My First DVD Laser Project

[paulham]

I got my order from stonetek through today. I recieved 1 x diode in aixiz housing, 1 x diode and 1x starfield diffraction grating.

This is my Smaller driver board (2nd driver i made)

Diode in aixiz housing

Parts to be soldered together

This is my Multimeter reading across a 1ohm resistor

My project box, i will be using 6 ni-mh, but im only using 5 AA alkaline at the moment, as the ni-mh are charging. (sorry for blurryness)

Project Box

Beam shot, ill get better beam shots and videos tomorow

I also need to get another project box so i can house my other laser and driver.

so what does everyone think? for my first laser?
Comments appreciated.

 

[chido]

That's awsome for your first laser, expecially the driver, nice job. ;D
And where did you get the enclosure?

 

[divindavid]

were did you get you POT it looks great

 

[Gazoo]

It's 100 times better than my first laser. I didn't even have an aixiz module...I was using a lens from a mini security camera to collimate the beam. And I had no driver and no capacitor... ;D I was using 3 or 4 nimh batteries and a combination of resistors. Yup, my first lasers didn't last long ,but after my first one, I became addicted to them.

 

[BlueFusion]

Nice work mate. Better than mine. (I couldn't wait for a driver... cap and batteries only. strangely, survived a week!)

 

[Deleted member 8178]

That's so cool, tinted box and that tiny driver. Well done!

 

[paulham]

That's awsome for your first laser, expecially the driver, nice job. ;D
And where did you get the enclosure?

The enclosure is from our equivalant of Radio Shack in England, its called Maplin.

What is cool about this box, is that engraved on the inside is the company name 'Hammond' which is also my last name
Enclosures - http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=12335&FromMenu=y&doy=20m2&MenuName=Plastic Enclosures

http://www.hammondmfg.com/scpg.htm

were did you get you POT it looks great

The POT is from Maplin also, bit its not even 1 turn so adjustment is very fine. I would of liked one with more turns but this is all i could find, but the size and practibality is good though.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=6499&doy=20m2

Remember this is a diode from stonetek, and ive read about the problems with the recent batch. Should i turn up my pot a little on my other laser? or isit too risky?

thanks for everyones support

 

[Benm]

Looks nice with the translucent case and all! What batteries are you using, looks like 2 penlites but i guess that wouldnt supply enough voltage.

As for the pot: it's nothing special if you ask me, just looks like your basic piher or clone pot - nothing wrong with them though.

 

[paulham]

in that picuture i have 5 AA alkaline batterys, + 1 wier shorting, acting as a battery.
it is a 6 AA housing.
but i have 6 ni-mh in there now

ive just found a transparent case for my next one. its all working i just need to drill holes, and ill post pics later!

 

[MB500]

How many milliamps do you typically allow to the stonetek diode? And nice clean case.

 

[chido]

Well the GB ones were usually run at 250mA with very good results. (GB diodes product # is SLD1236VL) But recently SenKat got another batch of diodes which didn't perform like the GB ones, we thought they where SLD1239JL diodes, but they turned out to be SLD1236VL-54 diodes that are rated for 90mW cw and 180mW pulsed, compared to the 80mW cw and 250mW pulsed of the GB diodes.
So according to some research forum members made, these SLD1236VL-54 diodes can't be driven any more than 180mA which is about 130mW, you might be able to put more current in them, but there's a very little chance that they'll last a long time. So just stick with 180mA MAX.
Here's the thread when the new batch of diodes where thought to be SLD1239JL diodes:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1199990106
And here's the new thread which indicates the type of diode they really are:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203515053

 

[Benm]

I've tuned mine down to 190 mA (was 220 or so, and died after a few hours total runtime). Even at this reduced power it still makes a great toy, doesn't it?

 

[MB500]

Wow mine is insanely under driven. I'm running about 100mA, but it still burn great so im not sure what kind of mW its out putting. Thanks for the reply.

 

[paulham]

hi everyone.
i had my laser on for about 30 seconds then the dot went very dim!
it still projects onto the wall, but very faintly!
has the diode died? it was running 179.4mA

 

[roSSco]

It sounds like the LD died. Check the batteries first though.

 

[paulham]

is there a way to check on a multimeter if the diode is still functional?