Pocket-Sized Do-it-all multi-tool Shiny Light (aka Laser)

Step 2 Obtaining a Free Laser Diode

It is actually very simple to obtain a free Laser Diode that could be sold for more than $250! These diodes range from around 100 to 300 mW in power, and emit light at 650-660 nm (red). Please note that this much power can INSTANTLY blind you if you don't know what you are doing. But if you finish reading this Instructable, you will be fine.

So to explain a free diode (without stealing it!), search Google Maps for a local PC Repair Shop. When a tech repairs a computer with a DVD burner and finds that the DVD burner has problems, he/she will usually replace the burner and then throw it out. Many people do not know that DVD burners use laser diodes... to... well... burn! So if you go to a local PC Repair Shop and ask nicely, you can probably get 5 or 6 DVD Burners for free!

But now you must learn how to extract the diode. This step isn't very hard, and is fortunately quite forgiving if you make a mistake.
STEPS:

• Open the DVD Burner.
• Pull out the tray
• Remove the laser tray
• Unscrew everything on the tray and cut away anything made of plastic
• See the image below to identify the diode
• Extract the diode and cut the heatsink away.

(I used pictures from other websites on this step because I'm bad at taking macro pictures :) )

Comments

[Nicola Tesla]

i heard that they are invisible

[555mst555]

only 808nm lasers.....a.k.a. infra red laserd

[covey12]

lol, no the radiation is invisible, obviously becuase you cant see radiation

[LVLaserTech]

Actually, radiation is all you can see.

What we humans call "light" is merely a teensy, tiny slice of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the rods and cones in our eyes respond. We only "see" wavelengths from about 400-700 nanometers.

"Light" is merely the term we give to visible radiation, but the public immediately thinks "radiation = bad" because of nuclear power and X-ray machines, etc. The (greatly simplified) main differences between "good" and "bad" radiation is the energy and frequency. X-ray and gamma radiation go fast enough to knock out bits of your DNA.

That's also why your microwave can't cause cancer, but they do an excellent job of vibrating water molecules....or transmitting your voice via a cordless telephone! Check the frequency on your cordless phone, then check the frequency of your kitchen microwave! If you're using a 2.4GHz phone, they're very, very similar. Every time you answer the phone, you're putting a microwave radiation transmission source RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR BRAIN!

Ironic footnote: One of the largest laser manufacturers in the world is Coherent from California. Their original name was "Coherent Radiation" because that's exactly what a laser is. They dropped "radiation" from their name because "radiation is bad" to the unwashed masses.

[DrPizza777]

Actually, it is actually bad for you if the Radio Frequency (RF) Radiation gets to your senses, particularly eyes and ears. That is why the signal is only sent and recieved from the back of your cell phone. if it trancieved everywhere, the radiation would cause some problems. The microwave does use some power, but it has a small frequency. it would evaperate the water in you, leaving ash. if the current was high enough.

[PsyWasabi]

Lets just point that you are not literally "cooking" your brain... A kitchen microwave is far more powerful, in question of energy... .. Sorry for the bad English, I am a Brazilian, and i still have some grammatical errors in my writings... :)

[Owzcarde]

now THAT was an explenation.

[smeddles]

amen to that!

[Briguy9]

I third that

[raykholo]

and i quarter it... i quadruple it? idk lol

[3DMHuff]

That would be fourth. I'm fifth. The person after me could be sixth if they agree. If not, it would be the one after them, if they agree. That is, if my math is right.

[Rheylar]

There's a dvd burner diode and a dvd reader diode.. I took me 3 dvd drives to finally get one that matched the round diode that you see in these pages here. I ended up with 2 sets of diodes, both diodes light up but one gets very hot and not very bright with the standard 3 volts you test with. the other is bright but still not sure which is which, and both sets are square, not round.. I don't know what to do.. I can take pics but don't know who would help me.

[Madrias357]

The one that gets hot, but not bright, is an Infrared diode. Don't point it at your eyes as it'll only take less than a second to leave you a nice blind spot.

[computer_guy]

Can you use a dvd player?

[Sparrowhawk]

Yes but you'll get a more powerful laser from a burner.