mW output with Aixiz 405/445 glass lens, about 20mW less with uncoated acrylics.

Just a quick list:
PHR (XBox 360 HD DVD reader): 100mW
4x: approx. 160mW
6x: approx. 200mW
8x: approx. 300mW
10x: approx. 400mW (not sure)
12x: up to whopping 700mW with good lens

 

[Helios]

A 4x Blu-Ray should be driven at approx. 180 to 200mA and you should expect something between 120 and 180mW output with Aixiz 405/445 glass lens, about 20mW less with uncoated acrylics.

Just a quick list:
PHR (XBox 360 HD DVD reader): 100mW
4x: approx. 160mW
6x: approx. 200mW
8x: approx. 300mW
10x: approx. 400mW (not sure)
12x: up to whopping 700mW with good lens

I believe the 10x and 12x are the same diodes. Some have been able to almost reach 1000mW with these but life is usually short at these currents.

 

[Thorsteenster]

Thanks, more than the 100mw or so I was expecting.

With shorter lifespans at higher power, is it just due to higher power, or not being properly cooled?

 

[Helios]

Thanks, more than the 100mw or so I was expecting.

With shorter lifespans at higher power, is it just due to higher power, or not being properly cooled?

Life will vary quite a bit between diodes even at the same current and heatsinking. We run most diodes well above their recommended current and the result is short life due to multiple factors.

 

[Cyparagon]

A 4x Blu-Ray should be driven at approx. 180 to 200mA

4X read ≠ 4X write

 

[Thorsteenster]

I just read a thread where someone posted the BR player diodes are low power, the drive I took my diode from is a 4X player, are the burners diodes higher powered? Did I waste my money?

 

[Helios]

I just read a thread where someone posted the BR player diodes are low power, the drive I took my diode from is a 4X player, are the burners diodes higher powered? Did I waste my money?

player diodes will not have anywhere near the same power potential. I dont know anything about BR player diodes but I would venture that they will max out under 30mW maybe even 7mW like the dvd player diodes.

 

[Thorsteenster]

Oh well, still be a step up and adventure in DIY.
I'm thinking though instead of buying another BR diode I'll go with a 1W 445nm which look to cost about the same.

 

[Benm]

As far as diodes from players go: The PHR can handle an unusually large amount of power, but i suppose this is an exception. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the differences between hd-dvd and bluray, but it might.

 

[Thorsteenster]

Sorry, what's PHR?

 

[qumefox]

PHR-803T is the part number for the laser sled out of the HD drives for xbox360's.

People generally just call the 405nm diodes extracted from these sled's 'PHR's'.

While they are readers, they generally will do 80-100mW with a decent lifetime.

They are the one known exception to the 'reader diodes suck' rule. Diodes out of PS3 drives for instance, aren't nearly as strong.

 

[Thorsteenster]

Ah, so I may get something decent out of my BR 4x player diode. I guess I shouldn't be disappointed before I've even see it lit lol.

 

[qumefox]

From past experience, you'll maybe get 20-30mw. Generally when things are unknown.. you order two. One to 'torture' to figure out where it dies, and the 2nd to use when you know what it's capable of.