What you need...

Step 1: What you need...

$C:\Downloads\minimag_001.bmp$

You will need the following items:
1. 16X DVD Burner. I used an LG burner I had as a spare.

or...

You can buy the Red LASER DIODE HERE

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The nerdling says: May 24, 2010. 7:22 PM

what website for the lazer

Audi0slave says: Feb 5, 2010. 6:47 PM

Damn it kipkay, WHY IS THE DIODE SO EFFIN EXPENSIVE MAN!?!?!?!

jibbers75 in reply to Audi0slaveFeb 5, 2010. 7:37 PM

A better way to get a diode is take it out of a laser pointer it's less work and less expensive. This is a good website to buy one from http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.910

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 10, 2009. 4:32 PM

I'm severely new to all this tweaking, but I'm learning. So I was wondering, would a blu-ray laser work? I read the instructions and know about the cd/dvd PLAYER dilemma, but I wasn't sure about the blu-ray lasers. Thanks.

jibbers75 in reply to nomooremr.niceguyFeb 5, 2010. 7:40 PM

Yes a blue ray laser will work, but it will be way more expensive.

dragonseaker says: Dec 10, 2009. 10:15 AM

Will this unit ,or any type of green laser pointer of 100mW or larger make a neighbors security camera pointing at you, make it dysfunctional?

PikminRed in reply to dragonseakerJan 5, 2010. 12:38 PM

I forgot the name for that, and yes, even a normal target/dollar store one will do it. I'm not sure if you want to ruin it, or make it blind. to make it blind. just make it point at the lens at all times. to ruin it, you would want to melt the cable if it is exposed. make sure you get the wire. or, you could blind it, snip the wire then bam!. Done.

You should try Googleing it or something.

-Pik

dragonseaker says: Dec 10, 2009. 11:16 AM

I see you use a red laser diode from a dvd burner. Question ? I have a 5mW green laser pointer, can i use the parts from my green laser pointer?
Thanks: ( very good and informative instructions)
theflyingknight@yahoo.com

Evan606 in reply to dragonseakerJan 1, 2010. 2:35 PM

No, it can be any color but needs to be 200-500mW

theman123321 says: Aug 13, 2009. 8:39 AM

will a normal dvd reader work?

kiss my donkey says: May 16, 2009. 6:38 PM

kipkay I have a 22x burner. I was wondering if that will work? will? thanks

kevkid in reply to kiss my donkeyAug 12, 2009. 10:49 AM

Yes 22x DVD burner will work.

Telecredible says: Jul 8, 2009. 4:50 AM

Will a blue colour laser diode work?if it does how to get one without destroying a a hdd drive or how to get one in singapore?Help will be appreciated.pls reply thanks.

kevkid in reply to TelecredibleAug 12, 2009. 10:36 AM

You don't get Laser diodes from HDD (but you can get powerful magnets out of them). You can use a blue diode from a Blu-ray burner, which would make it cooler but much more expensive, you should probably go with a red diode because of the shorter wavelength/cost to manufacture, either way yes it would work, if you can get your hands on a diode that has a high enough power rating then it would work.

fcampbe4 says: Jul 9, 2009. 4:07 PM

Do you guys think you could take the diode just out of a regular cd player?

Telecredible says: Jul 8, 2009. 4:56 AM

In one of your video,you mention that instead of destroying a xbox360 you can use a broken one. what do you mean by broken ones?how do you make sure that the laer diode is not damaged when getting a broken xbox360?thank you for your help?Pls reply

mezhopking says: Oct 17, 2007. 5:28 AM

What a great project... I've ordered the housing, but I'm cautious as to which DVD drive to buy. It would be very helpful if those that have made this project work could share which drives they used... If would greatly speed up my purchase of a correct drive. And obviously it would help others in a similar situation. Thanks...

xxdracoxx in reply to mezhopkingFeb 2, 2009. 3:32 PM

buy a blu ray diode for 20 tp 40 buck on ebay :)

tek- in reply to mezhopkingOct 2, 2008. 3:42 AM

You dont have to buy a full burner drive- just buy the diode--

http://stonetek.org/shop/

find the sony 16x diode for $20.00

cheap

qwerty1234567890 in reply to mezhopkingOct 17, 2007. 12:27 PM

If you baught the casing you should have noticed that you can also buy the laser diode on the same site.

berryman13 says: Oct 29, 2007. 5:17 PM

Man, I hate to have to tear apart a brand new $45 dvd burner, I wish there was a MUCH cheaper way, also, my computer only has a cd burner in it, so i'm so upset when I buy one, and I can't use it for my computer! :P

Supercoke in reply to berryman13Jan 23, 2009. 5:42 PM

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TO STONETEK ELECTRONICS!!!!!!!! YOU CAN GET ONE FOR 20$!!!!!!

bombmaker2 in reply to SupercokeFeb 1, 2009. 4:13 PM

where is that?

awang8 in reply to SupercokeJan 28, 2009. 10:08 PM

Dude you posted that 2 years later.

MadBricoleur in reply to berryman13Jan 13, 2009. 5:33 PM

I have to agree with you there XD i have a CD burner that is not used for my com anymore cuz we got a new one and i hated finding out that i couldnt use it for this laser :P

Bigev in reply to MadBricoleurJan 22, 2009. 2:23 PM

Our town has a hazmat recycling day, yours may too. People donate computers to have the lead/ mercury/ arsenic/ gold/ platnium/ ect taken care of. I betcha that if you went to one of those, they MIGHT let you scope out a suitable computer, take it, and yank the drives later. Then to be super sneaky, return the extra parts of it you don't want next year. Best of all the whole kit and kaboodle is free!

tek- in reply to berryman13Oct 2, 2008. 3:49 AM

You dont have to buy a full burner drive- just buy the diode--

http://stonetek.org/shop/

find the sony 16x diode for $20.00

cheap

spiderspideyspidey in reply to tek-Jan 12, 2009. 5:13 PM

Did It Work With The Sony 16X Diode?

qwerty1234567890 in reply to berryman13Oct 30, 2007. 1:51 AM

Man where did you buy that thing. You can get a 16X for like $20. You could also order if off of this site
http://www.mfgcn.com but that one is $40.

Draven_11 says: Sep 4, 2007. 3:01 AM

do you have to use a 16x dvd burner or can it be an 18x???

Kipkay (author) in reply to Draven_11Sep 4, 2007. 6:05 AM

Anything more than a 16x will just produce a more powerful and stronger diode. So, the answer is yes, you can use an 18x. Have fun, be safe!

tonyw in reply to KipkayJan 7, 2009. 2:33 PM

Hello KIPKAY you're AMAZING I have a few questions...How do I know the mw of a DVD burner diode? A 22x Dvd burner aproximadeltly how many mw has? Thanks

Draven_11 in reply to KipkaySep 4, 2007. 9:28 AM

swwet ill give it a go and let you guys know, sucky thing is i have to wait about 4weeks for the laser housing to get to me:-( but worth it :)

zwhite93 says: Nov 6, 2008. 6:18 PM

What about a PHR-803T HD? Being a complete laser noob, I'm not sure what modifications would be necessary to make this work. It is a 5.6mm form factor, so thats not too different, right? What do you think? I am not advertising, just trying to give y'all an idea of what im seeing: http://stonetek.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=227

LRMNmeyer in reply to zwhite93Dec 10, 2008. 6:17 PM

You would need to use a driver circuit, set to ~100mA. Driving directly off of the battery would kill it instantly. A 16x DVD burner diode can survive for at least a while without a driver.

tek- says: Oct 2, 2008. 3:48 AM

Ive seen on previous comments that a DVD player diode might work, i dont mind to much if it doesnt BURN anything, id just like a laser thats capable of 'the beam' where you see a long laser beam instead of just a red dot at the end. A quick reply would be most appreciated..

gurat says: Sep 26, 2008. 3:04 AM

can you use a radio/cd laser instead?

alfy95 says: Sep 7, 2008. 6:08 PM

Would a 8x dvd drive work as well?

revo101 in reply to alfy95Sep 9, 2008. 8:05 AM

anything will work i used a 50x. ANY DVD BURNER WILL WORK!

SuperJesus says: Aug 21, 2008. 11:44 AM

wow. after reading how many posts below that asked "can i use a dvd player?", i think i died a little inside... keep up the great work KipKay! You always have the best mod/build vids!