Build-A-Laser
www.LaserSurplusParts was the FIRST to offer a kit to make Laser Building much easier. We continue to improve on our product to maintain the highest quality and ease of assembly.
How To Guide.
Here I will describe the building process in some detail using a lot of pictures.
What you will need:
1) Build-A-Laser kit: from www.LaserSurplusParts.com
- (1) MXDL 6volt (2)CR123) Flashlight host
- (1) BIG ChUnK Diode Mount
- (1) DrLava’s Micro Boost Driver
- (1) Blu-Ray Lens
Other parts Not Included in the B-A-L kit::
- (2) CR123 Batteries Not Included
- (1) Laser Diode Not Included
- Solder
- Soldering Iron
- Wire
- Soldering Skills!
Alright now that we have all the BASIC components listed, Lets start Building!
First things first.
Put on your ESD “Electronic Static Discharge” Strap to remove the Laser Diode from its packaging. Screw up here by not using such a Safety Device could fry your diode without you even knowing it!
Grab the Big ChUnK heat Sink and carefully press the diode into place. Use a bit of Thermal Paste.
Screw the Blu-Ray lens into the front of the Big ChUnK Heat Sink.
NOTE: Make sure the larger end goes in first!
Now lets make a few connections.
Take your Micro Boost Driver and solder 2 wires to the input and 2 wires to the output. Use colored wires to make future connections less confusing. Preferably RED for the POSITIVE and BLACK for the NEGATIVE.
Now I realize the picture shows a Laser Diode Socket. This is optional! Just replace with the 2 wires described above.
Now that we have our Driver wired up, We need to set the driver to what the Laser Diode needs to operate correctly.
To do this we need to build a Dummy Load. The Dummy Load duplicates the Laser Diode Voltage and ma draw.
| Dummy Load: a 1 Ohm resistor and 6 1N400x rectifier diodes connected in series that duplicates a load similar to the 445nm Laser Diode we are using with a linear driver.
A 1 Ohm resistor and 6 1N400x rectifier diodes connected in series that duplicates a load similar to the 445nm Laser Diode we are using with a linear driver. A 1N4001 is only rated for 1A… If you will be driving your diodes >>1A With this Dummy Load installed we now take amperage measurements by checking the voltage drop across the test Load’s 1 Ohm resistor (1mV=1mA) to adjust the driver to meet the specific output we want the Laser Diode to run at. |
If you skip this step you will risk blowing your Laser Diode in a split second as soon as power is applied.
We want to set the driver to The specs per the laser diode.
In this case see below, Start at low to medium power first. You can increase it later. Play it safe, lets get it to lase first. You can push the limits after its all working correctly.
| 400mA — 4.1V — 237mW 500mA — 4.2V — 347mW 600mA — 4.3V — 460mW 700mA — 4.4V — 562mW 800mA — 4.4V — 656mW 900mA — 4.5V — 738mW 1.0A — 4.5V — 796mW 1.1A — 4.5V — 845mW 1.2A — 4.6V — 969mW |
ONLY AFTER you have setup your driver properly, We now can make the connections to the batteries.
Once that is done, with the batteries remove, solder the connections to the Laser Diode using the picture below for the proper polarity.
Pin-Out information;
Now install the Big ChUnK,Laser Diode, and Driver assembly into the MXDL Host.
Make sure not to twist the wires so much that they pull off or short.
HERE’S A PICTURE OF THE FINISHED BUILD.
IMPORTANT! REMEMBER SAFETY!
AT ALL TIMES REMEMBER TO USE YOUR SAFETY GLASSES, ANY TIME THERE IS A REMOTE POSSIBILITY THAT THE LASER DIODE WILL BE POWERED!!!!
It will only take a split second to loose your eyesight Permanently from a stray beam.
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Our video’s are in our Forums and YouTube.