The 'CONEHEAD' - an LPC-826 Build

[BowtieGuy]

THE 'CONEHEAD'​

Hey guys, here is a little stainless steel build that I've just finished up. I've had this sweet little S.S. host for over a year; it's a very nice quality host that I purchased from Kaidomain well over a year ago, for less than $10.
I think they still sell them for around $13 or $14 now, which is still a good price for a nice S.S. host.

I decided to build this with an 'old school' LPC-826 660nm diode, because after all this time here, I've never owned this wavelength, or built a laser with this great diode.
I'm glad that I finally did though, this diode provides a beautiful wavelength and a nice beam to go with it!

If I remember correctly, this particular LPC-826 diode was given to me by Pman long ago. I matched it up with a micro flex V5 driver from DTR.
I set the current towards the upper end of what I'd seen from past successful builds; I didn't need the max., but close, so when the last tweak of the pot. read 488mA, I called it good enough.

All in all, it turned out to be a pretty nice budget build, since I've only got about $37 total invested in it! :yh:

Here's a list of it's vital statistics.

Components Used For This Build:

• 'Kaidomain' KSH-S13524 S.S. flashlight host.
• LPC-826 660nm diode.
• Micro Flex Drive Driver, set to 488mA (DTR).
• Custom Aluminum Heatsink.
• Custom Polished brass Focus Adapter.
• 1 x 18650 Flat Top Battery (space is tight, flat top works best).

Dimensions & Weight:

• Length = 148mm
• Diameter = 24mm
• Weight W/Battery = 203g (7.16oz)

Measured Power Output:

• G-2 Lens = 383mW (max.).
• 3 Element Lens = 300mW.
• Acrylic Lens = 330mW.

Time for a few pictures!


The begining: S.S. flashlight host kit.

Exploded view, with original green (changed to black) switch cover.

Brass pill, battery board, and retaining ring.
I had lost the original ring, and had to make this one; it's a tiny little thing, but it didn't come out to bad.

Close up view of Micro Flex Drive before soldering resistors for higher output range.

Driver mounted to diode in 12mm copper module.
Added small copper H.S. disc to driver, along with a $hitty looking solder job on those three resistors; those suckers are TINY!
Note: I've since re-solder those resistors to look better, although they worked fine with the crummy solder job.

Tapered S.S. "nose" piece, which is also tapered on the inside.
Homemade aluminum heatsink with a matching 3.5° taper to fit the inside of the nose piece with full contact.
Custom brass focus adjuster with matching taper.

Assembling the 12mm copper module & H.S. into host with the pill used as the retainer, I also drilled an extra hole in the center of the pill to enable assembly without twisting the wires.

First life! The moment of truth ...does it still work? Oh yeah!

Outdoor beam shot looking toward laser. Laser is shining along a walkway along side of some solar pathway lights that are creating a neat pattern of light on the ground.

Another beam shot, only this time, looking from laser out along the beam.

That's about it for now folks, if you've made it this far, thanks for bearing with me!

Also a big :thanks: to DTR for the driver, and to Pman for the LPC-826 diode! :yh:

 

[Richie89]

Absolutely beautiful! Too bad I can't rep you right now.

 

[RedCowboy]

That is a really sharp build, very nice.

 

[GSS]

Oh WOW, its a beauty:beer:
Nice fabricated heat sink to fit the "tapered" nose cone. "Which i'm still trying to picture in my head"??
Bow, you just have this knack of mixing and matching metals that make builds so striking and building them so clean on the insides for function. "Its hard for me to put it in words"
That does not look like a $37 laser build, thats for sure. I also see it running non stop till the battery's die, even with the SS host. I doubt you felt any warmth??
That cannot be your first 660mw:undecided::crackup:?
I got you jealous didn't I when I mentioned Pman sent me a LPC-836 didn't I:shhh:

 

[BowtieGuy]

Thanks Richie, Red, and GSS, I realky appreciate your comments!

@ GSS, I agree, it doesn't look like a $37 laser, and it would've been a little more if I had to buy the diode, but 826's are pretty cheap anyway. I definitely couldn't let it go for that much!
You are correct in that it can run for a while and not even feel too warm.
I do believe it is my first 660nm, since I believe the Laserbtb 1000 that I have is a 650nm, although I've seen it called both.

 

[Jhop]

Very Nice work BTG! +rep :beer: Shes a beauty! :drool:

 

[CurtisOliver]

Good job BowtieGuy. Lovely shape, and good beam.
+44 from me. :beer:

 

[GSS]

I totally spaced out the "ConeHead" name:beer:
It does look like Dan Aykroyd :crackup:

 

[BowtieGuy]

Can't get it out of your head now, can you? :eg:
I was real tempted to add a pic of a "conehead" along with the regular pics, but didn't get around to it.

 

[GSS]

I can't:crackup:
you just have to re name to the "Aykroyd"

 

[BowtieGuy]

Here ya go, I don't want you getting that image out of your head just yet!

 

[Jhop]

If your TP starts coming up missing, you'll know where to look :crackup:

 

[CurtisOliver]

Here ya go, I don't want you getting that image out of your head just yet!

Lol, I remember them. An old movie now.

 

[GSS]

Oh Curtis my friend, I keep forgetting your a young one
they started way before the movie on Saturday Night Live

Thanks Bowtie for always reminder:bowdown:

 

[CurtisOliver]

I know, that film was released nearly two years before I was born.
I just looked up when Coneheads started. 1977!

 

[Jhop]

Oh Curtis my friend, I keep forgetting your a young one
they started way before the movie on Saturday Night Live

Thanks Bowtie for always reminder:bowdown:

SNL is the start for many comedic actors, Dan Akroyd, Steve Martin, John Candy, Jim Belushi, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Will Ferril, to name a few