Laser Flashlight Hack!!

Step 10 Final Step!!

Be sure to remove the batteries from the MiniMag and after checking polarity, slip your new DVD Laser housing down into the top of the MiniMag where the bulb would go. Screw the top of the MiniMag on and slip the reflector over the Laser housing. You will not be using the plastic MiniMag lens.

UPDATE: If you intend to use this as more than just a novelty item, a driver circuit is recommended. Here is a basic driver circuit that can be built for this project which will regulate the voltage going to the diode.

Comments

[mondeluz]

hey can someone please send me link on how to get the parts for the laser driver circiut? if yes then please send me link becouse i realy realy need one please replay

[mondeluz]

hwy i made this laser pointer and bought a realy powerfull diode and all but i do not understand how do i make it burn it still is just a regular pointer im thinking of using some other lens than original ones that came in the 5Mw laser housing is that ok?

[lis.tesla]

so i have another lazer housing i got from a regular laser pionter it's a little bit small but will it work someone plz reply

[jgonzález19]

Thanks!

[thanos]

How do you get the driver and a >8V power supply into a mini-mag!!!!?!

[searl2]

Is there a place where I could get a focusing laser lens that would fit into the plastic lenses place?

[bugjojo]

Is the driver supposed to fit into the minimag? Whats the deal with the pot, could I leave it out of the circuit, is it just to dim the beam?

[ossumguywill]

 I bought everything except the driver circuit.. does it matter what voltage the capacitor is? I have a 47µF 50V cap, will this work?

[matstermind]

no the voltage doesn't matter

[tsawtell]

 The 50V capacitor will work fine.  The capacitor voltage rating is the maximum voltage the capacitor can reliably withstand.

[amando96]

 yeah, i once misread 10, as 100, pants where shat...

[sciencefun]

ROFL!!!  I've missread some number before, but it didn't cause me to have to buy a new pair of pants...LOL

[cornz]

Because you have never had a big capacitor blow up in your face before.

[beardy]

ROFL!!

[zatchy21]

any ideas on how to make a driver small enough to fit in the minimag case? or at least small enough to fit in your pocket?

[Stillphotog]

Here's my variation on the final looks/mounting. Instead of relying on the reflector, and leaving the connections exposed more or less. First off, I've used the original mag lens as a retaining ring. I cut a hole in it and expanded it out with a file until the laser lens fit through. This allows for a sturdy mount since the diode pins are held against the socket they're plugged into. That means no more twist on /off, so I added a nice kroll tailswitch. Thick rubber cover, and you can press down slightly for momentary, or all the way to lock it on.

[dmhjah]

Looks really good. Thanks for the help. Going to order one today:) Just out of curiousity, did you use a driver for the diode.

[dmhjah]

Where did you get the kroll tailswitch? I looked on their site and couldn't find it but that doesn't mean anything.

[Stillphotog]

Try finding it here...Highly recomended, great service / quality.
http://www.flashlightlens.com/str/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=catshow&ref=accessories

[dmhjah]

Is that a black lens? I know they have some mini-mags that come with extra lens.

[Stillphotog]

That's the stock lens. I scratched it up a bit while cutting the hole for the laser, so I just took either some fine sandpaper, or a scotch-brite pad and sanded both sides of the lens, making it diffused. That way you don't see the empty areas outside of the "can" inside the head. Looks black because not much light is getting inside.

[sukinmaru]

Very nice. YOU could do an instructable

[dmhjah]

So the black screw casing that came with the original diode lens is used again? So I take that I would solder the extensions on to the + and - to the new diode, place the new diode, and then put in the black screw casing?

[456logan]

why do you have to use a driver circuit and what is the negative of not using one???

[yrogerg77]

Wow... construct my own driver? This is getting a little too advanced for me, does anyone know if there is anywhere you can buy a driver for this type of project for pretty cheap? I already broke one laser diode trying to get this thing to work, and I'm not sure how much more money I'm willing to spend. This is a really cool idea for a $20 and under project... but if I'm going to end up spending $50 or so on some home-made novelty item, then no thanks...

[kevkid]

Well the driver construction isn't exactly hard, i mean he basically gives you a Driver circuit schematic so you just have to build it, but the priceing is true, $40 for the diode on the link, thats kind of a lot of money to ask for when you could get dvd burners off new egg for $22. But when your finished with the project it feels good that you have done something constructive

[battaryacid]

This one is REALLY cheap, probably not very good, but I'm going to try it. http://www.o-like.com/b2b_cpinfo.asp?id=987 if the link doesn't work then search "2pcs CC power supply driver" on their site.

[battaryacid]

I got my laser with a housing from this site for $27. http://stonetek.org/shop/
I was pleased with the service although shipping was a little slow. They sell a good driver for $20. To me this seems a little steep but its a driver.

You could also get a nice driver for $26 here: http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive.php or their cheaper driver here: http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/LavaDrive1.php

I'm with you on the cost which is why i'm going to try to build this driver: http://fr.truveo.com/DIY-How-To-Make-A-Laser-Diode-Driver-Circuit/id/157974391

Good luck!

[bigern1990]

Hey Kipkay. I plan on using my laser all the time. My friends and I are really into lasers like this. Would I be able to take the laser driver that is in the laser housing I purchased from mfgcn.com and use that as the driver for this diy? If so, that'd be great. If not, are there any "pre-made" drivers online I can use, or is it possible to use a driver from a $1 store laser pen :p Any help is greatly appreciated, if it weren't for your video I wouldn't be doing this in the first place.

[wu977]

can i do it without the axiz house

[LaserRain]

Nope.

[cherno]

how do you install the laser diode into the laser housing? do you just put it in and do you have to use the micro chip ?

[Fatherdaughterscienceteam]

Hello, I am new to electronics, How does the reflector assist in makeing things burn or is the mag light just a way of housing the laser. The reason I ask as I put the laser in the axiz housing and focused the light but it does not burn anything. What is wrong.

[berryman13]

Well, just my luck, when trying to clean my lense, it fell into the sink, so now i need to buy a new laser and open it up to get the lense. Also, when putting the AixiZ + Diode into the fashlight, the negative pin fell out! So, what I did was put tape over the hole, stuck the pin in, put the diode with the posotive pin attatched to it in the other hole, wrapped tape around it, and now all i need to do is squeeze gently the sides if the AixiZ housing. When I use it, though, it is more of a red flashlight. There is a wide light where i point it but there is no laser beam. Do you think this is because i have no lense? Please help me solve this problem!

[edwards2307]

The problem is there is no lens or the lens is screwed on too tight. The top of the AixiZ case adjusts the fine point. When I turn mine all the way to the right, it looks like a wide bar. As I loosen it, it fines into a point. Hope this helps!

[gustavorocha8220]

TRY GOOGLING ON EBAY FOR LASER DIODE LENSE AND OR 10.5 MM YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A BARE LENSE AND ITS THREADED HOLDER ( AS YOU FOUND THEY ARE GLUED TOGETHER WELL HOPEFULLY)FOR 3-6 BUCKS PLUS SHIPPING

[gustavorocha8220]

LASER DIODES ARE NOT LIKE GAS LASER BEAMS THAT HAVE A NICE TIGHT LASER BEAM WELL THAT DEPENDS ON MIRRORS AND THINGS BUT A LASER DIORE HAS A RECTANGULAR LIGHT OUTPUT LIKE 8 BY 30 DEGREES OR SO SO THE BEST TIGHT LASER BEAM IS OBTAINED BY AT LEAST ONE AND TWO BACK TO BACK LENSE DO EVEN BETTER TO FOCUS THIS CONICAL SHAPED NON FOCUSED LIGHT INTO A NICE TIGHT BEAM GLASS LENSES DO THE BEST PERFORMANCE WISE BUT COST MORE AND ARE HARDER TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED AT THE VERY LEAST IS THE 10.5 MM TUBE TO HOUSE HOLD AND COOL THE LASER DIODE IT HAS A THREADED HOLE AT THE END AND AFTER YOU PUSH THE DIODE FLUSH WITH THE NON THREADED END YOU THEN TAKE YOUR PLASTIC OR PREFERABBLY GLASS LENS AND THREAD IT IT THE FRONT END UNTIL YOU GET A NICE TIGHT LASER BEAM GLASS LENSES DO CIRCLES AROUND PLASTIC ONES BUT YOU WILL PAY MORE FOR THEN SEARCH EBAY USING KEYWORDS 10.5MM YOU WILL GET HITS ON SUPPLIERS OF THE TUBES BARE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GUT OUT BUT ARE READY FOR ROCK AND ROLL AS IS OF COURSE WITH THE COLLIMATING LENSE INSTALLED IN FRONT END

[p3ndulum]

CAPSLOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL PEOPLE

[1029384756]

(removed by author or community request)

[crncsn]

You absolutely, positively need the lens. I found that I had to pick what focal length I wanted, and chose about 6 feet. You slowly screw or unscrew the lens until the beam forms a nice tight dot. At that length it will pop balloons and burn electrical tape. I did notice that the diode & housing do seem to be a little wobbly in the housing, so I too used a little electrical tape to hold the works steady (even though my soldered pins were soldered tight). I would also definitely recommend goggles. I was surprised to see how bright (uncomfortably so) it is the one time I briefly fired it at a non-reflective surface without goggles. I would also recommend storing the unit without batteries and affixing warning labels to the maglite housing as an added safety measure.