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Step 4Materials You've Gotta Have
Yardsticks
4 yardsticks (Home Depot 611-269, $1.29 each) or any long, thin strips of light, stiff material you can drill through. This will be your pantograph. If you want to shave $5 off your budget, you can get 20" paint stirrers used for 5-gallon paint buckets (free) any place that sells house paint. The shorter length will limit your freedom to make large stuff easily, but will be easier for small projects. What the hay -- while you're there, get 4 of each.
Or, if you're feeling flush, buy a manufactured pantograph for around $20. They're sold at woodworking and at art supply stores.
Bolts, Nuts, Washers
4 pieces of 2" long, 3/8" hex-head machine-type bolts (Home Depot 661-899, $0.08 each).
Get 8 nuts (Home Depot 721-842, $0.08 each) and 8 washers (Home Depot 655-570, $0.09 each) to match. Test 'em while you're there -- stuff gets mixed up in the bins.
Parts from Mouser
863-LM350TG Voltage Regulator 3A 1.2-33V (mouser.com, $1.68) adjusts the laser power
532-7128DG Aavid Thermalloy (regulator) Heatsink (mouser.com, $ 0.80) keeps the voltage regulator from burning up
312-9100-500 Slide potentiometer, 500 ohm (2 shown in photo for details, but you only need one, mouser.com, $1.18) adjusts the voltage regulator for the laser power. If Mouser is out of stock, you can use any 500 ohm potentiometer. If the resistance is higher (e.g., 1000 ohms) the voltage from the power supply can get too high and fry your laser. When this resistance is at zero ohms, the output is 1.25 volts; more resistance equals more volts output.
660-CF1/4C241J 240 ohm resistor, 1/4 watt (mouser.com, $ 0.10) The color code for the 240 ohm resistor is red, yellow, brown and the 4th and 5th bands don't matter. Buy 10 and use them for other LED projects.
30BJ250-1.2K 1.2K resistor, 5% tolerance, (1,200 ohms) (not shown in photos below) (mouser.com, $ 0.22) Brown, red, red, gold color code. This resistor shunts (parallels) the potentiometer to match the resistance perfectly (350 ohms) to limit the voltage regulator to a 3.2 Volt DC maximum. Leave it out and the voltage can go higher.
441-R332B-GR Inline Fuse Holder (mouser.com, $1.23 and . . .
576-0312001.HXP 1Amp 3AG type fuse (mouser.com, $0.25 each). Get a couple, just in case. I blew my first one by accidentally shorting some clips in my first two minutes. Fuses are cheaper than parts.
Shipping and handling for these parts from Mouser was under $5 for me.
Lens to Focus the Laser from AixiZ Laser
635nm 5mW laser module 3.2VDC w/ adjustable lens, size 12mm by 30mm from eBay, $15.50 ($12 'Buy It Now' price, plus $3.50 S&H). All you need is the lens and the short half of the metal tube. Save the laser inside this module for another project, or use it in this project as a low-power alternate.
You'll replace the 5 mW LED laser they give you in the tube with one from a DVD burner.
They've got a couple of different models on eBay, so I've put a photo below from my auction and a photo of what I got. Stickers are different. The sticker I got is much cooler.
I can't give you a link to the actual auction, since each one they sell has a different auction number. Copy and paste the title, 635nm 5mW laser module 3.2VDC w/ adjustable lens 635 nm in the eBay Search box. (Highlight, CTRL-C to copy, CTRL-V to paste.)
Or, see eBay store for AixiZ Lasers. Seller takes checks or PayPal. PayPal will accept your credit card after you create a PayPal account. As soon as somebody buys one, they put up another auction.
Or, if an eBay/PayPal purchase rubs you the wrong way, you can call AixiZ in Texas at 1-888-424-9491.
Perfboard
You can get a piece of perfboard (perforated board used to hold soldered items) cheap at Radio Shack. Try 276-159 for $2.29 as it has little let-me-help-you-solder-that dots on it, or 270-283 for one that's plain, but comes with an enclosure. If the holes are too small to seat the regulator's heat sink, you could cut off the offending tabs, or ream the holes out with a tiny screwdriver or an old fork tine or point of a scissors or the tip of a nail file (sister's purse, $0). Go slowly, don't break the board.
Fingertip Power Switch
A convenient press-to-operate pushbutton switch, microswitch Radio Shack 275-016 for $2.69 or other switch as you like, to turn the laser on and off effortlessly with your fingertip. Radio Shack or Mouser.com. You'll have to turn the laser off to move from one part of your work to another, then turn it back on easily. Unplugging the power supply from the wall over and over is not going to do the job. Do not get a switch that you must press once to turn on, then press again to turn off or you'll soon be shopping for a better switch.
Pilot Lamps
Some ordinary LED's (Radio Shack, pack of 20 assorted) 276-1622 for $2.59 (don't forget to always use a small resistor (200 to 300 ohms) from mouser.com at 10 for 50 cents, part no. 299-240-RC (any value from 200 to 300 ohms is OK) or get Radio Shack [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062343&cp 271-1321 5 for $1 and put one of them in series with ordinary LED's or you'll likely blow them up), or a 3 volt flashlight bulb in a socket or any similar indicator to tell you when the switch to the laser power is turned on. This is for added safety. Remember; when it's on, it burns holes through stuff immediately whether you're paying attention or not. No surprises.
Solder Support
Some wire wrap wire and wire wrap tool (optional), and/or some stranded, insulated wire Radio Shack 278-1224, electronics solder, one slightly wet folded paper towel, some newspaper to solder on so you don't accidentally wreck the dining room table, and an aloe plant in case you get clumsy with your newfound soldering skills. Aloe's not going to help much if you burn yourself with the laser, so always be careful.
Practice, Patience, Pantograph . . .
Patience to wait four days while your order from Mouser gets there. You'll build the pantograph and touch up your soldering skills while you wait.
Markers
Felt-tip marker or ballpoint pen or a pencil (roommate, $0) to test the pantograph results before you swap the marker for the laser.
Packing Tape
You'll need to secure one (top left end shown) end of the pantograph to your work surface so it doesn't move. Packing tape is OK if it's really secure. The sloppier things move around, the sloppier your results will be. Drill a 3/8" hole in a scrap block of wood and tape that down if you like, or substitute something you have lying around, even a heavy book (little brother's Psych 101 college textbook, $0). Also tape the wiring to the yardsticks, etc.
4 yardsticks (Home Depot 611-269, $1.29 each) or any long, thin strips of light, stiff material you can drill through. This will be your pantograph. If you want to shave $5 off your budget, you can get 20" paint stirrers used for 5-gallon paint buckets (free) any place that sells house paint. The shorter length will limit your freedom to make large stuff easily, but will be easier for small projects. What the hay -- while you're there, get 4 of each.
Or, if you're feeling flush, buy a manufactured pantograph for around $20. They're sold at woodworking and at art supply stores.
Bolts, Nuts, Washers
4 pieces of 2" long, 3/8" hex-head machine-type bolts (Home Depot 661-899, $0.08 each).
Get 8 nuts (Home Depot 721-842, $0.08 each) and 8 washers (Home Depot 655-570, $0.09 each) to match. Test 'em while you're there -- stuff gets mixed up in the bins.
Parts from Mouser
863-LM350TG Voltage Regulator 3A 1.2-33V (mouser.com, $1.68) adjusts the laser power
532-7128DG Aavid Thermalloy (regulator) Heatsink (mouser.com, $ 0.80) keeps the voltage regulator from burning up
312-9100-500 Slide potentiometer, 500 ohm (2 shown in photo for details, but you only need one, mouser.com, $1.18) adjusts the voltage regulator for the laser power. If Mouser is out of stock, you can use any 500 ohm potentiometer. If the resistance is higher (e.g., 1000 ohms) the voltage from the power supply can get too high and fry your laser. When this resistance is at zero ohms, the output is 1.25 volts; more resistance equals more volts output.
660-CF1/4C241J 240 ohm resistor, 1/4 watt (mouser.com, $ 0.10) The color code for the 240 ohm resistor is red, yellow, brown and the 4th and 5th bands don't matter. Buy 10 and use them for other LED projects.
30BJ250-1.2K 1.2K resistor, 5% tolerance, (1,200 ohms) (not shown in photos below) (mouser.com, $ 0.22) Brown, red, red, gold color code. This resistor shunts (parallels) the potentiometer to match the resistance perfectly (350 ohms) to limit the voltage regulator to a 3.2 Volt DC maximum. Leave it out and the voltage can go higher.
441-R332B-GR Inline Fuse Holder (mouser.com, $1.23 and . . .
576-0312001.HXP 1Amp 3AG type fuse (mouser.com, $0.25 each). Get a couple, just in case. I blew my first one by accidentally shorting some clips in my first two minutes. Fuses are cheaper than parts.
Shipping and handling for these parts from Mouser was under $5 for me.
Lens to Focus the Laser from AixiZ Laser
635nm 5mW laser module 3.2VDC w/ adjustable lens, size 12mm by 30mm from eBay, $15.50 ($12 'Buy It Now' price, plus $3.50 S&H). All you need is the lens and the short half of the metal tube. Save the laser inside this module for another project, or use it in this project as a low-power alternate.
You'll replace the 5 mW LED laser they give you in the tube with one from a DVD burner.
They've got a couple of different models on eBay, so I've put a photo below from my auction and a photo of what I got. Stickers are different. The sticker I got is much cooler.
I can't give you a link to the actual auction, since each one they sell has a different auction number. Copy and paste the title, 635nm 5mW laser module 3.2VDC w/ adjustable lens 635 nm in the eBay Search box. (Highlight, CTRL-C to copy, CTRL-V to paste.)
Or, see eBay store for AixiZ Lasers. Seller takes checks or PayPal. PayPal will accept your credit card after you create a PayPal account. As soon as somebody buys one, they put up another auction.
Or, if an eBay/PayPal purchase rubs you the wrong way, you can call AixiZ in Texas at 1-888-424-9491.
Perfboard
You can get a piece of perfboard (perforated board used to hold soldered items) cheap at Radio Shack. Try 276-159 for $2.29 as it has little let-me-help-you-solder-that dots on it, or 270-283 for one that's plain, but comes with an enclosure. If the holes are too small to seat the regulator's heat sink, you could cut off the offending tabs, or ream the holes out with a tiny screwdriver or an old fork tine or point of a scissors or the tip of a nail file (sister's purse, $0). Go slowly, don't break the board.
Fingertip Power Switch
A convenient press-to-operate pushbutton switch, microswitch Radio Shack 275-016 for $2.69 or other switch as you like, to turn the laser on and off effortlessly with your fingertip. Radio Shack or Mouser.com. You'll have to turn the laser off to move from one part of your work to another, then turn it back on easily. Unplugging the power supply from the wall over and over is not going to do the job. Do not get a switch that you must press once to turn on, then press again to turn off or you'll soon be shopping for a better switch.
Pilot Lamps
Some ordinary LED's (Radio Shack, pack of 20 assorted) 276-1622 for $2.59 (don't forget to always use a small resistor (200 to 300 ohms) from mouser.com at 10 for 50 cents, part no. 299-240-RC (any value from 200 to 300 ohms is OK) or get Radio Shack [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062343&cp 271-1321 5 for $1 and put one of them in series with ordinary LED's or you'll likely blow them up), or a 3 volt flashlight bulb in a socket or any similar indicator to tell you when the switch to the laser power is turned on. This is for added safety. Remember; when it's on, it burns holes through stuff immediately whether you're paying attention or not. No surprises.
Solder Support
Some wire wrap wire and wire wrap tool (optional), and/or some stranded, insulated wire Radio Shack 278-1224, electronics solder, one slightly wet folded paper towel, some newspaper to solder on so you don't accidentally wreck the dining room table, and an aloe plant in case you get clumsy with your newfound soldering skills. Aloe's not going to help much if you burn yourself with the laser, so always be careful.
Practice, Patience, Pantograph . . .
Patience to wait four days while your order from Mouser gets there. You'll build the pantograph and touch up your soldering skills while you wait.
Markers
Felt-tip marker or ballpoint pen or a pencil (roommate, $0) to test the pantograph results before you swap the marker for the laser.
Packing Tape
You'll need to secure one (top left end shown) end of the pantograph to your work surface so it doesn't move. Packing tape is OK if it's really secure. The sloppier things move around, the sloppier your results will be. Drill a 3/8" hole in a scrap block of wood and tape that down if you like, or substitute something you have lying around, even a heavy book (little brother's Psych 101 college textbook, $0). Also tape the wiring to the yardsticks, etc.
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