Good source for the DVD diodes?

[dave]

This link was posted in another thread.

http://www.die4laser.com/dvd-rec/Die4Drive.htm

I saw this driver a while back, and now it appears that it has been updated, there seems to be a little more protection on the inputs..

[carmangary]

For a diode holder/colimator I did what that girl with the webpage did. I orderd a 10mw 650 from Axis for $12. It comes with decent optics and a holder. I just knocked out the 10mw diode and replaced it with the DVD burner diode.

[ajcleary]

All,

I just finished up an 80mW diode laser (from the candlepowerforums group buy) - I assembled it in an old Melles-Griot HeNe laser aluminum tube (the glass part was already broken and removed). I machined a 1/2" thick mount/heatsink for the diode, and by sheer luck I found a collimating lense that fit perfectly in the aluminum tube. It's not often that projects work out so nicely! Oh yeah, and for the other end I used the plastic cap to a 35mm film canister

Here's a pic for anyone interested: http://www.ajaxelectronics.com/optic...e/IMG_2443.JPG

I used the Die4Drive driver circuit mentioned above (http://www.die4laser.com/dvd-rec/Die4Drive.htm), but since I'm impatient I couldn't wait for the parts to come in... I ended up substituting 1/2 of a LM358 for the Op-Amp and a TIP121 Bipolar transistor for the mosfet, all other values the same. It seems to work perfectly for TTL modulation, and also pretty good for analog modulation. The linearity of the analog modulation may be a little bit off, but it's pretty good for now.

Finally, I have enough red to balance out my Whitelight projector!

-Andy C.

[chad]

Hi I got in on the GB for the reds also. I have started a heat sink/ holder for the diodes. I will post a pic when i bring my cam from the shop..

[ajcleary]

Wow, Chad - that looks awesome! This weekend I finished my latest diode heatsink - it is a slice of 1" aluminum angle stock with a hole drilled in it for the diode I tend to cob things together real fast, and then try to figure out why they prematurely fail!

(Although, on my previous LD heatsink I did actully turn something in the lathe for it so that was a little work. It was an aluminum circlular heatsink that slid into an old HeNe tube. Here's a completed shot:
http://www.ajaxelectronics.com/optic...e/IMG_2443.JPG )

Post a pic of the heatsink, when you get a chance... Are you machining it yourself, or are you having it done professionally?

-Andy

[chad]

Thanks!

I am machining it myself. I already have some test body's lathed out, they turned out pretty well so far. I didn't have a .05 groover so the slots are a little wider.

chad

[chad]

got some of the heat sinks done in free air they probably get to ~95 degrees and stabilize. When sitting on the breadboard they are room temp.
I also banged out a bread board..
Going to make some posts and holders soon.

Chad

[JimBo]

Are you going to sell some of them, they look great ?.

Jim

[andy_con]

so does anyone have any good sources of getting powerful red diodes cheap???

[JimBo]

Scan do 18x Sony DVDs for £17 each, I expect Dabs.com do them cheap too.

Jim