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how to make a laser diode driver that enables you to burn paper
by coolkids on April 2, 2011 Table of Contents how to make a laser diode driver that enables you to burn paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: How to make a laser diode driver that enables you to burn paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: What actually happens inside the circuit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Solder it up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-make-a-laser-diode-driver-that-enables-you-/

Intro: How to make a laser diode driver that enables you to burn paper
A cheap laser diode is the first thing you need to make your very own high powered laser capable of burning paper.1000s of laser diodes have died due to the lack of proper drivers A laser diode is current hungry, it will take all it can get. i would advice you to wear safety glasses and not fool around while doing this project have fun and be carefull what we are going to make today is something called as the LM317 constant current driver so lets make one

Step 1: Materials
what we are going to need is 1 laser diode (you could hack it out of a dvd drive) x1 2 10uf 16v capacitor or 10uf 63v capacitor x1 3 1n4007 diode x1 4 10 ohm resistors x2 5 100 ohm variable resistor x1 6 lm 317 voltage regulator x1 7 veroboard x1 8 soildering iron 9 solder 10 heat sink 11 switch all done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-make-a-laser-diode-driver-that-enables-you-/

Step 2: What actually happens inside the circuit?

Laser diode (mine is red you could buy any color it hardly matters) 10 microfarad 16v capacitor (protects Laser Diode from immediate power supply especially when switching on/off) 1N4007 rectifier diode (protects Laser Diode if batteries are inserted the wrong way ) 2 X 10ohm resistors in parallel ( sets the maximum voltage and current the Laser Diode will get) 100ohm variable resistor (allows fine adjustment of output current )

IMPORTANT! the switch MUST be placed between the battery and the driver, NEVER between the driver and the laser diode! doing so is as good as not making one of these

File Downloads

laser diode driver.pdf (29 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'laser diode driver.pdf']

Step 3: Solder it up
solder all the connections properly and always test your driver using a bulb before using your diode any wrong connections would kill it also always short your capacitors have fun and do not point it on naked eyes

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-make-a-laser-diode-driver-that-enables-you-/

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Comments
17 comments Add Comment

rockstar50 says:

Apr 30, 2011. 10:45 AM REPLY hi I'm having a bit of trouble trying to decipher your schematic, particularly the connections of the 10 ohm resistors to the 100 ohm variable resistor and the regulator. can you give me some guidance on the connections?

coolkids says:

May 1, 2011. 3:49 AM REPLY look your 100ohm variable resister would have three pins one of them would be connected to the spinning thing and other 2 to the resistance plate so connect the spinning thing to on pin from the resistance then this combination must be connected to the 10 ohm resisters in parallel the remaining pin from variable resiter to the voltage regulator

3zuli says:

Apr 14, 2011. 6:33 AM REPLY BEFORE connecting this to your laser, don't forget to short the output of this driver. otherwise if there was any charge in the output capacitor, it would KILL your laser!

coolkids says:
thanks man i would be carefull and inform the others

Apr 15, 2011. 3:50 AM REPLY

rickharris says:
A connection diagram or a circuit diagram might help people build this.

Apr 3, 2011. 5:03 AM REPLY

coolkids says:
i just added it i thought i would add it later and then i forgot

Apr 4, 2011. 3:38 AM REPLY

rickharris says:

Apr 4, 2011. 3:43 AM REPLY Just as a passing thought - I don't see how making a constant current power supply will actually improve the quality of the laser? Current from a battery is the same as current from the power supply. Unless you intend to over drive the laser, in which case you need to calculate your component values with care and be prepared to say by by to the laser when it gives up the ghost.

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-make-a-laser-diode-driver-that-enables-you-/

Kiteman says:
Might?

Apr 3, 2011. 5:07 AM REPLY

rickharris says:
Will!

Apr 3, 2011. 6:45 AM REPLY

rickharris says:

Apr 3, 2011. 9:43 AM REPLY This constant current circuit is good to drive LEDS cheap and few components. If the author doesn't supply a circuit diagram I suggest you look at Steve's circuit here - Same thing.

tobyscool says:
Should the laser diode in a high class or can it be a class I laser diode?

Apr 3, 2011. 6:13 AM REPLY

coolkids says:
it does not matter now because you have made your driver that is going you to burn all sorts of things

Apr 4, 2011. 3:37 AM REPLY

The Ideanator says:

Do you even have a high class laser diode?

Apr 3, 2011. 8:58 AM REPLY

tobyscool says:
nope just class I laser diode

Apr 3, 2011. 10:21 PM REPLY

rimar2000 says:
April Fool's day, maybe?

Apr 3, 2011. 7:06 AM REPLY

Kiteman says:
Published April 3rd?

Apr 3, 2011. 7:33 AM REPLY

rimar2000 says:
Yes, I saw the date, but I don't understand it.

Apr 3, 2011. 12:35 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-make-a-laser-diode-driver-that-enables-you-/