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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Revived my PL450B pen laser build from many years ago

djQUAN

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I made a pen laser circa 2012-2013 powered by AAAs or 10440 cell and forgot about it in my pant pocket a while back and it took a bath with the laundry. Forgot about it for a few years then saw it dismantled with the diode and driver which survived the bath, waiting to be built into a new laser. I had time because of the lockdown so here we are making the rebirth :)

The host is made from a solid block of acrylic.
IMG_20200423_125854.jpg

I machined the pockets where the internals would go.
IMG_20200423_150903.jpg

I used a high drain 160mAh lipo (used for tiny drones) a 4054 based USB charger pcb I designed and made myself and the scavenged PL450B assembly with boost driver.
IMG_20200423_162612.jpg

The finished package ended up approximately 3.5" long, 0.75" wide and about 0.5" thick.
IMG_20200423_162907.jpg

USB compatible. I set the charging current to 100mA to not strain the tiny lipo too much, takes less than 2 hours to fully charge from empty.
IMG_20200423_162957.jpg

Some clearer shot from top.
IMG_20200423_173800.jpg

The USB port was placed on the side. I may need to use a rubber cover on it if it collects dirt.
IMG_20200423_173806.jpg

From the bottom side, you can see the driver and USB charging boards.
IMG_20200423_173812.jpg

I used a plastic lens but it works well enough for the power and divergence is pretty good.
IMG_20200423_173818.jpg

I also made this one a couple weeks back which inspired me to do the same thing with the blue laser too. This one used a 5mW red laser with X and Y set screws to adjust aim. It is held on to the bb gun using four well placed neo magnets and still retains good accuracy and precision even when removed and reattached again.
IMG_20200423_203434.jpg
 





Snecho

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That's really awesome! It's definitely a very unique build and must have been very fun to make. I really like the internal Li-Po charging circuit. Do you have a picture of the laser in action?

It looks eerily similar to a project I'm currently planning. Instead of a solid block of acrylic, it's laser cut acrylic made into a rectangular box.
20200423_190209.jpg
 

djQUAN

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Nice. I was also thinking of using rocker switches, but with a really tiny battery, I didn't think runtime would last long so I just reused the momentary button switch and it's still fine.

I didn't take a lot of pics but these are just what I had. For a laser diode and driver that went through a spin cycle with the laundry 105mW isn't too bad. I just had to replace the lens as it got a lot of speckle and could not be cleaned.
IMG_20200424_111952.jpg

took these with my phone so it isn't the best.
IMG_20200423_201710.jpg

IMG_20200423_201654.jpg
 

Snecho

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Nice. I was also thinking of using rocker switches, but with a really tiny battery, I didn't think runtime would last long so I just reused the momentary button switch and it's still fine.

I didn't take a lot of pics but these are just what I had. For a laser diode and driver that went through a spin cycle with the laundry 105mW isn't too bad. I just had to replace the lens as it got a lot of speckle and could not be cleaned.
View attachment 68687

took these with my phone so it isn't the best.
View attachment 68686

View attachment 68685
Yeah, that laser must be crazy durable for surviving an entire clothes wash. 105mW is really good.

Thanks for the pictures, they're really nice!
The middle one looks like some sort of futuristic laser Juul pen lmao 🤣
 
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' why did a guy put his laser in the washer?'

Coz he wanted a 'clean beam'==lol
 

djQUAN

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' why did a guy put his laser in the washer?'

Coz he wanted a 'clean beam'==lol


lol

someone forgot to check the pant pocket before doing the laundry. I was wondering for a while where my laser went and then it appeared along with the water corrosion.
 




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