A laser is a useful and interesting thing. All, probably, in childhood played with cheap Chinese pointers. However, over time, it becomes clear that these are children's toys. And then the idea begins to ripen on how to make a serious, powerful laser that will cut steel, as in films. Steel, alas, is very difficult to cut, only powerful industrial tools are capable of this. So let's try first to learn how to make a laser with your own hands, such as to cut something less durable, for example, plastic.
Methodology
If you ask an engineer how to make a laser with your own hands, he will advise you to take a powerful light bulb and focus the light into the beam. However, this will not really be a laser. The main difference between a laser and a flashlight is the coherence of a light beam. For the laser to be real, you need to take, for example, the device of the same name from a writable (required!) CD or DVD drive. The laser there is quite powerful, and the higher the recording speed, the more powerful it is.
Equipment
In addition to the drive, we need:
- two capacitors: polar 2200 uF and 100 pF;
- power supply 3.6V, 150-170 mA (several parallel batteries from phones are suitable);
- resistor 2 ... 5 ohms;
- housing with a radiator (the laser heats up quite a lot during operation);
- soldering iron;
- screwdriver, pliers, electrical tape.
Production
Let's analyze the drive. Two lasers will be detected there : an IR laser for reading information (there will be a lens on it) and an optical one for recording, we need it. In addition to the laser, do not forget to get another lens. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the parts we need. Attention! When working with a laser, avoid any static, this can disrupt its structure and turn into an ordinary diode. In addition, it should never be connected directly to the battery.
Scheme
For the laser to work, you need an electronic circuit that anyone can solder. It consists of two capacitors connected in parallel to each other and to the laser itself (the positive output of the polar capacitor is soldered to the laser input and the positive pole of the IP). In addition, a resistor is soldered to the positive output of the IP. The scheme can be included. This scheme has a high loss rate, but it is simple. If you want to do something cooler, you can solder a more complex circuit based on LM317 or LM2621 chips.
Customization
However, if you simply turn on the laser, it will not emit a beam. It will shine like a flashlight, only red. How to make a laser with your own hands from this device? Recall that somewhere else lies the lens extracted from the drive. With it, you can focus the light into a beam with a diameter of 1 mm or to a point at a certain distance. If you need a pointer, then a ray is better, and it’s more convenient to burn a point. We will place the entire device in a case equipped with a button and ventilation. The device is ready.
Security
Attention! The laser is very powerful! Such a thing will easily burn the retina to anyone who looks at it. Just in case, before you make a laser from a DVD, get safety glasses. And never direct it to a person in the face!
Now, knowing how to make a laser with your own hands, you can begin to set fire to matches, cutting packages and other interesting events.