Planning on making RGV, I have some questions.

[windwakr]

EDIT: Forget it, this would just take too long and be too expensive, and I would probably break an important part along the way and get too stressed out. I'll just stick to playing with pointers for now.


Hello. As I was browsing the internet today, I stumbled across this page:

http://www.rog8811.com/whitelaserpointer.htm

That is the one of most beautiful things I have ever seen, I NEED to make one.

But I do have some questions, as I have never messed with laser diodes and drivers, or whatever they're called. My only laser experience is playing with my green and red ones.


The article mentions buying two of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5914

Ok, so why then does it say to buy a “SenKat red laser diode"? Doesn't the DealExtreme thing come with a red diode and driver?

Which brings me to the next question, why does the article tell you to buy drivers then? Is the one in the DealExtreme thing not good enough? I was reading reviews on the DX website, and people have said they've used Blu Ray diodes with the included driver.


Also, for the PHR-803T that would be this, right?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Xbox-360-HD-DVD...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a58db0288



And would this "broken" KES-400A(PS3 sled) work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/KES-400A-400AA-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0f0f79dd


I don't have access, or know anyone who has access, to a lathe. So, what could I do for the little brass parts? The article mentions something about "modified pop rivets". Can anyone explain that?





I just started learning all this stuff earlier today, so I need all the help and advice I can get.

 

[Flaminpyro]

Try White Fusion in search mode...

 

[windwakr]

Try White Fusion in search mode...

Yeah, I saw that earlier before I posted here. But, it's just a little too expensive.

Thanks anyways.

 

[HaloBlu]

First welcome.
About the RGV white lasers, I would suggest starting with perhaps just a Blu-ray since white might be a bit much to start with & you only mention having green & red so far. You can build a much better Blu-ray for the same price or cheaper then many places will sell them for. Also you can pull it apart & use it for your RGV later if you wish.
How much might you be able to spend on the RGV? It will add up. While you can do it without a White Fusion Kit it will make it much easier & I would certainly recommend going for the kit.

Yeah the DealExtreme drivers suck for our use. See Sam's Laser FAQ - Diode Laser Power Supplies
Lava FlexDrive is really good (best IMO) but if you need cheaper search for drivers & you will find diy plans.
HighTechDealZ diodes in sleds. HighTechDealZ Bare diode / diodes pressed into aixiz.
Laser safety glasses. You Can easily damage your eyes without laser glasses. If you might build higher powered lasers consider better glasses.

Oh yea & if you get started with building lasers you might just get sucked in & wind up spending more then you 1st planned when you began... But you will likely have some fun (else one would just stop wouldn't they?). :san:

 

[windwakr]

First welcome.
About the RGV white lasers, I would suggest starting with perhaps just a Blu-ray since white might be a bit much to start with & you only mention having green & red so far. You can build a much better Blu-ray for the same price or cheaper then many places will sell them for. Also you can pull it apart & use it for your RGV later if you wish.
How much might you be able to spend on the RGV? It will add up. While you can do it without a White Fusion Kit it will make it much easier & I would certainly recommend going for the kit.

Yeah the DealExtreme drivers suck for our use. See Sam's Laser FAQ - Diode Laser Power Supplies
Lava FlexDrive is really good (best IMO) but if you need cheaper search for drivers & you will find diy plans.
HighTechDealZ diodes in sleds. HighTechDealZ Bare diode / diodes pressed into aixiz.
Laser safety glasses. You Can easily damage your eyes without laser glasses. If you might build higher powered lasers consider better glasses.

Oh yea & if you get started with building lasers you might just get sucked in & wind up spending more then you 1st planned when you began... But you will likely have some fun (else one would just stop wouldn't they?). :san:

Thanks for the help and the links.

Yeah, maybe I'll just make a Blu-Ray laser first, and see how that goes. Starting with a RGV would probably lead to much frustration and lost money.



Is this driver any good?
http://rkcstr.nfshost.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=201

Or do you know of any cheaper ones that would work, that aren't "DIY"? :yh:



I'll buy a PHR-803T(cheaper than buying the diode alone) and follow this on how to extract the diode:
http://1337hackz.com/blog/?p=220




But on second thought, would it just be better to just buy a $20 5mW violet off of DealExtreme, and take that apart if I ever want to make a RGV? In case you haven't noticed, I don't like spending more money than I have to for something.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.28901



Hmmm, I don't know what I want to do. This started as an "OOOOH, I have to get/make one of those!" thing, but now it's just like "....that would cost too much/too much work" thing...

 

[HaloBlu]

Lavadrive runs cool whereas the rkcstr doesn't, the laser diode will also produce heat & the less heat the happier your diode will be.
That said, the rkcstr is still a good alternative.

These diodes aren't manufactured to go into laser pointers, they are intended for HD-DVD & Blu-ray players/burners. Because of that, those pointers will be more then 5mW. It will really be maybe 40-80mW. Sites claim they are only 5mW since otherwise they can't sell them to USA legally (w/o a bunch of safety features).

I haven't bothered pull apart any store bought Blu-rays. Those pens don't have adjustable focus & trying to rip the diode out (while not killing it) is just more trouble then its worth when a rkcstr & PHR-803T will give you ~90mW. You will need adjustable focus for RGV.