Introduction: Salvage a Laser Diode From a Cd Driver

If you are new to lasers let me explain what a laser diode is.

A laser diode is like an led but the light is more concentrated and a laser diode needs a drive
To light up or else you can blow it up.

If you hack a driver and salvage the two diodes out of it it will contain a collored laser and a infrared (non vissible) laser

KEEP IN MIND THAT LASERS CAN DAMAGE YOUR EYES SO DON'T LOOK STRAITH INTO THE BEAM AND WEAR PROTECTIVE GLASSES!!

Step 1: Step 1

Let's remove the screws from the outside and pry the case apart!

Step 2: Step 2

Now let's get the circuit boards off.
first detached the ribbon cables and pull back the circuit boards.
if necessary remove the screws on the board.

Step 3: Step 3

When your done with that pull out the disc loader and remove the screws underneath it.
when your done with that get the hole assembly out

Step 4: Step 4

in that assembly are two diodes: a red one (or a different color) and a infrared one (invisible for the eye)
the eye or lens you are seeing next to the motor is not a laser diode as many think.
if you removed the screws and it still doesn't come off you need to carefully pry it off.
and when your done with that you have yourself some laser diodes! congratulations!

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