Stand-alone aixiz

[Zom-B]

Finally, my DealExtreme Aixiz look-a-likes arrived, so they must be taken apart. ;D

Original (label removed)

Inside

Strangely enough only one has the infamous yellow led on the driver and two have a smaller driver.

I had an idea that I wanted to put three ag3 batteries inside, but measuring with the calipers, it turned out to be too small. Then I thought why have a driver board at all, when I can have a driver?! :-/ Just a driver, no board

I figured out how I would arrange the electronics so the original circuitry is preserved. I did a simulation in 3dsmax with actual part dimensions, and it turned out it can be done with a profile of only 2.5mm.

After actually building it had an even lower profile. I had to put a spring on the driver to add 2 mm.

I had to drill the rear hole to 2.8mm to fit my long stem microswitch. I had an old battery compartment from a lighter, but it is open on one side so I added another piece of plastic.

Putting it all together:

And it works (of course it works, because I tested it during soldering, otherwise I wouldn't be assembling it)

[edit] The output power is something ridiculous. I can see the beam im the dark when holding it at my waist pointing it straight forward. Comparing to my tuned up bullet pointers, I guess 10mW output

 

[rog8811]

;D I like it! very inventive...

Regards rog8811

 

[daguin]

Now THAT'S cool!

BRAVO!

Peace,
dave

 

[Murudai]

That's really cool. All you need to do is find some seriously small, seriously high power batteries and you'll be set

Imagine a burning laser of that size, that would be crazy

 

[pseudolobster]

Nice!

I've been planning on doing this for idk, half a year now... I've been planning on making this with a fusiondriver, but.. .well... you know.

I did some research into it though, and it seems coin cell batteries can usually only produce something like 10 to 30mA, so it wouldn't work for a burner.

My second thought was that I planned on trying an aerogel capacitor as a power source.. something like 6v, 2 farads.. but I couldn't find a very wide selection of them, it seems very few places sell them and they're quite expensive... not to mention the ones that fit in aixiz modules tend to be 3v..

This has me inspired to look into this again... I hadn't thought of doing the layout in a 3d rendering program though, that's a really good idea. is there any place to download models of standard components, or did you have to make those yourself?

 

[nikokapo]

great job there!! i'd like to see more miniature laser stuff like this

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Reminds me of this pathetic little laser pointer that was on top of some pen that was given away at a conference much like the other crap they give out. It was this tiny little laser diode and three button cells. They sure didn't keep the laser bright for long. It had almost the exact same setup as you have there. I ended up taking it apart, but it really never came to much use. It was neat seeing the tiny little spring and lens though.

 

[Zom-B]

I made the 3d components myself. Most are not more than a bunch of colored boxes. The LD was a bit trickier and required boolean CSG.

I doubt the conference giveaway lasers had a driver. most cheap lasers operate with just a limiting resistor. Soldering a driver without the PCB will make the laser incredibly expensive. It took me 20 minutes to solder it like this and I'm a pro.

My batteries will keep running for something like 2-4 hour, just like any other AG3 laser with a driver.

 

[pwnstar]

your a beast Zom-B!
is that a 635nm laser? I cant imagin the beam being visible if its not.

 

[Zom-B]

Definitely 650nm +-10%

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Oh it definitely was a cheapo driver with a current-limiting resistor soldered to a small PCB board. But I was more commenting on the layout and general arrangement of components you used.

 

[Kenom]

OH see not that's just plain bull that a coin cell wont' work with a burner. I have a host that takes 4 coin cells and it's got a stonetek in it running about 90mw. eats those batteries very quickly. I'll post pictures of it soon.

 

[Kenom]

this little baby is putting out 90mw.

 

[laserrod]

I want the specs on your tiny titan :

gimee gimee gimee ;D

Very unique

 

[pseudolobster]

OH see not that's just plain bull that a coin cell wont' work with a burner. I have a host that takes 4 coin cells and it's got a stonetek in it running about 90mw. eats those batteries very quickly. I'll post pictures of it soon.

well... huh.

When I proposed the idea a few months ago I was poo-pooed by everyone saying that coin cells could never produce enough current... what cells did you use? I checked the datasheet for the cr1025's I have and sure enough it says their maximum current output is 30mA. I also had a bunch of people saying it was going to be impossible to point-to-point solder smt components, but I already knew it was doable.

 

[toked323]

small 1/2 AAA batteries for this stuff here http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_er10250.htm