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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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: How to make a laser diode driver that enables you to burn paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: What actually happens inside the circuit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Solder it up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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. If your batteries are weak your laser will be saved by the fact that it will not get much power, put a
new set of batteries in and the laser will draw high current, it will heat up, which makes it try to take more current...then it dies.

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 (often called the LD)
10 microfarad 16v capacitor (protects LD from power spikes when switching on/off)
1N4007 rectifier diode (protects LD if batteries are inserted the wrong way round)
2 X 10ohm resistors in parallel ( sets the maximum current the LD will get)
100ohm multiturn pot (allows fine adjustment of output current [milliamps])

IMPORTANT! the switch MUST be placed between the battery and the driver, NEVER between the driver and the laser diode!

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

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-/
Related Instructables

Pimp my
New 007 Laser Handhold Pocket-Sized spirograph! by
Laser Flashlight powerful laser Cheapy Lighter
Weapon - Do-it-all multi- 3zuli
Hack!! by Kipkay pointer. by Laser Burner by
Revealed! by tool Shiny Light
Kipkay Groover Kipkay
(aka Laser) by
icinnamon

Comments
2 comments Add Comment

rickharris says: Apr 3, 2011. 5:03 AM REPLY

Kiteman says: Apr 3, 2011. 5:07 AM REPLY

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