I'm going to turn my flashlight into a laser

[DaJe]

So after seeing that thread about turning a flashlight into a laser, and realising that I have that exact flashlight, I figure I'll take it on myself

First I would like to say

Do not attempt this yourself. Lasers can be very dangerous, especially when your expose your eyes to an intense beam of light such as that. I do no advise you ever point a laser at yourself, another person, or any animal. Neither I nor The Best Case Scenario accept any responabilities for any injuries or damages which may come from your emulation of this project.



I don't have all the materials with me yet, but I do have all the right tools. The flashlight I'll be using will be the same one from that video, a mini maglite. What I'll be doing is basically removing the laser from a DVD burner, and installing it in the maglite, in replace of the light already in it. The burner I will be using is a Samsung 18x lightscribe dvd burner. I do have an older burner that I wouldn't really care if it got ripped apart, but it's a slower speed, and the one I'm going to use only cost $30, and I wasn't using it anyway (I gave it to my brother).

So, let's move on to what I've been doing so far



These are all thumbnails, so click them to see the full image


Here's the burner itself

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1890thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1890.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1892thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1892.JPG)




So I started by unscrewing the only 4 visible screws, and took the bottom off of the drive.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1893thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1893.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1894thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1894.JPG)




Then there was this thing in the way

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1895thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1895.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1896thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1896.JPG)




So I removed it

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1897thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1897.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1899thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1899.JPG)




So then I'm left with this, and not much to do

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1900thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1900.JPG)




That's because the laser is here, and I can't get to it because the drive is upside down.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1901thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1901.JPG)




So I had to hook up that board that I took out, so I could plug the drive in and pop open the tray to remove the front cover so I could take off the plate on the other side.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1902thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1902.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1903thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1903.JPG)




So now I finally get a look into the right side of this thing.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1904thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1904.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1906thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1906.JPG)




And here's the laser. I thought there would be more than one, so maybe there's another one hiden somewhere.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1907thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1907.JPG) http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1909thumb.jpg (http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1909.JPG)




So I guess my next step is to remove the laser. I think before that though, I'll go buy the right housing for it. Should be like $12. Maybe I'll pick up some special protective glasses for red lasers as well. I forget where I saw them before though. They're a gret thing to have when working with things like this.

[Indybird]

Yay, somebody's doing this! I watched the video yesterday, and am definitely thinking about doing this.

Please make your, worklog detailed, so I can use it as instructions since the video went at a million words/steps per minute.

Thanks,
Indybird

+rep for doing the mod!

[DaJe]

Alright, though each drive is probably designed slightly different, as well as the laser.


So anyways, I remove the part with the laser on it.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_18812.JPG




The metal casing around it seems to be either welded or soldered.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_18822.JPG




So I bent it up. And now I see these 3 things on each side of it, which I'm not sure if I should cut or not. They seem to be holding it in place, but it also seems to be within a magnet, which keeps it up.

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_18832.JPG

http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_18842.JPG





Actually, it appears that what I'm looking at may simply be a lens, and the laser diode itself might be below it.


And now upon further investigation, it appears that theres a reflector or a series of reflectors, and possibly multiple diodes. Looks similar to when I took apart a laser mouse. Tomorrow I'll post more pictures and disect it more. I still haven't reached the actual laser itself. Maybe some careful Dremel work would make it easier. But for now, I have to sleep, because I have to go to Boston in the morning.

[AJ@PR]

This is looking rellly, relly good so far!
:up: :up: on your Log!

[.Maleficus.]

To take out the little screws around the laser, you'll need a #0 philips head screw driver. You could Dremel it, but it's pretty likely you'll eff up the laser.

I still haven't had time to test the lasers I have... And I need to buy one of those laser housings...

[DaJe]

I'm trying to figure out where the actual laser I want is. It appears that there may be three laser diodes.


http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_1885cropped.jpg




There's a whole bunch of lenses and relectors in there. Looks like at the very bottom middle, there may be a diode, which goes through the lens above, to the middle reflector, and into the main refractor which is the top middle piece. Any laser used would go through that to divert it's direction to straight up. And then there might be a diode on the very left. It goes through a lens, then through a block, and then into the middle reflector. And finaally there's the one next to that, which goes through the same block. It goes through a lens, into the block where I assume there is a refractor, sent over to the reflector, and then to the final refractor. It's a bitch to get to these things. Screws aren't the only thing holding it all in place. And now i have the possibility of there being 3 lasers, and having to figure out which one I need.

[Scotty]

Interesting, never as easy as the video's make out...

As it's a litescribe drive i would assume there is going to be atleast 2 lasers, one more powerful than the other as it etches the disk.

[NocturnaL]

Haha this is going to be awesome. What will you do with the laser is my question?

[goofazoid]

Interesting, never as easy as the video's make out...

As it's a litescribe drive i would assume there is going to be atleast 2 lasers, one more powerful than the other as it etches the disk.

I thought that the Lightscribe used the same laser, and thats why you have to turn the disc over...

[.Maleficus.]

Haha this is going to be awesome. What will you do with the laser is my question?
If you look in the Technology Talk forum, AJ posted a link to a video that turns a flashlight into a burning laser. It can pop balloons, light matches...

That would be fun to take to a party. Someone's standing right next to a balloon, and BAM! pops in their face. Or relight the candles after they blow them out :D

[D1337]

or burning ants.
deadly laser that causes blindness > magnifying glass and sun

[Scotty]

or burning ants.
deadly laser that causes blindness > magnifying glass and sun


That would be the best idea. Eva.

[NocturnaL]

If you look in the Technology Talk forum, AJ posted a link to a video that turns a flashlight into a burning laser. It can pop balloons, light matches...

That would be fun to take to a party. Someone's standing right next to a balloon, and BAM! pops in their face. Or relight the candles after they blow them out :D

I didn't think that video with the balloons was real, but I guess it was. And taking a laser to a party that involves drinking could turn out to be a reallly bad idea hahaha. "Hey pass me that -Ahhhh my eyes are melting!"... Just a thought

[xRyokenx]

It would be fun for pranks so long as you're really ****ing careful with it. Or to not use when anyone else (that could be stupid, which is a lot of people) around... if I make one, nobody's gonna know about it... maybe a specific couple, but they won't know where I put it. Would be fun for if there's nothing better to do around the house... besides destroy stuff, lol.

[D1337]

I didn't think that video with the balloons was real, but I guess it was. And taking a laser to a party that involves drinking could turn out to be a reallly bad idea hahaha. "Hey pass me that -Ahhhh my eyes are melting!"... Just a thought


melt holes in plastic cups so that it "accidentally" leaks on girls who are wearing white t-shirts... hmmm endless possibilities

[Ouch!]

I have been toying with the idea of incorporating a laser display into the new Interoctior mod.....With 2 small electric motors and 2 small mirors you can make the old laser spirograph effect. I will be using a cheap laser pointer for the source of my beam.....I'll be checking back here with interest

Ouch!

[DaJe]

I didn't think that video with the balloons was real, but I guess it was. And taking a laser to a party that involves drinking could turn out to be a reallly bad idea hahaha. "Hey pass me that -Ahhhh my eyes are melting!"... Just a thought

Why wouldn't it be real? You can buy lasers that are more powerful than this one that can burn through much more than balloons. Bu anyways, I didn't sleep for an entire night, went to Boston for the day, and slept for 13 hours, now I'm back. So time for me to get back to work on this.

[DaJe]

Alright, so I pulled out 3 things which have the possibility of being what I want. The only problem is that none of them look like the laser diodes I've seen.


http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_2304.JPG









http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_2305.JPG http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_2306.JPG









http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_2307.JPG









http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_2308.JPG http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/DSC_2309.JPG






So, where do I go from here? None of them even have lenses on them (they each had lenses, but the lesnes were seperate).

[Ouch!]

Stick 3volts across the contacts and see if any of them "lase"
I thought you had instructions?
Have you just ruined a DVD-RW for nothing?

Ouch!

[DaJe]

It wasn't for nothing. What I need is in there. I just have no idea what to look for though. There is at least one working laser in here.

[Scotty]

Put some voltage across the pins on the ones that have pins, see if anything gives you something.

[DaJe]

What do you think I should use to do that? Should I rig up some wires to a battery? Or maybe use a molex?

[calumc]

that video said 2 AA batteries didnt it?

[DaJe]

The two batteries go into the flashlight to power the final thing. This is just for me to test them out.

[AJ@PR]

The two batteries go into the flashlight to power the final thing. This is just for me to test them out.

Just rig up the two batteries for you to test them out. :)

[DaJe]

It would help if I had some pins to solder to them. I was looking for some paperclips to cut up and use. I found a stapler and took out some staples, but now I don't know where they went.

[DaJe]

I opened up the other drive, without destroying it, and I see two things in it that look exactly like what I need. So I guess I ruined the first one. It does have laser in it, but they don't seem to be the right kind.



Alright, so now I decided to go to the other drive and take it apart. I found the laser diode, and tested it out, and it does work. I now ordered the laser housing. So now I'll just have to wait until I have that.

[.Maleficus.]

Hey DaJe, I just found the laser I need. To test it, I used a battery holder from Radio Shack. They only had them for 4 AA batteries, so I gave it 6 volts, but it worked. Be careful though; me and my dad found that after 10 seconds of power, it was hot enough to give him a slight burn. We tried lighting a match, but I think the top lens part of the flashlight is needed for that, because all the laser did was get VERY hot.

[DaJe]

We really need a thumbnail mod on here. This is only 10% of the orignal picture. Anyways, to test it out, I put two staples into the flashlight, and then touched two of the laser's pins to it.


http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/computer/mod/laser/lasertest.jpg

[.Maleficus.]

Imageshack thumbs all pictures you post.

How'd the test go? Find which pins it is?

[NocturnaL]

This should be a fun mod to follow :), I love the close ups btw, what camera do you got?

[DaJe]

Yes, it works, and I know which pins to use. My camera is a Nikon D40 digital SLR. Though these pictures aren't good examples of it's quality. I'm going to buy a macro lens for it soon.

[Ouch!]

I think some of the lasers used in DVD drives are infra red and you can't see the light with the human eye......I might be wrong, but I think you sould try the 3volts from a couple of batteries and see if you can get the ones working that you removed from the first drive.
Experiment! It's the only way to find out.

Ouch!

[DaJe]

I haven't been able to get any of them to light up, even though I know at least one of them will be bright and red.



UPDATE: I just got one of the things from the first drive to light up! But I may have also broken one of them. but still, I got one to light it, and it was bright, and it was red.

[crenn]

Use a camera to look at them, although don't point the LD directly into the lense unless you like cripsy cameras!

But the camera should pick up something white if it's in the IR band.

[DaJe]

The laser from the originl drive, that i just manegd to get to light up. Wel, now it lights up, but it's hardly as bright. Anyone have an idea as to why this might have happened?

[calumc]

id say you put too much power through it and burned it out a bit

[DaJe]

Well I only put as much power into it as it would've recieved in normal use in my flashlight. So I guess I'll just use the other diode.

[.Maleficus.]

id say you put too much power through it and burned it out a bit
I put 6V through mine and nothing happend :/

[Drew]

Cracking log.

Dangerous?

Who cares. +rep for not caring about damaging yourself in the pursuit of knowledge.

[DaJe]

What I want to do, is get like a ton of small lithium ion batteries, and put them in the flashlight in place of the AAs, and use that to boost up the power.

[Helix666]

Careful, Laser diodes don't like over-voltage. Even slightly too much power and they're dead.
Not good. :(

[DaJe]

I've caused sparking and smoking multiple times on this diode, with no damage yet ^_^

[Spawn-Inc]

this might be a bit late but i wonder what kinda laser pen/pointer a blueray or HD DVD burner would make...

[Scotty]

Blue one.

[ownaginatious]

I decided to do this to with a DVD Burner I recovered form a flood. Surprisingly I removed the laser, and it still works! I was wondering though, do I really need to get this weird laser housing that was in the video? That one looks really expensive on ebay at like $30! Or can I use the one from the laser pointer shown below. They seem to sell the one below almost everywhere, and I think I have like a million of them :p

http://www.scitoyscatalog.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/small_5_head_laser_pointer.jpg

[DaJe]

I bought the one from the video for $12, and the shipping is included in that price.

[.Maleficus.]

I went to Radio Shack and bought a LED holder. Fits great inside, I'm just going to put a little glue around it to secure it nice, and it cost me $2 for 2 of them.

[ownaginatious]

Would this LED housing work instead, rather than the AixiZ thingy?

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=Lamps_LEDs&product=2760080

[.Maleficus.]

Would this LED housing work instead, rather than the AixiZ thingy?

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=Lamps_LEDs&product=2760080
Yes it will (with a little modification), that's what I'm using. You'll have to tinker with it a bit to make it work, but it will do fine otherwise.

[ownaginatious]

Yes it will (with a little modification), that's what I'm using. You'll have to tinker with it a bit to make it work, but it will do fine otherwise.

In what way would one have to tinker with it? :p

[.Maleficus.]

In what way would one have to tinker with it? :p
That's for me to know and you to find out ;).

Let's just say you'll need to glue it in place, solder some longer leads, and make it fit into the flashlight.

[DaJe]

Took a bit for the piece I ordered to arrive, but it's finally here now, so I'll finish up this worklog soon. I'll have to use my Dremel and cut throguh some steel to free the laser diode that I'm going to use. I guess they don't expect you to remove it when they're make the drive >_>

[DaJe]

My brother seems to have misplaced the most important part to this project. I had the old diode out, the new diode in, and the pins soldered to it. He randomly picked it up and now I have no idea where it is. Until I can find it, I can't complete this. I can still post the pictures I took up until now though.

[MaxOC]

hey im planning on doing this too, so if you coudl point me to the housing.......
ive seen some led housing at radioshack, i even have a few, will these work? or will they melt or somethign to that effect.
i have a broken dvd drive around here somewhere, idk how its broken, its jsut not reading cds, only dvds, so i think the diode will still do the job well

[The boy 4rm oz]

I've seen a movie clip of someone doing this to a mag lite, was that you? the pics look awfully familiar.