Need advice on hosts

[jordanka16]

I've mostly just been messing with my lasers on my bench, playing with lenses and power outputs and getting a feel for things. My brother is a rockhound though, and thinks the UV laser I have would be awesome for finding fluorescent rocks. I'm a little more skeptical since it's a very long wave 405nm, but it sounds like it's worth a try.

That means I need to actually build it into a handheld, I have the diode, and I can press it into a 12mm module. I'm thinking of running it around 500-750 mA for a good lifetime, and I have some boost circuit PCBs being made at oshpark right now so I'm covered there. The only thing I'm having a hard time finding is a good host. I'd like something that takes 1 14500 or 18650, but just buying a flashlight body doesn't seem like it would fit well. Plus a lot of them seem made for the circular drivers and mine will be square. Any ideas? Places to look?

 

[RedCowboy]

Talk to Lifetime17

Sale thread/ Hosts/Heat Sinks/Focus adapters/lasers

I want to buy a host w/ heat sink for a 12mm dtr copper drop in that would hold two 18650? If that black one would work in the picture above I would like to buy it

laserpointerforums.com

 

[jordanka16]

Talk to Lifetime17

I've seen his stuff and he does good work for sure, I suspect custom work will cost too much for me at this point, but I can certainly ask him, thanks!

 

[Encap]

Do yourself a favor and purchase a 405nm pointer on eBay for $9.99 shipping included. Several are available at approx $10. Have your brother give one a try on fluorescent minerals.

Search "405nm laser pointer" on eBay.

 

[jordanka16]

Do yourself a favor and purchase a 405nm pointer on eBay for $9.99 shipping included. Several are available at approx $10. Have your brother give one a try on fluorescent minerals.

Search "405nm laser pointer" on eBay.

Not a bad idea, if for nothing else than a comparison. It's cheap enough anyway. I made an offer for one for $8 that was accepted so worth a try.

I think I'll contact lifetime 17 to see what he can do about making a proper host as well.

 

[paul1598419]

I was a rock hound as a kid, but that was a very long time ago. Back then we used fluorscent looking tubes to get minerals to fluoresce.

 

[jordanka16]

I was a rock hound as a kid, but that was a very long time ago. Back then we used fluorscent looking tubes to get minerals to fluoresce.

You still can, I have UVC tubes that emit at something like 185nm and 250nm and they can really make things fluoresce . They're not that powerful though, and also pretty dangerous.

His idea was to use binoculars and just scan with the laser over a large area at night. It's a cool idea, so I'm all for trying it.

 

[paul1598419]

Yeah, I hope you have luck with this. Somethings fluorsce with 405 nm like uranium glass, but I'm not sure it will work well with all minerals.