Probably everyone in childhood, learning about the existence of a laser, began to dream of their own, able to cut everything in its path: wood, stone, steel. Of course, this dream could not come true, because powerful lasers are too dangerous to be given into the hands of the general population. However, at present, when computer technology is developed, everyone can realize this dream at least to some extent.
DVD laser is a device accessible to everyone who has an unnecessary (but still working) drive. Of course, the resulting "weapon" will not be able to harm solid materials, but paper, cardboard and even plastic will be quite capable of it.
In order to make a laser from a DVD yourself, you do not need so much: a working (necessarily writing) drive, voltage capacitors, wiring, a battery for a mobile phone, a multimeter, a resistor, a soldering iron, a pointer, an LED flashlight. And, of course, desire, free time and the ability to solder.
To make a laser from a DVD drive, you need to disassemble it. It should be recalled that only a write drive is suitable for the design, since others do not have sufficient power.
Having disassembled the drive, you need to find a laser diode in it . It must be remembered that in any drive there are two of them: one weak (IR diode), the other powerful (laser red). It is difficult to distinguish them, but it is possible: a more powerful diode, which is needed for the manufacture of a laser, is located in the disk carriage and has a larger radiator.
It should be noted that before removing the
laser diode, it is recommended to wear an
antistatic wristband, since it (the diode) is very "afraid" of static electricity, which can destroy it. In the event that there is no bracelet and it is impossible to get it, it is necessary to wrap the laser leads with a thin wire.
After removing the diode, you need to solder the driver. Without it, the DVD laser will not be able to receive the power needed to operate. The driver will require two capacitors with a voltage of 0.1 and 100 ΞΌF, a resistor whose current strength is selected depending on the speed of the drive (250, 300, 400, 450 and 500 mA, respectively for 16x, 18x, 20x, 22x and 24x).
When soldering these elements and wiring the wires to plus and minus, it is very important not to reverse the polarity, otherwise the laser will deteriorate immediately.
To power the device, you can use the battery from a mobile phone with a capacity of 200 to 300 mA. However, some lasers may require higher capacities.
AA batteries can also be used as
a current source .In order to check whether the driver is properly soldered, you need to connect it to the second (weak) diode from the drive and measure the current with a multimeter.
If everything is done correctly, then you can finally assemble the laser from the DVD and put it in your favorite case. To make the device last longer, it is recommended to fix all the elements in place with glue and seal them.
Making a laser from a DVD is quite simple, but you need to be careful when working with it. It must be remembered that it can cause damage, and therefore it can not be sent to animals or people. If it gets into your eyes, the laser can cause deterioration and even loss of vision.