Problem with DVD burner laser

[sephiroth]

Hi to all you people!

I've decided to make a red laser of DVD burner laser. I've made a driver like this one in picture:

http://wiki.wareznet.net/images/2/29/Driver.JPG

The problem is that I can't get enough light from laser diod. I supose that it should be powerful (cause it's been taken from DVD burner) but if i get just a little bit more light (reduce the resistence of variable resistor) the diod becomes hot and starts to smell. Another problem is that I don't know characteristic of that diod. I doubt I can get a nice ray in that way once when the light is focused. During a day you can't even see a laser dot on the wall of my room.

So, does anyone knows what is the problem and how can I fix it?
Thanks a lot!



One more thing:
sorry if there is another topic similar to this one... This is my first post...

 

[photonaholic]

Welcome to the forum, what DVD burner was the diode taken from, (X=speed)

can you post a photo of your build??

Laser Resources (for n00bs and veterans alike!)

http://laserpointerforums.com/f36/looking-build-laser-read-me-47684.html

Sam's Laser FAQ (The Laser Bible)

Sam's Laser FAQ - Preface, Introduction, What is a Laser?, Safety

RP Photonics Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology

Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology - an Open Access Resource of In-Depth Information, Free Articles, Nonlinear and Fiber Optics

I have included a handy guide to assist you in finding what you need.

 

[sephiroth]

Thanks for your help! :yh:

I'll build circuit again and post pictures in a few minutes!

 

[sephiroth]

Here are the pictures of my build: (on second picture you can see how much light gives the diod)

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/4131/dsc00126hd.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2175/dsc00127a.jpg

I think it was 16x DVD burner but I'm not shure...
But it's not so important. Maybe that laser can't burn stuff but I think it MUST give more light... But I'm not an expert. That why I'm here!

 

[photonaholic]

it looks like you have 2 legs of the LM317 reversed.

follow this diagram and see what I mean, the centre leg is the adjust.

Nice and neat breadboard work!

 

[jaycey]

Possibilty of a IR Diode?

 

[sephiroth]

Yes, you're right...

My schematic wasn't so clear like this one... Thanks...
One mere question:

What is the capacity of capacitor? 10 miliF or 10 microF?
10 miliF sounds to much...

 

[sephiroth]

I don't thik that is a IR diod... It shines in red colour (like in second picture).
Is there possibility that IR diod shines red?

 

[photonaholic]

10 uf, and IR diodes do make a faint red glow.

Is there another diode in the sled??

take it out and try it.

 

[sephiroth]

I've found another diode too... This diode shines less then first on the same voltage... So, if there must be IR diode, that is definitly second one...

Here you can see the diference in light intesity:

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/5615/dsc00129s.jpg

 

[photonaholic]

with the circuit wired wrong, you may have already fried the diode.

 

[sephiroth]

I rewired the circuit and everithing was ok... I had corect circuit but after some time my diode stopped to shine... High current and bad luck I supose... But never mind!

Anyway, thanks a lot for your help... I hope I'll find some other broken DVD burner soon so I can finish my work.

Until that I hope I'll learn enough in this forum to make my new diode shine well.

Greeting!

 

[sephiroth]

Does someone know could the diode from cd burner be so powerfull to burn stuff like diode from dvd burner?

Sorry for writting in this topic...I didn't want to open a new topic for this single question...

 

[photonaholic]

CD burner diodes are invisible light, and far less powerful than DVD burner diodes.

 

[sephiroth]

I got a new dvd burner.
I found a strange looking diode in it!
This one has 12 pins. Here's the picture:



Can I make laser with this diode?

 

[Eudaimonium]

I got a new dvd burner.
I found a strange looking diode in it!
This one has 12 pins. Here's the picture:



Can I make laser with this diode?

I do not think that this is a laser diode...

I think it would be a sensor or something,

There is no possible way you need 12 pins on a laser diode package.

TO3 ones are with 6 pins, containing LD, temp sensing and TEC cooler.
12 pins? No way...