How much does a Blue-Ray laser cost to make?

[jasonck08]

How much does a Blue-Ray laser cost to make? Do you basically buy a $80 blue-ray drive and use the laser inside, and buy a driver, optics, and a host? How much are all the parts. Thanks!

 

[maxkillz]

you can make them for as low as about $80 total with a nice heatsink

$12 for PHR803T diode

$5 for aixiz module

$10 for host

$18 for driver set at about 120mA

$25 for heatsink

 

[jasonck08]

Why is the driver and heatsink so expensive? I'm more into flashlights, but I know for LED lights you can get a 1000mA driver for about $2-3 from DX. Does the heatsink have to be completely custom made, is that why its so expensive?

 

[rog8811]

You can cut corners, an LM317 drive circuit cost Cents in parts but takes up more space (not a problem in an MXDL host.

People have used washers stuck in a pile for heatsinks, If you keep the duty cycle sensible heat will not be a problem.

Regards rog8811

 

[andythemechanic]

Why is the driver and heatsink so expensive? I'm more into flashlights, but I know for LED lights you can get a 1000mA driver for about $2-3 from DX. Does the heatsink have to be completely custom made, is that why its so expensive?

Voltage drop over the violett laser diode is arround 5V so in a flashlight which is powered usuallay from 3 to 4.5 Volts you need a special switchmode driver (I used flexdrive from drlava available in the buy sell & trade forum). The heatsink in a flashlight can also easily be build at home: just buy some aluminium rod with the proper diameter, saw off the right length and drill the (usually 12mm) hole for the diode module.

 

[jasonck08]

So the diode module comes with optics? Has any one used pennies for a heatsink before? So If I already have a host, make my own heatsink, and buy a cheap driver I can make one for about $20?

 

[john_lawson]

sled about 12-15 shipped
driver dyi a few bucks in parts
Rkcstr Lava 18-25 bucks
axis around 5 bucks

20 could be a go if you assemble your own driver  

 

[rog8811]

So the diode module comes with optics?

Aixiz and DX modules come with adjustable focus lenses....

Has any one used pennies for a heatsink before?

I seem to recall someone soldering a stack of copper coins together to make a heatsink, it should work fine

Regards rog8811

 

[artix]

Mine cost a bit more then most.

4x Blu-ray sled. $55 $7 shipping
Kryton groove. ------------ $50 \
Blu-black marble anodize. $20 \$15 shipping
Flexdrive. ------------------ $12 /
18650 battery. ------------- $5 /

= $164!

 

[jasonck08]

So can anyone do me the honors of posting links to some good parts to make a DIY cheap laser. I already have some flashlights that I could using for the housing.

 

[jake21]

drlava boost driver  3v

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209418066

rkcstr driver 6v

http://rkcstr.nfshost.com/

for a open can diode

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1230860143

for a phr803t sled

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1230860143

mxdl flashlight
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4171

i sell axiz moduals >>>>>4.00

aaa 10440 batteries depends on host
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.974

aa
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.975

heatsink
my self or jayrob,dark_horse

 

[jasonck08]

I'm not too into the whole $10-20 for a little driver... Are there DIY instructions for the driver, or is there a cheaper alternative? I want to build my first one as cheap as possible. ;D

 

[Mohrenberg]

Why is the driver and heatsink so expensive?  I'm more into flashlights, but I know for LED lights you can get a 1000mA driver for about $2-3 from DX.  Does the heatsink have to be completely custom made, is that why its so expensive?

you can get an unassembled rockstar driver for about $11, phr803 sled unharvested for $12, and a module for $4, so you could actually make one for pretty cheap.....just won't be pretty.
i think total i spent about $65, but i don't have a custom heatsink in mine......

i don't see the point anyways as they don't really heat up that much at 120mA

 

[Greenhorn]

Not including the flashlight body, I paid about $50 for my blu-ray laser, including diode, aixiz module and driver (rkcstr).   I paid $30 for my diode on eBay, which is apparently more than most people buy them for, as I found out later.

Some people get heatsinks, but I've found that I don't need one, even with the 150mA I feed it. The aixiz module easily keeps it cool for the amount of time I use it. If I left it running for a few minutes I may have a problem, but probably not even then.

The flashlight body was $40, but only because it was the only flashlight I could find that took six AAA batteries.  I didn't want to use hard to find, expensive batteries.

In other words, it costs a lot less than the $2000 laser that Wicked sells.

 

[jasonck08]

I know most people run the phr803t @ 100-150ma, but what voltage is this at?

 

[daguin]

I know most people run the phr803t @ 100-150ma, but what voltage is this at?

The diode needs 5V-6V. If the driver needs any voltage, you need to add it on top of this voltage to decide what to give to the driver.

Peace,
dave