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Laser from dead computer

Laser from dead computer
Here’s another neat way to make use of that old computer that has been lying around your house: Turn it into a red burning laser using parts salvaged from the dead computer. The burning laser is powerful enough for you to wear safety goggles.


The components you need to salvage are: the power supply, DVD Burner (16x speed or more), and the heatsink. The DVD Burner provides the laser diode which is housed in the heatsink proofing. The PSU and the right wires are connected to the heatsink and the laser module. That’s it! The heatsink helps to run the laser long enough to burn through things like plastic and ignite matches.
 
 
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Step 1Key Points

Key Points
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31 comments
May 18, 2012. 9:23 PMpanchavanparivendhan says:
do'nt feel bad on hearing this and i'm sorry if my comment upsetted you.........your video was not at all working and it would stop automatically when it reached that part when u wud take that dvd burner out of the cpu and then it wo'nt buffer any more..........can u please post me the video (not the link) to my mail id-panchavanparivendhan123@gmail.com..........thank u all,,,,,,,,,,thank u
Aug 23, 2011. 8:46 AMlstani i says:
is a plastic lens going to melt?
Feb 2, 2012. 4:06 PMslaserj says:
The plastic lens will not melt because the plastic is clear. The lens will not absorb the light and therefore will not melt. The same is true for white materials and other light colors. These lasers will only burn dark colored objects because they absorb the light. If anyone wands to explain this in more "scientific" detail, please do.
Sep 22, 2011. 4:22 AMrahul7878 says:
i trying to makin lader nut not workin plz help
Sep 22, 2011. 4:21 AMrahul7878 says:
i trying to makin lader nut not workin plz help
Aug 24, 2011. 11:13 PMk_m4n says:
i think so becous in the video you see it burn plastic and tape
Jan 7, 2012. 5:02 PMatlas n pbody says:
are axis mods requerd
Dec 5, 2011. 5:31 PMDavidt95 says:
hey could u light a firework fuse with that laser
Nov 21, 2011. 4:41 PMwerdna223 says:
does anybody know if a 5mW diode now can be turned into this( limited through resistor power so not full power 5mW
Nov 21, 2011. 4:40 PMwerdna223 says:
no you cant use a Magnavox, i tried and forund it has a wrong diode it is more advanced
Nov 17, 2011. 7:36 AMsvens55 says:
is a aixiz a lens or not ?
Oct 26, 2011. 8:19 AMdforgacs says:
(removed by author or community request)
Oct 9, 2011. 2:45 AMmondeluz says:
can someone tell me what these powerful lasers are for?
Jul 23, 2011. 4:24 PMfjr. says:
can you use the Magnavox DVD player
Sep 22, 2011. 4:24 AMrahul7878 says:
i trying to makin lader nut not workin plz help
Aug 5, 2011. 8:12 AMneung.n80 says:
good
Jun 20, 2011. 9:25 AMsniper shot says:
wow,its a lot like the thermal discouragement beam from portal 2
Jun 6, 2011. 4:23 AMmondeluz says:
a better way how to get laser diode from dvd burner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHFu7uJnpU
Apr 6, 2011. 1:36 PMDamondog says:
Can you use a cd burner instead of a dvd?
Apr 23, 2011. 2:01 PMWolfhunter9154 says:
A cd burner will only have a weak Infrared diode, so no.
May 21, 2011. 9:58 PMwi-fi astronomer says:
An IR laser will be useful if hooked to a remote or a TV B-Gone. Aim it at the target apartment and you can turn off the TV set from a hundred metres away at least.

In any case, to aim a laser good, within the beam spread, you need a suitable mounting. A good method is a T shape tripod with two pieces of steel with 2 screws on the "horizontal" part of the "T" and a nut (like quarter-20)sandwiched between two T shape metal pieces. The third screw screws into that nut with a washer screwed to make a knob.

This type of mounting makes for a mounting similar to a Civil War cannon. The laser diode serves as the cannon. You aim horizontally then do the knob for the vertical. You can put the dot accurately across a footie field with this type of mounting.

With an IR laser element, you will want a camera to see the dot as you aim it at the window, then you align it to get the signal from a TV B-Gone to fire.
Apr 24, 2011. 12:13 PMAntikythera says:
How many mW is this?
Apr 13, 2011. 7:02 PMdrummerboy223 says:
Hey when you cut the wire connectors, how many green did you have? i ended up with a TON of black and ONE green wire. and im supposed to tie the together? black on green? then the rest of the black on black? im so lost.
Mar 29, 2011. 11:09 AMKronikle88 says:
Im looking into making one of these, what kind of 3ohm resistor did you use?
Mar 20, 2011. 9:06 AM3zuli says:
copy'n'paste from styropyro! [flaged]
Mar 25, 2011. 2:32 PMdombeef says:
Agreed!
Mar 18, 2011. 4:34 PMdog digger says:
Thats a screenshot. Click on the little 'i' in the top right an look on the page title
Mar 18, 2011. 7:49 AMkbarbolina says:
is this even your tutorial?
you just copied it from styropyro! (if your not him)
Mar 17, 2011. 3:26 PMjoeismydad says:
you copied this from styropyro didnt you
Mar 13, 2011. 7:06 PMzazenergy says:
Thanks for sharing this -- would love if you posted the video here when you can!

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Author:smashbob
love the outdoors, technology, reading, drawing, and much more.