EPIC laser! I got my 445nM build going!! (Big pics added. 56K warning.)

proud2deviate

proud2deviate

Joined
Apr 5, 2004
Messages
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Turns out, the damn cheap battery wasn't giving it enough current. With the installation of an AW rechargeable, it's now stable and outputting over a watt. OVER A FRIGGING WATT!! No, it doesn't set fire to skin instantly. Not quite a lightsaber, but it is totally awesome. Words fail me. Class IV lasers FTW!

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Safety first, kiddies!
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Here she is, gutted. You can see the driver, module, heatsink and lens assembly. The anodizing is very nice. Top notch host. Note little details like the double o-rings on the body. The switch is a very smooth side mount reverse-clicky.
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A closer look at the heatsink. The machine work is very tight, and copper is not easy to work with. You can see the twin module set screws.
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Here you can see the positive contact,
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A macro shot of the driver. This puppy is 9x12mm, and supplies a steady amp of current.
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A (not too terrible,) macro shot of the diode in the module. And some thermal compound. With a hair stuck in it. (Eww.) Note the yellow hue of the diode window. This is because it has been anti-rflective (< I'm going to leave this typo alone to illustrate how annoying my dyslexia has been lately.) coated for blue wavelengths.
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Here she is, all back together and polished up with some half-micron diamond spray. No, Mister toothpick, I expect you to DIE!!
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BWAHAHAHA!
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Aftermath. . .
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"I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."
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Let's see, I think I gave $160 for the host, lens, and driver. The diode was $50. AW 18650 cell, about $16.

Nowadays, diodes are running about $35. Modules are about $4, and you can get a middle of the road lens for $15. A driver can be built for $5 worth of components from Radio Shack, and you can use damn near anything for a heatsink. Lots of folks are running these in PC heatsinks. I wanted something sexier, though.

Data is sketchy at this point, but these have been pushed past 2 amps, with catastrophic optical damage occurring at 2.6 amps in one case. Tough little buggers. They're like knives though; one ain't enough.

Only downside is these diodes are multi-mode, meaning that there are multiple emitting surfaces on the die. The dot will look more like a line without corrective optics. However, considering a blue laser of this power would have cost over three grand six months ago, I can deal. Still can't be beat for star pointing and raw power:thumbup:
 
Very interesting and needless to say, cool. I have always been fascinated with lasers. And then laser diodes when they appeared.

KR
 
OK, now you got my attention, you can see the beam on this thing?
Only lasers I have used are the red dot type
 
DAMN!!!

Very interesting.

How long was on the pencil to get that burn? seconds, minutes or just a quick blast?
 
SIXFOOTER said:
OK, now you got my attention, you can see the beam on this thing?
Only lasers I have used are the red dot type
Click to expand...

Yes the beam is visible even in a lighted room. Not so in sunlight, though.

TKAZ said:
DAMN!!!

Very interesting.

How long was on the pencil to get that burn? seconds, minutes or just a quick blast?
Click to expand...

Probably about forty five seconds total. Auto focus on the camera wasn't cooperating. This laser will smoke wood near instantly, I've even gotten flames on occasion. That's focused to infinity. Crank it down to a needle point, and it's fookin' deadly:eek:
 
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