How to make a magnifying glass for a laser. How to make a powerful laser at home. Work progress

In every house there is an old, worn-out technique. Someone throws it into a landfill, and some craftsmen try to use it for some self-made inventions. So an old laser pointer can be put to good use - it is possible to make a laser cutter with your own hands.

To make a real laser from a harmless trinket, you need to prepare the following items:

laser pointer;
flashlight with rechargeable batteries;
old, maybe not a working CD / DVD-RW writer. The main thing is that he has a drive with a working laser;
a set of screwdrivers and a soldering iron. It is better to use a proprietary cutter, but in the absence of a regular cutter, a regular one may also work.

Making a laser cutter

First you need to remove the laser cutter from the drive. This work is not difficult, but you have to have patience and maximum attention. Since it contains a large number of wires, they have the same structure. When choosing a drive, it is important to take into account the availability of a writing version, since it is in this model that you can make records with a laser. Recording is performed by evaporation of a thinly applied layer of metal from the disc itself. In the case when the laser works for reading, it is used half-heartedly, illuminating the disc.

When dismantling the upper fasteners, you can find a carriage with a laser located in it, which is able to move in two directions. It should be carefully removed by unscrewing, there are a large number of detachable devices and screws, which are important to carefully remove. For further work, a red diode is needed, with the help of which the burning is carried out. To remove it, you will need a soldering iron, and you also need to carefully remove the fasteners. It is important to note that the irreplaceable part for the manufacture of a laser cutter must not be shaken or dropped, therefore, it is recommended to be careful when removing the laser diode.

How the main element of the future laser model will be removed, it is necessary to carefully weigh everything and figure out where to place it and how to connect the power supply to it, since much more current is needed for the writing laser diode than for the diode from the laser pointer, and in this case you can use several ways.

Next, the diode in the pointer is replaced. To create a powerful laser of the pointers, the native diode must be removed and replaced with a similar one from the CD / DVD-RW drive. The pointer is disassembled in accordance with the sequence. It must be untwisted and divided into two parts, on top is the part that needs to be replaced. The old diode is removed and the required diode is installed in its place, which can be fixed with glue. There are times when difficulties may arise when removing the old diode, in this situation you can use a knife and shake the pointer a little.

The next step is to make a new case. So that the future laser can be conveniently used, connect the power to it and to give it an impressive look, you can use the body of the flashlight. The converted upper part of the laser pointer is installed into a flashlight and power is supplied to it from rechargeable batteries, which is connected to a diode. It is important not to reverse the polarity of the power supply. Before assembling the flashlight, the glass and parts of the pointer must be removed, since it will be difficult to conduct the direct path of the laser beam.

The final step is preparation for use. Before connecting, check that the laser is firmly attached, that the polarity of the wires is connected correctly, and that the laser is level.

After completing these simple steps, the laser cutter is ready to use. Such a laser can be used to burn paper, polyethylene, and to light matches. The scope can be extensive, everything will depend on the imagination.

Additional points

A more powerful laser can also be made. To make it you will need:

DVD-RW drive, can be inoperative;
capacitors 100 pF and 100 mF;
resistor 2-5 Ohm;
three rechargeable batteries;
wires with a soldering iron;
collimator;
steel LED flashlight.

This is the simple kit that is completed for assembling the driver, which, with the help of the board, will bring the laser cutter to the required power. The current source cannot be connected directly to the diode, as it will instantly deteriorate. It is also important to consider that the diode for the laser must be powered by current, but not voltage.

A collimator is a body equipped with a lens, due to which all rays converge into one narrow beam. Such devices are purchased at radio parts stores. They are convenient in that they already have a place for installing a laser diode, and as for the cost, it is quite small, only 200-500 rubles.

You can, of course, use the body from the pointer, but it will be difficult to attach the laser in it. Such models are made of plastic material, and this will lead to heating of the case, and it will not be cooled enough.

The manufacturing principle is similar to the previous one, since in this case a laser diode from a DVD-RW drive is also used.

Anti-static bracelets must be used during manufacture.

This is necessary to remove static from the laser diode, it is very sensitive. In the absence of bracelets, you can get by with improvised means - you can wind a thin wire around the diode. Next, the driver is assembled.

Before assembling the entire device, the operation of the driver is checked. In this case, it is necessary to connect a non-working or a second diode and measure the strength of the supplied current with a multimeter. Given the speed of the current, it is important to select its strength according to the norms. For many models, a current of 300-350 mA is applicable, and for faster models, 500 mA can be applied, but for this a completely different driver must be used.

Of course, such a laser can be assembled by any non-professional technician, but nevertheless, for beauty and convenience, it is most reasonable to build such a device in a more aesthetic case, and which one to use can be chosen for every taste. It will be most practical to assemble it in the body of an LED flashlight, since its dimensions are compact, only 10x4 cm. Still, you do not need to carry such a device in your pocket, since the relevant authorities may make claims. It is best to store such a device in a special case to avoid dusting the lens.

It is no secret that each of us in childhood wanted to have a device such as a laser machine that could cut metal seals and burn through walls. In the modern world, this dream can easily come true, since now it is possible to build a laser with the ability to cut various materials.

Of course, at home it is impossible to make such a powerful laser installation that will cut through iron or wood. But with a homemade device, you can cut paper, plastic seals, or thin plastic.

A laser device can burn various patterns on plywood sheets or on wood. It can be used to illuminate objects located in remote areas. Its area of application can be both entertaining and useful in construction and installation work, not to mention the realization of creative potential in the field of engraving on wood or plexiglass.

Read also:
How to do it right.

Overview : their pros and cons.
Cutting laser

Tools and accessories that will be required in order to make a laser with your own hands:

Figure 1. Diagram of a laser LED.

faulty DVD-RW drive with a working laser diode;

laser pointer or handheld collimator;

soldering iron and small wires;

1 Ohm resistor (2 pcs.);

capacitors 0.1 uF and 100 uF;

AAA batteries (3 pcs.);

small tools such as a screwdriver, knife and file.

These materials will be quite enough for the upcoming work.

So, for a laser device, first of all, you need to choose a DVD-RW drive with a mechanical breakdown, since the optical diodes must be in good working order. If you don't have a worn drive, you will have to purchase it from the people who sell it for parts.

When buying, it should be borne in mind that most of the drives from the manufacturer Samsung are not suitable for making a cutting laser. The fact is that this company produces DVD drives with diodes that are not protected from external influences. The lack of a special housing means that the laser diode is susceptible to thermal stress and contamination. It can be damaged by light hand touch.

Figure 2. Laser from DVD-RW drive.

The best option for a laser would be a drive from the manufacturer LG. Each model is equipped with a crystal with different power levels. This figure is determined by the writing speed of dual layer DVD discs. It is extremely important that the drive is a writing drive, since it contains an infrared emitter, which is needed to make a laser. Normal will not work, since it is intended only for reading information.

DVD-RW with 16X recording speed is equipped with a 180-200 mW red crystal. The 20X drive contains a 250-270 mW diode. The 22X high speed recorders are equipped with laser optics with a power of up to 300 mW.

Back to the table of contents

Dismantling a DVD-RW drive

This process must be done with great care, as the internal parts are fragile and easily damaged. Having dismantled the case, you will immediately notice the necessary part, it looks like a small piece of glass located inside the movable carriage. Its base and needs to be removed, it is shown in Fig. 1. This element contains an optical lens and two diodes.

At this stage, you should immediately warn that the laser beam is extremely dangerous for human eyes.

If it hits the lens directly, it damages the nerve endings and a person can remain blind.

The laser beam is blinding even at a distance of 100 m, so it is important to be aware of where you point it. Remember that you are responsible for the health of those around you while such a device is in your hands!

Figure 3. Microcircuit LM-317.

Before starting work, you need to know that the laser diode can be damaged not only by careless handling, but also by voltage drops. This can happen in a matter of seconds, which is why diodes operate on a constant source of electricity. When the voltage rises, the LED in the device exceeds its brightness norm, as a result of which the resonator is destroyed. Thus, the diode loses its ability to heat, it becomes an ordinary flashlight.

The crystal is also affected by the temperature around it; when it falls, the laser performance increases at a constant voltage. If it exceeds the standard rate, the resonator collapses according to a similar principle. Less commonly, the diode is damaged by sudden changes, which are caused by frequent switching on and off of the device for a short period.

After removing the crystal, it is necessary to immediately tie up its ends with bare wires. This is to create a connection between its voltage outputs. To these outputs, you need to solder a small 0.1 μF capacitor with negative polarity and 100 μF with positive polarity. After this procedure, you can remove the wound wires. This will help protect the laser diode from transients and static electricity.

Back to the table of contents

Nutrition

Before creating a battery for a diode, it is necessary to take into account that it must be powered from 3V and consumes up to 200-400 mA, depending on the speed of the recording device. Avoid connecting the crystal directly to batteries as this is not a simple lamp. It can deteriorate even with normal batteries. The laser diode is a self-contained element that is supplied with electricity through a regulating resistor.

The power supply system can be adjusted in three ways with varying degrees of complexity. Each of them assumes feeding from a constant voltage source (batteries).

The first method involves regulation of electricity using a resistor. The internal resistance of the device is measured by detecting the voltage as it passes through the diode. For drives with a write speed of 16X, 200 mA is sufficient. With an increase in this indicator, there is a possibility of damaging the crystal, so it is worth sticking to the maximum value of 300 mA. It is recommended to use a telephone battery or AAA finger batteries as a power source.

The advantages of this power scheme are simplicity and reliability. Among the disadvantages are discomfort with regular recharging of the battery from the phone and the difficulty of placing the batteries in the device. In addition, it is difficult to determine the right time to recharge the power source.

Figure 4. Microcircuit LM-2621.

If you are using three AA batteries, this circuit can be easily fitted into a Chinese-made laser pointer. The finished design is shown in Figure 2, with two 1 ohm resistors in sequence and two capacitors.

For the second method, the LM-317 microcircuit is used. This method of arranging the power system is much more complicated than the previous one; it is more suitable for stationary type of laser systems. The circuit is based on the manufacture of a special driver, which is a small board. It is designed to limit the electric current and create the required power.

The connection circuit of the LM-317 microcircuit is shown in Fig. 3. It will require elements such as a 100 Ohm variable resistor, 2 10 Ohm resistors, a 1H4001 series diode and a 100 μF capacitor.

A driver based on this circuit maintains electrical power (7V) regardless of power supply and ambient temperature. Despite the complexity of the device, this circuit is considered the easiest to assemble at home.

The third method is the most portable, making it the most preferred of all. It supplies power from two AAA batteries, maintaining a constant voltage level to the laser diode. The system retains power even when the battery level is low.

When the battery is completely discharged, the circuit will stop functioning, and a small voltage will pass through the diode, which will be characterized by a weak glow of the laser beam. This type of power supply is the most economical, with an efficiency of 90%.

To implement such a power system, you will need an LM-2621 microcircuit, which is located in a 3 × 3 mm case. Therefore, you may encounter certain difficulties during the period of soldering parts. The final size of the board depends on your skills and dexterity, since the parts can even be placed on a 2 × 2 cm board. The finished board is shown in Fig. 4.

The choke can be taken from a regular power supply for a stationary computer. A wire with a cross section of 0.5 mm is wound on it with a number of turns up to 15 turns, as shown in the figure. The throttle diameter from the inside will be 2.5 mm.

Any Schottky diode with a 3A value is suitable for the board. For example, 1N5821, SB360, SR360 and MBRS340T3. The power going to the diode is adjusted by a resistor. It is recommended to connect it with a 100 ohm variable resistor during the setup process. It is best to use a worn out or unnecessary laser diode when performing a functional test. The current power indicator remains the same as in the previous diagram.

Once you have found the most appropriate method, you can upgrade it if you have the necessary skills. The laser diode must be placed on a miniature heat sink so that it does not overheat when the voltage rises. After completing the assembly of the power system, you need to take care of installing the optical glass.

To make a real laser from a harmless trinket, you need to prepare the following items:

laser pointer;
flashlight with rechargeable batteries;
old, maybe not a working CD / DVD-RW writer. The main thing is that he has a drive with a working laser;
a set of screwdrivers and a soldering iron. It is better to use a proprietary cutter, but in the absence of a regular cutter, a regular one may also work.

Making a laser cutter

The next step is to make a new case. So that the future laser can be conveniently used, connect power to it and to give it an impressive look, you can use the body of the flashlight. The converted upper part of the laser pointer is installed into a flashlight and power is supplied to it from rechargeable batteries, which is connected to a diode. It is important not to reverse the polarity of the power supply. Before assembling the flashlight, the glass and parts of the pointer must be removed, since it will be difficult to conduct the direct path of the laser beam.

The final step is preparation for use. Before connecting, check that the laser is firmly attached, that the polarity of the wires is connected correctly, and that the laser is level.

Additional points

A more powerful laser can also be made. To make it you will need:

DVD-RW drive, can be inoperative;
capacitors 100 pF and 100 mF;
resistor 2-5 Ohm;
three rechargeable batteries;
wires with a soldering iron;
collimator;
steel LED flashlight.

The manufacturing principle is similar to the previous one, since in this case a laser diode from a DVD-RW drive is also used.

Anti-static bracelets must be used during manufacture.

It is important not to forget that the device is a kind of weapon that should be used with caution and should not be pointed at animals and people, as it is very dangerous and can be harmful to health, the most dangerous is the direction in the eyes. It is dangerous to give such devices to children.

The laser can be equipped with various devices, and then a rather powerful sight for weapons, both pneumatic and firearms, will come out of a harmless toy.

Here are some simple tips for making a laser cutter. Having slightly improved this design, you can make cutters for cutting acrylic material, plywood and plastic, and make engraving.

Man has learned many technical inventions by observing natural phenomena, analyzing them and applying the knowledge gained in the surrounding reality. So man got the ability to kindle a fire, created a wheel, learned how to generate electricity, and gained control over a nuclear reaction.

Unlike all these inventions, the laser has no analogues in nature. Its origin was associated exclusively with theoretical assumptions within the framework of the nascent quantum physics. The existence of the principle that formed the basis of the laser was predicted at the beginning of the twentieth century by the greatest scientist Albert Einstein.

The word "laser" appeared as a result of the reduction of five words describing the essence of a physical process to the first letters. In the Russian version, this process is called "amplification of light using stimulated radiation."

By the principle of its operation, a laser is a quantum photon generator. The essence of the phenomenon underlying it is that under the action of energy in the form of a photon, an atom emits another photon, which is identical to the first one in the direction of motion, its phase and polarization. As a result, the emitted light is amplified.

This phenomenon is impossible under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium. Various methods are used to create induced radiation: electrical, chemical, gas, and others. Domestic lasers (laser disc drives, laser printers) use semiconductor method stimulation of radiation by electric current.

The principle of operation consists in the passage of the air flow through the heater into the hot air gun tube and, having reached the set temperatures, it enters the part to be soldered through special nozzles.

In the event of a malfunction, the welding inverter can be repaired by hand. Repair tips can be read.

In addition, a necessary component of any full-fledged laser is optical resonator, the function of which is to amplify the light beam by multiple reflection. For this purpose, mirrors are used in laser systems.

It should be said that creating a real powerful laser with your own hands at home is unrealistic. For this, it is necessary to have special knowledge, carry out complex calculations, and have a good material and technical base.

For example, lasers that can cut metal are extremely hot and require extreme cooling measures, including the use of liquid nitrogen. In addition, devices operating on the basis of the quantum principle are extremely capricious, require the finest tuning and do not tolerate even the slightest deviations from the required parameters.

Required components for assembly

To assemble a laser circuit with your own hands, you will need:

Rewritable DVD-ROM (RW). Includes a 300 mW red laser diode. You can use laser diodes from BLU-RAY-ROM-RW - they emit violet light with a power of 150 mW. For our purposes, the best ROMs are those with faster write speeds: they are more powerful.
Pulse NCP1529. The converter produces a current of 1A, stabilizes the voltage in the range of 0.9-3.9 V. These indicators are ideal for our laser diode, which requires a constant voltage of 3 V.
Collimator for obtaining an even beam of light. Now on sale are numerous laser modules from, including collimators.
Output lens from ROM.
Housing, for example, from a laser pointer or flashlight.
Wires.
Batteries 3.6 V.

To connect the parts, it will be necessary to determine which cable is phase, and where is zero and ground. A tool like.

In this way, the simplest laser can be assembled. What such a homemade "light amplifier" can do:

Light a match from a distance.
Melting plastic bags and tissue paper.
Emit a beam over a distance of 100 meters.

Such a laser is dangerous: it will not burn skin or clothing, but it can damage your eyes.

Therefore, you need to use such a device carefully: do not shine it into reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass, reflectors) and, in general, be extremely careful - the beam can cause harm if it hits the eye even from a distance of one hundred meters.

DIY laser on video

Have you decided to do something incredible using simple details? The laser is not considered a novelty in our time, but it is not difficult to make it at home. We will tell you how to make a laser yourself using a CD-ROM drive and a regular flashlight.

Attention! The laser power reaches up to 250 MW. Before starting the experiment, take care of your safety and wear safety goggles (welder's goggles). Never point the laser beam at people or animals, especially eyes. A person can be injured with a laser.

In order to make a laser ourselves, we need:

1. DVD burner.
2. AixiZ laser pointer (you can take another one).
3. Screwdriver.
4. Flashlight.

How do I know the power of a laser diode?

You can determine the laser power by the characteristic of the recording speed of double-layer discs:

1. Speed 10X, laser power 170-200 MW.
2. Speed 16X, laser power 250-270 MW.

Instruction. How to make a laser?

Step # 1... Unscrew and open the lid. We release and take out the carriage (the structure of the drive may differ, but each drive has two guides along which the carriage moves) and disconnect all loops.

Step # 2. Having freed the carriage, we proceed to untwisting the screws and parts to release the diode itself. The drive can have two diode lasers:

1. To read a disc (infrared diode).
2. To record a disc (red diode).

There is a board attached to the desired diode (red), use a regular soldering iron to free the diode.

Step # 3. After a short process, we should get the diode like this.

Many radio amateurs at least once in their lives wanted to make a laser with their own hands. It was once believed that it was possible to collect it only in scientific laboratories. Yes, this is so when it comes to huge laser installations. However, a simpler laser can be assembled, which will also be quite powerful. The idea seems to be very complicated, but in reality it is not difficult at all. In our video article, we'll show you how you can build your own laser at home.

Do-it-yourself powerful laser

Diy laser circuit

It is very important to follow basic safety rules. Firstly, when checking the operation of the device or when it has already been assembled completely, in no case should it be directed into the eyes, at other people or animals. Your laser will be so powerful that it can light a match or even a sheet of paper. Secondly, follow our scheme and then your device will work for a long time and efficiently. Third, do not let children play with it. Finally, store the assembled device in a safe place.

To assemble a laser at home, you will not need too much time and components. So, first you need a DVD-RW drive. He can be both working and non-working. It doesn't matter. But it is very important that this is just a recording device, and not a regular drive for playing discs. The write speed of the drive must be 16x. It is possible and higher. Next, you need to find a module with a lens, thanks to which the laser can focus at one point. For this, an old Chinese pointer may well be suitable. It is best to use an unnecessary steel lantern as the body of the future laser. The "filling" for it will be wires, batteries, resistors and capacitors. Also, do not forget to prepare a soldering iron - without it, assembly will be impossible. Now let's see how the laser should be assembled from the components described above.

Diy laser circuit

The first thing to do is to disassemble the DVD drive. Remove the optical part from the drive by disconnecting the ribbon cable. Then you will see a laser diode - it must be carefully removed from the case. Remember that a laser diode is extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations, especially cold. Until you install the diode in the future laser, it is best to rewind the diode leads with a thin wire.

Most often, laser diodes have three leads. The one in the middle gives a minus. And one of the extreme is a plus. You should take two finger batteries and connect to the diode removed from the case using a 5 ohm resistor. In order for the laser to light up, you need to connect the minus of the battery to the middle terminal of the diode, and the plus to one of the extreme ones. Now you can assemble the laser emitter circuit. By the way, the laser can be powered not only from batteries, but also from a rechargeable battery. This is everyone's business.

You can use an old Chinese pointer so that your device is going to a point when turned on, replacing the laser from the pointer with the one you have assembled. The whole structure can be neatly packed into the case. This will make it look prettier and last longer. An unnecessary steel lantern can serve as a housing. But it can also be almost any capacity. We choose a flashlight not only because it is stronger, but also because it will make your laser look much more presentable.

Thus, you yourself are convinced that assembling a sufficiently powerful laser at home does not require deep knowledge of science or prohibitively expensive equipment. Now you can assemble the laser yourself and use it for its intended purpose.

Many people know about the possibilities of laser technologies and their benefits. They are used not only in industry, but also in cosmetology, medicine, everyday life, art and other branches of human life. However, not everyone knows how to make a laser at home. But it can be built from scrap materials. This will require a non-working DVD drive, lighter, or flashlight.

Before going home, you need to collect all the necessary items. First of all, you need to disassemble the DVD drive. To do this, unscrew all the screws that hold the top and bottom cover of the device. Next, the main loop is disconnected and the board is unscrewed. The protection of diodes and optics must be cracked. The next step is to remove the diode, which is usually done with pliers. To prevent static electricity from damaging the diode, its legs must be tied with wire. Remove the diode carefully so as not to break the legs.

Further, before making a laser at home, you need to make a driver for the laser, which is represented by a small circuit that regulates the power supply of the diode. The fact is that if the power supply is set incorrectly, then the diode can quickly fail. As a power source, you can use finger batteries or a battery from a mobile phone.

Before making a laser at home, you need to take into account the fact that the burning effect is provided by optics. If it is not there, then the laser will just shine. As optics, you can use a special lens from the same drive from which the diode was taken. To get the focus correctly, you need to use a laser pointer.

In order to build a regular pocket laser, you can use a regular lighter. However, before you can make a laser from a lighter, you need to know the construction technology. The best thing is to purchase a high-quality incendiary element. It needs to be disassembled, but the parts should not be thrown away, as they will still be useful in the design. If gas remains in the lighter, it must be released. Then the insides must be carved out using a drill with special attachments. Inside the lighter body there is a diode from the drive, several resistors, a switch and a battery. All elements of the lighter must be installed in their places, after which the button that previously ignited the flame will turn on the laser.

However, for the construction of the device, you can use not only a lighter, but also a flashlight. Before making a laser from a flashlight, you need to take the laser unit from the CD drive. Basically, the structure of a homemade laser in a flashlight is no different from a laser in a lighter. It is only necessary to take into account the power supply, which almost never exceeds 3 V, and it is also desirable to build an additional voltage stabilizer. It will increase the life It is very important to take into account the polarity of the diode and stabilizer.

All the assembled stuffing must be placed in the body of the disassembled flashlight. Beforehand, not only the inner part, but also the glass is removed from the flashlight. After installing the laser unit, the glass is replaced.

HELLO, DIMONOVS !!!

PRICE-50-300R

PRICE-50R

[
PRICE-50R

10- tube of super glue

12- laser printer

microcircuit LM2621

R2 150kΩ
R3 150kΩ
R4 500 Ohm

C2 100uF 6.3V any

So, everything is there ??? GETTING STARTED

HERE IS A SCHEME for assembly

(I can send the drawing by PM)

100% LOSS OF VISION!

Best regards, T3012, aka KV.

DimonVideo DimonVideo

2010-10-14T21: 00: 57Z 2010-10-14T21: 00: 57Z

HELLO, DIMONOVS !!!

Today, I will tell YOU how to make a powerful laser pointer at home.

To do this, we need 17 things:
1- faulty (dead) DVD drive, speed 16-22X (the higher the speed, the more powerful the laser is in it)
PRICE-50-300R
2- cheap Chinese flashlight (for 3 batteries)

PRICE-50R
3- cheap double-barreled laser pointer (laser pointer + LED flashlight)

[
PRICE-50R
4- soldering iron, power 40W (W), voltage 220V (V) with a thin tip.
5- low-melting solder (POS60-POS61 type), pine rosin.
6- a piece of one-sided fiberglass with dimensions 35X10mm
7- ferric chloride (sold in radio stores) price-80-100R
8- tool (tweezers, magnifying glass, small screwdrivers, pliers, long-nose pliers, etc.)
9- these are the terminal lobes

(sold in any electric store) cost from 10-35R
10- tube of super glue
11- alcohol (can be found in the pharmacy)
12- laser printer
13- page of any glossy magazine (always glossy, smooth, you can use photo paper as well)
14- electric iron (we take at home. From mom, sister, grandmother, wife, until they see)
15- radio parts (you can add some from the dead drive itself, in particular the Schottky diode, resistors, capacitors)
list of parts and their denomination (ALL PARTS SMD, i.e. for surface mounting (space saving))

microcircuit LM2621
R1 needs to be selected .. the current on the Laser diode depends on it. I have 78kOhm current 250-300mA NO MORE !!! otherwise it will burn !!!
R2 150kΩ
R3 150kΩ
R4 500 Ohm
C1 0.1μF ceramics, for example k10-17
C2 100uF 6.3V any
C3 33μF 6.3V, preferably tantalum.
C4 33pF ceramics, for example k10-17
C5 0.1μF ceramics, for example k10-17
VD1 any 3 amp. for example
1N5821, 30BQ060, 31DQ10, MBRS340T3, SB360, SK34A, SR360
L1 in the photo you can see how it looks .. and so, 15 turns on a suitable ring or ferrite frame. you can disassemble either a computer power supply unit or an energy-saving light bulb, or a charger for a mobile, including a car charger for a mobile.
All this is not so important, the microcircuit will expose everything as it should.

16- multimeter type DT890G, allowing you to measure capacitance, resistance, voltage and so on.
17- well, of course, straight HANDS and "friendship with a soldering iron" or a friend who is friends with a soldering iron

So, everything is there ??? GETTING STARTED
We take the keychain-pointer, and disassemble it (CAREFULLY, DO NOT DAMAGE THE INTERIOR, we will need them)

we take out the batteries, and with pliers, gently shaking to the sides, we take out the front plastic head (where the flashlight and laser are)
Then, through the side where this (cork) was, take out the insides, pushing them with a pencil from the side of the battery compartment

Then, very carefully, with a small piece with a flat sting, unscrew the plastic nut in the collimator (brass tube where the lens and the frameless laser itself are located). We take out the contents (the plastic nut itself, lens, spring)

warming up the EMPTY collimator with a soldering iron, disconnect it from the board with the button.

We disassemble the drive and take out the carriage of the laser device

EXTREMELY carefully take out the LASER, having previously wrapped the legs of the Laser with a wire, from static.
this is itself, the Laser Diode.

We take a Chinese flashlight and disassemble it. Roughly analogous to a flashlight pointer.

Now, we will put all the little things in a reliable box, and we will make a heat sink for the Laser.
We take previously purchased terminals

and saw off from them in part, so that we get a type of washer, in length equal to the length of the collimator, and so that they (the washers fit tightly into each other, including the collimator itself) If they do not fit into each other, we drill with drills with a diameter of 5, 5-12mm for different washers, or we can grind.
It should look something like this:

We push the collimator itself a little further, about 5mm, this is important for fixing the Laser Diode.
Yes, we fix the washers themselves with super glue.
So, now we mount the Laser Diode, after inserting a 5mm drill to the collimator and pressing the collimator with pliers, from the side of the slots where the board was.

We solder 2 wires to the LD legs. ATTENTION L.D. we call the device with a multimeter of the DT890G type (it rings like a regular diode.)

Next, we need to assemble the driver circuit.
HERE IS A SCHEME for assembly

HERE is an approximate drawing of the conductors on the board

(I can send the drawing by PM)
We transfer the board drawing to glossy paper with a laser printer (laser-ironing method, read on the Internet)
we make a board, and we solder parts on it. It should look like this:

Assembly method, your imagination. I assembled the driver in the battery compartment, in place of the third battery.
used VARTA 800mA / H batteries

I used the lens from a flashlight pointer, but you can also use a native lens from the drive

only its focal length is shorter, you will have to install a spring to support the lens closer to the Laser Diode.
Attention! LASER RADIATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE EYES!
NEVER SEND ANIMALS OR PEOPLE!
100% LOSS OF VISION!
I got such a device:

DO NOT turn on L.D itself without a radiator, it gets very hot and burns out. Set the current consumption by the Laser Diode to 250-300mA using the resistor R1 (it is advisable to temporarily put a resistor of 100k, and instead of the Laser Diode (so as not to burn the LD), a chain of 4 diodes KD105 connected in series)
Best regards, T3012, aka KV. ">

Making a powerful burning laser with your own hands is a simple task, however, in addition to the ability to use a soldering iron, care and accuracy of the approach will be required. It should be noted right away that deep knowledge of the field of electrical engineering is not needed here, and you can make a device even at home. The main thing when working is to observe precautions, since exposure to the laser beam is detrimental to the eyes and skin.

The laser is a dangerous toy that can be harmful to health if it is used carelessly. Do not aim the laser at people or animals!

What is required?

Any laser can be broken down into several components:

luminous flux emitter;
optics;
power supply;
current supply stabilizer (driver).

To make a powerful homemade laser, you need to consider all these components separately. The most practical and easy to assemble is a laser based on a laser diode, and we will consider it in this article.

Where to get a diode for a laser?

The working body of any laser is a laser diode. You can buy it at almost any radio store, or you can get it from a non-working CD drive. The fact is that the inoperability of the drive is rarely associated with the failure of the laser diode. Having a broken drive in stock, you can get the right element at no extra cost. But it must be taken into account that its type and properties depend on the modification of the drive.

The weakest laser operating in the infrared range is installed in CD-ROM drives. Its power is sufficient only for reading CDs, and the beam is almost invisible and is not capable of burning objects. The CD-RW has a built-in more powerful laser diode, suitable for burning and designed for the same wavelength. It is considered the most dangerous, as it emits a beam in the spectrum invisible to the eye.

The DVD-ROM drive is equipped with two weak laser diodes, which only have enough power to read CDs and DVDs. The DVD-RW burner has a high power red laser. Its beam is visible in any light and can easily ignite some objects.

The BD-ROM contains a violet or blue laser, which is similar in parameters to its DVD-ROM counterpart. BD-RE writers provide the most powerful laser diode with a beautiful violet or blue beam that burns through. However, it is rather difficult to find such a drive for disassembly, and the working device is expensive.

The most suitable is a laser diode taken from a DVD-RW burner. The highest quality laser diodes are found in LG, Sony and Samsung drives.

The higher the write speed of a DVD drive, the more powerful the laser diode is installed in it.

Parsing the drive

With the drive in front of you, the first thing to do is remove the top cover by unscrewing 4 screws. Then the movable mechanism is removed, which is located in the center and is connected to the printed circuit board with a flexible ribbon. The next target is a laser diode, securely pressed into a radiator made of aluminum or duralumin alloy. It is recommended that you provide protection against static electricity before disassembling it. For this, the leads of the laser diode are soldered or wrapped with a thin copper wire.

Further, two options are possible. The first one implies the operation of the finished laser in the form of a stationary installation together with a standard radiator. The second option is to assemble the device in a portable flashlight or laser pointer housing. In this case, you will have to apply force to bite through or cut the radiator without damaging the radiating element.

Driver

The power supply of the laser must be taken responsibly. As with LEDs, this must be a constant current source. There are many circuits on the Internet that are powered by a battery or accumulator through a limiting resistor. The sufficiency of such a solution is questionable, since the voltage on the battery or battery changes depending on the charge level. Accordingly, the current flowing through the laser emitting diode will deviate greatly from the nominal value. As a result, the device will not work efficiently at low currents, but at high currents it will lead to a rapid decrease in the intensity of its radiation.

The best option is to use the simplest current stabilizer built on the base. This microcircuit belongs to the category of universal integral stabilizers with the ability to independently set the current and voltage at the output. The microcircuit operates in a wide range of input voltages: from 3 to 40 volts.

The analogue of LM317 is the domestic microcircuit KR142EN12.

For the first laboratory experiment, the diagram below is suitable. The calculation of the only resistor in the circuit is made according to the formula: R = I / 1.25, where I is the nominal laser current (reference value).

Sometimes at the output of the stabilizer, a polar capacitor of 2200 μFx16 V and a non-polar capacitor of 0.1 μF are installed in parallel to the diode. Their participation is justified in the case of supplying voltage to the input from a stationary power supply, which can miss a small AC component and impulse noise. One of such schemes, designed to be powered by a Krona battery or a small battery, is presented below.

The diagram shows the approximate value of the resistor R1. To calculate it accurately, you must use the above formula.

Having assembled the electrical circuit, you can make a preliminary connection and, as a proof of the circuit's performance, observe the bright red scattered light of the emitting diode. Having measured its real current and the temperature of the case, you should think about the need to install a radiator. If the laser is to be used in a stationary installation at high currents for a long time, then passive cooling must be provided. Now, to achieve the goal, there is very little left: to focus and get a narrowly directed beam of high power.

Optics

Scientifically speaking, it's time to build a simple collimator, a device for producing beams of parallel light beams. The ideal option for this purpose would be a standard lens taken from the drive. With its help, you can get a fairly thin laser beam with a diameter of about 1 mm. The amount of energy of such a beam is enough to burn through paper, fabric and cardboard in a matter of seconds, melt plastic and burn through wood. If you focus a thinner beam, then this laser can cut plywood and plexiglass. But it is rather difficult to adjust and securely fix the lens from the drive due to its small focal length.

It is much easier to build a collimator based on a laser pointer. In addition, a driver and a small battery can be placed in its case. The output will be a beam with a diameter of about 1.5 mm with a smaller burning action. In foggy weather or with heavy snowfall, incredible lighting effects can be observed by directing the light flux into the sky.

You can purchase a ready-made collimator specially designed for mounting and adjusting the laser through the online store. Its body will serve as a radiator. Knowing the dimensions of all the components of the device, you can buy a cheap LED flashlight and use its body.

In conclusion, I would like to add a few phrases about the dangers of laser radiation. First, never direct the laser beam into the eyes of people or animals. This leads to serious visual impairment. Second, wear green glasses when experimenting with the red laser. They prevent the passage of most of the red spectrum. The amount of light passed through glasses depends on the wavelength of the radiation. Looking at the laser beam from the side without protective equipment is allowed only for a short time. Otherwise, eye pain may appear.

Read the same