Introduction: 7 Colour Laser Optics
Using inexpensive and easy to get parts, build a 7 colour, including of course white, hand held laser.
The following parts will be enough to build a bare, 7 selectable colour laser, it is up to you to make the housing of your choice. This could easily be built into a project box but I wanted a hand held pointer. Video link below shows what I decided to do with it.
Basic parts list
2 off Aixiz modules *
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5914
1 off Standstone11 5mw green module
http://www.o-like.com/b2b_cpinfo.asp?id=839
1 off SenKat red laser diode (fit into Aixiz module)*
http://stonetek.org/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65&zenid=1fbee4eaf3f879a42b204d666a1760bc
1 off PHR 803T sled (fit Blu ray LD into Aixiz module)*
Look at group buys on laserpointerforums.com
1 off PS3 sled
Look at group buys on laserpointerforums.com
1 off Non working DX 5mw green module
- you could avoid having to fit the laser diodes by buying them from http://hightechdealz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12
3 off Lathe turned adaptors
If you have a lathe no problem if not & you need to improvise.
1 off Rkcstr drive' low range (for the blu ray)
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206947255
1 off Rkcstr drive' high range (for the red)
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206947255
3 off RCR123A rechargeable batteries
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11386
3 push buttons, one for each colour.
If you have no experience of mounting laser diodes and drivers into modules there are usually some ready assembled ones for sale in buy,sell and trade here. http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?board=b_bst
Or by buying them from http://hightechdealz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12
Step 1: Modding the PS3 Sled01
You will need to remove all of the optics EXCEPT the 2 splitter cubes
And the turning mirror (remove all the bits marked in red)
Step 2: Modding the PS3 Sled02
The three holes circled in red below need to be drilled out to 5.0mm dia.
Saw the beam splitter section off, cut along the green line.
Cut out the turning mirror holder marked in purple.
It is best to put the small cover plate back on over the beam splitters to keep them clean (not shown).
Step 3: Adaptors for Aixiz Modules
The modules need to be the type with the removable chrome bezel on the lens nut!
To keep the optics straight the module needs to be attached to the cut down sled using the bezel, brass adaptors need to be made that are 5mm at one end and the size of the hole in the bezel the other with a larger diameter in between. Once the adaptors are made the front face of the bezel needs to be sanded to remove the chrome plating so that the parts can be soldered together.
Step 4: Blu Ray Module
When you assemble the modules the bezel needs to be screwed tight up to the front half of the module (metal to metal, no plastic lens nut showing) at exactly the focus point, this is quite easy for the blue, it is just a case of getting the lens the right distance into the bezel.
Step 5: Red Module
The red will need a thin washer to take up the gap, I used a ring of solder squashed to the right thickness in a vice to get it right.
Step 6: Adaptor for Green Module
The best green module for the job is the type sold by standstone11 (Susie)linked above, it has a large internal thread at the front, the main part of the adaptor is made from the back part of a DX green module which, amazingly, has the same thread!
Another small brass sleeve needs to be machined up to fit as shown.
Step 7: Green Module
Again the adaptor needs to be screwed tightly to the green module to keep things in line, this is easy for the green as the focus is already set.
Step 8: Trial Assembly
First trial assembly
Once the modules are complete, drivers have been set up with power supplies and switches you can push everything together to get an idea of how close the optics are to pointing in the right direction.
If you clamp the sled part so that it does not move you can insert the laser modules as shown (red is shown without the back cover) and power them up, you should be able to combine the beams at a distance to make a white beam.
Make sure you do not have to force the modules in any direction to do this. Once you are happy with the set up you can glue the modules in place, one at a time, using slow setting 2 part epoxy.
This slow setting glue avoids the worry that it will set before you are happy with the modules alignment.
Step 9: Beyond This Instructable
The above gets you to the stage where you have a 7 colour laser, how you mount it......
Step 10: ...into the Future
...and what you add to it is up to you.
Regards rog8811
114 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Sorry for all the questions, but was wondering what resistance the potentiometer for the spiro had? Also, where did you obtain the acrylic fs mirrors?
On my quest through dealextreme for these lasers, my shipment was a tad slow, so I issued a missing parts message (it had been a few weeks at least), and ended up with a free extra red diode and new wish green diode when the original ones ended up arriving the same day as the "replacements".
Quite a deal I'd say
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Two more (sorry, I just keep running into things): What did you do about the buttons on the green modules to bypass them, just solder wires directly to it? Lastly, if I'm building your driver for the red and bluray, would it cause any problems if i were to have them share the same ground? I wouldn't expect it to matter, but I don't want to kill any diodes ^^;
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
The blu ray and red can share the same power supply, the green needs to be kept separate as it is pos earth,
I remove the push button and solder a link to replace it.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Ok, so no problem there, thanks again.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Acrylic mirror from ebay.
Pot, I just found one that worked....100 ohm I think it was.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
okay thanks. Alright, I had done a mini spiro earlier on, like a few weeks ago, and 100Ω pots seemed to work well
11 years ago on Step 10
How did you manage to get a set of mirrors in that handheld flashlight-sized body? Or is it a secret? >3>;
Reply 11 years ago on Step 10
No secret, just trial and error.
It was not the first 2 mirror setup I had done so I had a head start on it.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Okay, and if I am assuming right, the closer you have the mirrors to each other, the smaller they will have to be, seeing as the laser's path's radius doesn't spread as far, right?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Yes the mirrors are close together but need to be placed so that the first one doesn't get in the way of the reflected path from the second mirror, there is no formula for this, just suck it and see
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Yeah, sounds fine, arranging them in a way they don't block it shouldnt be too bad
11 years ago on Introduction
Quick questions:
How many laser diodes are necessary, you say 2 red aixiz modules, 1 working green module (link is outdated), one broken green (why do we need this?), both a PS3 sled as well as PHR 803T sled (again, why is this?), a SenKat red laser diode (why do we need to put this in an aixiz if we have two others?)?
Sorry about that, but I'm not quite sure what aixiz modules and what lasers we really need, the wording on the parts list is a tad difficult to understand.
Also, what are the Rkcstr drives for, are they the only drives that can be used, and why is there not one for the green diode?
Many thanks, this parts list is my birthday gift this year, so I can make this project~
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
How many laser diodes are necessary
One bluray, one red
you say 2 red aixiz modules
one foir the bluray one for the senkat red,
1 working green module, one broken green (why do we need this?),
Broken green for the part that joins the working laser to the sled assembly.
both a PS3 sled as well as PHR 803T sled
I needed parts from both to make it work
As to the rest of your questions, could I suggest that you visit laser pointer forums to see more up to date information? This laser was the very first 7 colour laser, many more have been built since and there is a lot of more up to date info on that site than I can give you.
Good luck!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Ahh, okay. I have the bluray in an aixiz premade, and this red module, would the red that comes in it be fine?
If I read right on your site, you needed the mirror from the ps3 sled and the body of the other, as it was smaller, right?
Thanks for the answers, I figured out the others in the meantime, so now I have a better understanding ^.^
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
(also, for the sled setup, I'm referring to this arrangement)
13 years ago on Introduction
how many mW are the purple and red diodes?
14 years ago on Introduction
Does anyone have the schematic for a good driver circuit for a blue/violet laser diode (Model 803T to be exact)? I would be very grateful if someone could send me one, because none of the schematics I've dug up perform up to par. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
What drivers have you looked at? What is it they don't do that you want to do? I have used Rkcstr drives and LM317 drivers and am happy with the result. Regards rog8811
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I've looked at an LM317 driver on Kipkay's 007 Weapon project, but someone said it would only allow the diode to last for a few hours. So I was hoping that someone would have had experience with one that would allow for longer life that I would be able to use, seeing as it would have been tried and tested. I just though if someone else has already done the research, and had the experiences, why not ask for advice? They wouldn't give it if it were an inconvenience to them. Also, I have an entire assembly, and it contains 2 laser diodes. One appears to have 3 leads, and the other appears to have 4. Which is the blue/violet diode? I'm assuming it would be the diode with 4 leads. If so, which lead is which? They seem to be in a square formation. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
There is no problem using the LM317 circuit as long as it is set up correctly, you will find all you need to know here...
http://www.rog8811.com/laserdriver.htm
Remember that we use these Laser diodes at far more current than they were designed for, a safeish current for a PHR 803T is 100ma.
To help identify your LD go here......
http://www.rog8811.com/laserdiodes.htm