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Geek Culture / homemade lasers out of a dvd burner, anyone done it ?

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 9th Jun 2008 13:08
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I did not sleep this night as i decided to try to make a laser.

So i took apart an old dvd burner and extracted 2 diodes (the things that produce the light for the laser) that it had.

soldered some withes to the back (so it would be easier to connect to batteries)and fired it up with a 9 volt battery. (which was dying)

It seemed that the diode was brighter with a pair of AA batteries. then i decided to try my cellphone battery. (i think it was like 3 volts) although the diode was till not very bright (not even like a standard red dot pointer) It created so much heat that the diode started to smoke a lot but i have read that thats normal for high output lasers.

finally, i decided that a dvd burner diode is not 100mw like everyone said. so i decided to buy a laser housing with adjustable lens and a 10 mw diode.

i think this is my new hobby.

i read quite a lot on different lazers today.

so, anyone here into this stuff or know anything?

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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TeamASP
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Posted: 9th Jun 2008 15:37
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Try pointing it at a passers-by's eye. Then you'll start GTA in your town. HAHAHA

I haven't tried it but maybe it works good with an airsoft rifle.
CQB, anyone?


Yes. My mom goes to college. Any problems? We want to learn.
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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 9th Jun 2008 15:40
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Quote: "It seemed that the diode was brighter with a pair of AA batteries. then i decided to try my cellphone battery. (i think it was like 3 volts) although the diode was till not very bright (not even like a standard red dot pointer) It created so much heat that the diode started to smoke a lot but i have read that thats normal for high output lasers."


It's likely an infrared laser, and the only visible light it gives off is because of it getting too hot and distorting.


I fail at life. No, really.
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 9th Jun 2008 23:09
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I have been told that dvd burner laser pointers are infared. but i have examined the inside of a cd player before and even that laser had a red dot in it.

I lost my old red dot pointer, does anyone remember how many MW is the standard one?

Eventually i broke both of the dvd lasers but i wasnt able to set anything on fire with them.

it is said that dvd burners are the only ones that have a diode powerful enough to cut stuff with. Maybe i just wasn't applying the right amount of power. There was no difference between a 9v or aaa or a pair of AA. Maybe my cellphone battery was the right one because according to the manuals burning lasers get extremely hot and need to operate with a heatsink. and this thing had smoke coming out of it with a cellphone batt.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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IanG
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Posted: 9th Jun 2008 23:38
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infra red means the light it gives out is just beyond red, so one that isnt finely tuned, like those which are massed produced, will have a bit of over hang on either side, so your going to see some red light from it. Plus the manufactures might make it purposely give off a small amount of red light so that people who will inevitablly take it apart dont look directly into it wondering if its working and burn the back of their retina off

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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 10th Jun 2008 00:43 Edited at: 10th Jun 2008 00:44
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If you go to radio shack and pick up a $20 laser pointer and take it apart you can adjust the screw inside to make it into a laser. I did some research on this about a month ago when I was trying to think up topics for a demonstration speech I had to do in school. I decided on paper cranes instead lol. Check out youtube though man, they have some nice modding tutorials on there for lasers.

EDIT: I guess the seal of approval for a successful laser test is cutting through electrical tape... everyone seems to test it on that.

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 13th Jun 2008 11:15
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i didn't even know radio shack sells lasers. and i go there pretty often.

next time i go, ill ask.

I looked on youtube and found some really neat stuff. But if it was as easy as adjusting a screw? i dont know.

most stuff i saw involved replacing diodes, there is also one on heating up some component. in the laser. Apparently it removed the MW limit that was set to the diode.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Dared1111
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Posted: 13th Jun 2008 19:31
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Out of interest, what are you using the lazer for?


Where can I get the codes. I know how to build it with codes. GET IT. I HOPE U UNDERSTAND. DUHH
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 14th Jun 2008 05:23
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to entertain cats and little kids. As for burning lasers: popping balloons at parties, soldering (lasers are better than the big clunky soldering irons). lighting a cigarette (i do not smoke but if somone happens to need a light, i can impress them by lighting it with my laser oh yeah im so cool )

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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bitJericho
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Posted: 14th Jun 2008 06:39 Edited at: 14th Jun 2008 06:40
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Quote: "to entertain cats and little kids. As for burning lasers: popping balloons at parties"


You should *not* use custom lazers to entertain cats and especially kids. They're way more powerful than your average 20 dollar laser, and could result in instant blindness if the light enters the eye!


Hurray for teh logd!
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RedneckRambo
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Posted: 14th Jun 2008 09:00
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Quote: "You should *not* use custom lazers to entertain cats and especially kids. They're way more powerful than your average 20 dollar laser, and could result in instant blindness if the light enters the eye!"

I'm pretty sure he was joking.

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bitJericho
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Posted: 14th Jun 2008 16:03
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i knew that


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Erios
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Posted: 14th Jun 2008 22:01
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This does not sound safe. Are there any toxic chemicals in those parts that could leak if it over-heats? What is the risk of it over-heating and popping, sending tiny bits of glass and other debris into the air/your eyes. I dunno...
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wind27382
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Posted: 14th Jun 2008 23:35
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wow now I know why this is in geek culture. count me in

wind
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 16th Jun 2008 01:38
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Quote: "You should *not* use custom lazers to entertain cats and especially kids. They're way more powerful than your average 20 dollar laser, and could result in instant blindness if the light enters the eye!

"


Nooo, ill never use a powerful laser for that, especially cats, i love cats,

As for overheating and exploding, that will not happen because i will use a heatsink, cant wait till it comes in the mail

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 16th Jun 2008 15:05
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Quote: "wow now I know why this is in geek culture. count me in"


The topic of chemicals and the scientific aspects of lasers falls under the category of nerds.
However, lasers themselves fall under the catergory of geeks.

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 16th Jun 2008 20:37
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oh boy my 10 mw laser w/ heatsink and housing arrives today

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Benjamin
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 17:54
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Quote: "i do not smoke but if somone happens to need a light, i can impress them by lighting it with my laser"

Perfect if you want to blind them at the same time.

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MSon
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 18:19 Edited at: 18th Jun 2008 18:21
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I love all these home made things, fun to research, fun to do, Also could be useful if you go camping to start a camp fire as if you use a lighter or matches you can burn your fingures occasionally, (Ouch).

best of luck with it

Everyone Be Cool, You, Be Cool.
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mm0zct
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 21:23 Edited at: 18th Jun 2008 21:24
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"This does not sound safe. Are there any toxic chemicals in those parts that could leak if it over-heats? What is the risk of it over-heating and popping, sending tiny bits of glass and other debris into the air/your eyes. I dunno..."

since we're talking about solid state lasers... low, you'll get a really nasty smell and smoke given off if it overheats and fries, but i'm pretty sure it's not going to kill you (unless you have asthma or other respitory problems in which case it's even less of a good idea) because the quantities in the diode are very small.

(disclaimer i take no responsibility if you fry your laser diode under your nose and inhale all the smoke given off and cause damage to your airways/die )

you should wear infra red filtering glasses anyway or exploding shards (not going to happen) are going to be the least of your worries.

edit: also 1MW = 1000,000,000mw ... so be careful with your units people.

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Alucard94
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 22:03
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Mmm Flavinzz Lazorzzz Letzz mezzz playzzz zorzzz...
Anyways you might be interested in this http://youtube.com/watch?v=92L2GBx2wEk

If someone says "pls" because it is shorter than "please" I say "no" because it is shorter than "yes"...
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revenant chaos
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 22:10 Edited at: 18th Jun 2008 22:10
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Quote: "The topic of chemicals and the scientific aspects of lasers falls under the category of nerds.
However, lasers themselves fall under the catergory of geeks."


In my opinion the word "Nerd" implies intelligence, while the word geek is another word for
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 22:25
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well i built my first laser. it was a 7mw (in the order it said it was 10mw but that might not make a difference) this laser cant burn anything but its 10x brigher than a regular pen 1mw laser really cool). It shines for over a mile, really cool. this one does not give off heat so its perfectly safe. It will damage your eyes however.

so i ordered a 200mw laser yesterday. This one comes with a heatsink and diode housing so if it does explode, it will not harm me unless i am pointing it at someone.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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DB PROgrammer
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Posted: 18th Jun 2008 23:11
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Quote: "It shines for over a mile, really cool."


If you live in the USA(I don't know about anywhere else) it is illegal to point any sort of laser light into the sky. Just though i'd let you know.


I'm Pro grammer.
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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 04:03
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Yes, because on the 0.00000000000001% chance a pilot happens to be looking directly down at us while the laser happens to be directly over his eye, it would blind him and send him crashing downward.

But of course it is legal to drive on the road, where the chances of slipping off and killing someone are much higher.

Favorite Quote: Dramatized code? Code Drama!

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DB PROgrammer
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 05:41
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I may not make sense but it's the law so I was just warning him. But yea, really what's the chance?


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MSon
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 12:39
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Upgrading from 7mw to 200mw, Thats some jump, and i dont even think i understand why your using mw's, arn't nucliar power stations power generation registered in 'Mega Watts', IE: mw???

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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 13:00
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Quote: "I may not make sense but it's the law so I was just warning him. But yea, really what's the chance?"

I know, I just had to elaborate on how stupid alot of these things are.

Favorite Quote: Dramatized code? Code Drama!

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 13:32
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Upgrading from 7mw to 200mw, Thats some jump, and i dont even think i understand why your using mw's, arn't nucliar power stations power generation registered in 'Mega Watts', IE: mw???

miliwatts?

this is just my opinion, these lasers get a little less focused over distance, so at the height at which an arplane might fly where i live, the pilot might not even notice it (if i point it directly at a plane.

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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 14:31
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I don't know if they would be high enough for that to happen, but who knows.

Favorite Quote: Dramatized code? Code Drama!

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 19th Jun 2008 16:36
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there are no airports anywhere near me. When i used to live in russia though there was an airport and a military base 4 kilometers away from my house. There was also a train station next to my house Every day airplanes, helicopters and stuff flew like 10 kilometers above my house.

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