How to make a laser at home. Homemade powerful laser

DIY laser on video

A warning!

Let's find out.

Cooking.

This is the minimum required to make a simple driver model. A driver is, in fact, a board that will output our laser diode to the required power. It is not worth connecting the power source directly to the laser diode - it will fail. The laser diode must be powered with current, not voltage.

A collimator is, in fact, a module with a lens that converges all radiation into a narrow beam. Ready-made collimators can be bought at radio stores. In such, there is already a convenient place for installing a laser diode, and the cost is 200-500 rubles.

A collimator made from a Chinese pointer can also be used, however, the laser diode will be difficult to fix, and the collimator body itself will most likely be made of metallized plastic. This means that our diode will not cool well. But this is also possible. This option can be found at the end of the article.

We do it.

It is recommended to use an antistatic wrist strap as the laser diode is very sensitive to static voltage. If there is no bracelet, then you can wrap the diode leads with a thin wire while it waits for installation in the case.

The diagram shows a 200 mF capacitor, however, 50-100 mF is enough for portability.

Let's try.

Looks awful, but it works!

Aesthetics.

This is an option with minimal costs - a collimator from a Chinese pointer is used:

Using a prefabricated module will yield the following results:

The laser beam is visible in the evening:

And, of course, in the dark:

Perhaps.

You have to remember.

The word "laser" or "laser" is an abbreviation for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." In Russian: - "amplification of light by stimulated emission", or an optical quantum generator. The first laser to use a silver-coated ruby ​​cylinder as a resonator was developed in 1960 by Hughes Research Laboratories, California. Lasers are used today for a variety of purposes, ranging from measuring various quantities to reading encoded data. There are several ways to make a laser, depending on your budget and skills.

Steps

Part 1

A source of energy is required to operate the laser. Lasers work by exciting the electrons in the active medium of a laser with an external energy source and stimulating them to emit light of a specific wavelength. This process was first proposed in 1917 by Albert Einstein. In order for the electrons (in the atoms of the laser active medium) to emit light, they must first absorb energy by moving to a higher orbit, and then release this energy in the form of a particle of light when returning to the original orbit. This method of injecting energy into the active medium of the laser is called "pumping". ”

Channel passage of energy through an active (amplifying) medium. The gain medium or active laser medium increases the light intensity due to the induced (stimulated) radiation emitted by the electrons. The enhancement medium can be any of the following:

Installing mirrors to keep the light inside the laser. Mirrors, or resonators, hold light within the laser's working chamber until the desired level of energy is accumulated to be emitted through a small hole in one of the mirrors or through a lens.

• The simplest resonator or "linear resonator" uses two mirrors located on opposite sides of the laser working chamber to generate one output beam.
• A more complex "ring resonator" uses three or more mirrors. It can generate multiple beams or one beam using an optical isolator.

1. Using a focusing lens to direct light through an amplifying medium. Along with mirrors, the lens helps to concentrate and direct the light so that the gain medium receives as much light as possible.

   Part 2

   Building a Laser

   Method One: Build a Laser from a Kit

   1. Purchase. You can buy at an electronics store or buy online a "laser kit", "laser kit", "laser module" or "laser diode". The laser kit should include the following:

      • Driver circuit. Sometimes sold separately from other components. Choose a driver circuit that will regulate the current.
      • Laser diode.
      • The adjusting lens can be glass or plastic. Typically, the diode and lens are assembled together in a small tube. These components are sometimes sold separately without a driver.

   2. Assembling the driver circuit. Many laser kits are sold with an unassembled driver. These kits include a printed circuit board and associated parts, and you will need to solder them according to the attached diagram. Some kits may have a pre-assembled driver.

      Connect the control box to a laser diode. If you have a digital multimeter, you can plug it into a diode circuit to monitor the current. Most laser diodes have currents ranging from 30 to 250 milliamperes (mA). A current range of 100 to 150 mA will give a fairly powerful beam.

      • It is possible to apply a higher current to the laser diode to obtain a more powerful beam, but the additional current will shorten the life of the diode or even burn it out.

   3. Connect the power supply or battery to the driver circuit. The laser diode should glow brightly.

   4. Focus the laser beam by rotating the lens. Point it at the wall and focus until a nice, bright dot appears.

      • After you have adjusted the lens in this way, place a match on the line of the beam and rotate the lens until you see the match head start to smoke. You can also try popping balloons or burning holes in the paper.

   Method Two: Build a Diode Laser from an Old DVD or Blu-Ray Drive

   1. Get an old DVD or Blu-ray burner or drive. Choose devices with 16x or faster write speeds. These devices have laser diodes with an output power of 150mW or more.

      • The DVD drive has a 650nm red laser diode.
      • The Blu-ray drive has a 405nm blue laser diode.
      • The DVD drive must be in good enough condition to burn discs, although not necessarily successfully. In other words, its diode must be functional.
      • Don't try to use a DVD reader, CD reader and writer instead of DVD writer. The DVD writer has a red diode, but not as powerful as the DVD writer. The laser diode in a CD burner is powerful enough, but emits light in the infrared range, and you get a beam that is not visible to the eye.

   2. Removing the laser diode from the drive. Turn the actuator upside down. You will see screws that will need to be removed before you can separate the drive mechanism and pull out the diode.

      • After you disassemble the drive, you will see a pair of metal rails held in place with screws. They support the laser kit. Unscrew the guides to remove them. Remove the laser kit.
      • The laser diode is smaller than a penny. It has three metal pins in the form of legs. It can be placed in a metal shell with a protective transparent window or without a window, or it may not be closed by anything.
      • You have to pull the diode out of the laser head. It may be easier to remove the heatsink from the assembly first before attempting to remove the diode. If you have an ESD wrist strap, use it while removing the diode.
      • Handle a laser diode with care, especially if it is an unprotected diode. If you have an ESD container, place the diode in it until you start assembling the laser.

   3. Prepare a focusing lens. You will have to pass the beam from the diode through a focusing lens to use it as a laser. You can do this in one of two ways:

      • Using a magnifying glass as a focusing lens. Rotate the lens to find the desired location to obtain the focused laser beam. If necessary, this will have to be done each time before using the laser.
      • Buy a low power laser diode such as 5mW complete with lens and tube. Then replace it with a laser diode from a DVD writer.

In every house there is an old, worn-out technique. Someone throws it into a landfill, and some craftsmen try to use it for some self-made inventions. This is how the old laser pointer can be put to good use - it is possible to make a laser cutter with your own hands.

To make a real laser from a harmless trinket, you need to prepare the following items:

• laser pointer;
• flashlight with rechargeable batteries;
• old, maybe not a working CD / DVD-RW writer. The main thing is that he has a drive with a working laser;
• a set of screwdrivers and a soldering iron. It is better to use a proprietary cutter, but in the absence of a regular cutter, a regular one may also work.

Making a laser cutter

First you need to remove the laser cutter from the drive. This work is not difficult, but you have to be patient and pay maximum attention. Since it contains a large number of wires, they have the same structure. When choosing a drive, it is important to take into account the availability of a writing version, since it is in this model that you can make records with a laser. Recording is performed by evaporation of a thinly applied layer of metal from the disc itself. In the case when the laser works for reading, it is used half-heartedly, illuminating the disc.

When dismantling the upper fasteners, you can find a carriage with a laser located in it, which is able to move in two directions. It should be carefully removed by unscrewing, there are a large number of detachable devices and screws, which are important to carefully remove. For further work, a red diode is required, with the help of which the burning is carried out. To remove it, you will need a soldering iron, and you also need to carefully remove the fasteners. It is important to note that the irreplaceable part for the manufacture of a laser cutter must not be shaken or dropped, therefore, it is recommended to be careful when removing the laser diode.

How the main element of the future laser model will be removed, it is necessary to carefully weigh everything and figure out where to place it and how to connect the power supply to it, since a writing laser diode requires much more current than a diode from a laser pointer, and in this case you can use several ways.

Next, the diode in the pointer is replaced. To create a powerful laser of the pointers, the native diode must be removed and replaced with a similar one from the CD / DVD-RW drive. The pointer is disassembled in accordance with the sequence. It must be untwisted and divided into two parts, on top is the part that needs to be replaced. The old diode is removed and the required diode is installed in its place, which can be fixed with glue. There are times when difficulties may arise when removing the old diode, in this situation you can use a knife and shake the pointer a little.

The next step is to make a new case. So that the future laser can be conveniently used, connect power to it and to give it an impressive look, you can use the body of the flashlight. The converted upper part of the laser pointer is installed into a flashlight and power is supplied to it from rechargeable batteries, which is connected to a diode. It is important not to reverse the polarity of the power supply. Before assembling the flashlight, the glass and parts of the pointer must be removed, since it will be difficult to conduct the direct path of the laser beam.

The final step is preparation for use. Before connecting, check that the laser is firmly attached, that the polarity of the wires is connected correctly, and that the laser is level.

After completing these simple steps, the laser cutter is ready to use. Such a laser can be used to burn paper, polyethylene, and to light matches. The scope can be extensive, everything will depend on the imagination.

Additional points

A more powerful laser can also be made. To make it you will need:

• DVD-RW drive, can be inoperative;
• capacitors 100 pF and 100 mF;
• resistor 2-5 Ohm;
• three rechargeable batteries;
• wires with a soldering iron;
• collimator;
• steel LED flashlight.

This is the simple kit that is completed for assembling the driver, which, with the help of the board, will bring the laser cutter to the required power. The current source cannot be connected directly to the diode, as it will instantly deteriorate. It is also important to take into account that the diode for the laser must be powered by current, but not by voltage.

A collimator is a body equipped with a lens, due to which all rays converge into one narrow beam. Such devices are purchased at radio parts stores. They are convenient in that they already have a place for installing a laser diode, and as for the cost, it is quite small, only 200-500 rubles.

You can, of course, use the body from the pointer, but it will be difficult to attach the laser in it. Such models are made of plastic material, and this will lead to heating of the case, and it will not be cooled enough.

The manufacturing principle is similar to the previous one, since in this case a laser diode from a DVD-RW drive is also used.

Anti-static bracelets must be used during manufacture.

This is necessary to remove static from the laser diode, it is very sensitive. In the absence of bracelets, you can get by with improvised means - you can wind a thin wire around the diode. Next, the driver is assembled.

Before assembling the entire device, the operation of the driver is checked. In this case, it is necessary to connect an inoperative or a second diode and measure the strength of the supplied current with a multimeter. Considering the speed of the current, it is important to select its strength according to the norms. For many models, a current of 300-350 mA is applicable, and for faster models, 500 mA can be applied, but for this a completely different driver must be used.

Of course, such a laser can be assembled by any non-professional technician, but nevertheless, for beauty and convenience, it is most reasonable to build such a device in a more aesthetic case, and which one to use can be chosen for every taste. It will be most practical to assemble it in the body of an LED flashlight, since its dimensions are compact, only 10x4 cm. Still, you do not need to carry such a device in your pocket, since the relevant authorities may make claims. It is best to store such a device in a special case to avoid dusting the lens.

It is important not to forget that the device is a kind of weapon that should be used with caution and should not be pointed at animals and people, as it is very dangerous and can be harmful to health, the most dangerous is directing it to the eyes. It is dangerous to give such devices to children.

The laser can be equipped with various devices, and then a rather powerful sight will come out of a harmless toy for weapons, both pneumatic and firearms.

Here are some simple tips for making a laser cutter. Having slightly improved this design, you can make cutters for cutting acrylic material, plywood and plastic, and make engraving.

Man has learned many technical inventions by observing natural phenomena, analyzing them and applying the knowledge gained in the surrounding reality. So man got the ability to kindle a fire, created a wheel, learned how to generate electricity, and gained control over a nuclear reaction.

Unlike all these inventions, the laser has no analogues in nature. Its origin was associated exclusively with theoretical assumptions within the framework of the nascent quantum physics. The existence of the principle that formed the basis of the laser was predicted at the beginning of the twentieth century by the greatest scientist Albert Einstein.

The word "laser" appeared as a result of the reduction of five words describing the essence of a physical process to the first letters. In the Russian version, this process is called "amplification of light using stimulated radiation."

By the principle of its operation, a laser is a quantum photon generator. The essence of the phenomenon underlying it is that under the action of energy in the form of a photon, an atom emits another photon, which is identical to the first one in the direction of motion, its phase and polarization. As a result, the emitted light is amplified.

This phenomenon is impossible under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium. Various methods are used to create induced radiation: electrical, chemical, gas, and others. Lasers used in the home (laser disc drives, laser printers) use semiconductor method stimulation of radiation by electric current.

The principle of operation consists in passing the air flow through the heater into the hot air gun tube and, having reached the set temperatures, it enters the part to be soldered through special nozzles.

In the event of a malfunction, the welding inverter can be repaired by hand. Repair tips can be read.

In addition, a necessary component of any full-fledged laser is optical resonator, the function of which is to amplify the light beam by its multiple reflection. For this purpose, mirrors are used in laser systems.

It should be said that creating a real powerful laser with your own hands at home is unrealistic. For this, it is necessary to have special knowledge, to carry out complex calculations, to have a good material and technical base.

For example, lasers that can cut metal are extremely hot and require extreme cooling measures, including the use of liquid nitrogen. In addition, devices operating on the basis of the quantum principle are extremely capricious, require the finest tuning and do not tolerate even the slightest deviations from the required parameters.

Required components for assembly

To assemble a laser circuit with your own hands, you will need:

• Rewritable DVD-ROM (RW). Includes a 300 mW red laser diode. You can use laser diodes from BLU-RAY-ROM-RW - they emit violet light with a power of 150 mW. For our purposes, the best ROMs are those with faster write speeds: they are more powerful.
• Pulse NCP1529. The converter produces a current of 1A, stabilizes the voltage in the range of 0.9-3.9 V. These indicators are ideal for our laser diode, which requires a constant voltage of 3 V.
• Collimator for obtaining an even beam of light. Now on sale are numerous laser modules from, including collimators.
• Output lens from ROM.
• Housing, for example, from a laser pointer or flashlight.
• Wires.
• Batteries 3.6 V.

To connect the parts, it will be necessary to determine which cable is phase, and where is zero and ground. A tool like.

In this way, the simplest laser can be assembled. What such a homemade "light amplifier" can do:

• Light a match from a distance.
• Melting plastic bags and tissue paper.
• Emit a beam over a distance of 100 meters.

This laser is hazardous: it will not burn skin or clothing, but may damage your eyes.

Therefore, you need to use such a device carefully: do not shine it into reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass, reflectors) and, in general, be extremely careful - the beam can cause harm if it gets into the eye even from a distance of one hundred meters.

DIY laser on video

Have you decided to do something incredible using simple details? The laser is not considered a novelty in our time, but it is not difficult to make it at home. We will tell you how to make a laser yourself using a drive for reading discs and a regular flashlight.

Attention! The laser power reaches up to 250 MW. Before starting the experiment, take care of your safety and wear safety goggles (welder's goggles). Never point the laser beam at people or animals, especially eyes. A person can be injured with a laser.

In order to make a laser ourselves, we need:

1. DVD burner.
2. AixiZ laser pointer (you can take another one).
3. Screwdriver.
4. Flashlight.

How to find out the power of a laser diode?

1. Speed ​​10X, laser power 170-200 MW.
2. Speed ​​16X, laser power 250-270 MW.

Instruction. How to make a laser?

Step # 2. Having freed the carriage, we proceed to untwisting the screws and parts to release the diode itself. The drive can have two diode lasers:

1. To read a disc (infrared diode).
2. To record a disc (red diode).

There is a board attached to the desired diode (red), use a regular soldering iron to free the diode.

Step # 3. After a short process, we should get the diode in this form.

Many radio amateurs at least once in their lives wanted to make a laser with their own hands. It was once believed that it was possible to collect it only in scientific laboratories. Yes, this is so when it comes to huge laser installations. However, a simpler laser can be assembled, which will also be quite powerful. The idea seems to be very complicated, but in reality it is not difficult at all. In our video article, we'll show you how you can build your own laser at home.

Do-it-yourself powerful laser

It is very important to follow basic safety rules. Firstly, when checking the operation of the device or when it is already completely assembled, in no case should you direct it into the eyes, at other people or animals. Your laser will be so powerful that it can light a match or even a sheet of paper. Secondly, follow our scheme and then your device will work for a long time and efficiently. Third, do not let children play with it. Finally, store the assembled device in a safe place.

To assemble a laser at home, you will not need too much time and components. So, first you need a DVD-RW drive. He can be both working and non-working. It doesn't matter. But it is very important that this is exactly a recording device, and not a regular drive for playing discs. The write speed of the drive must be 16x. It is possible and higher. Next, you need to find a module with a lens, thanks to which the laser can focus at one point. An old Chinese pointer may well work for this. It is best to use an unnecessary steel lantern as the body of the future laser. The "filling" for it will be wires, batteries, resistors and capacitors. Also, do not forget to prepare a soldering iron - assembly will be impossible without it. Now let's see how the laser should be assembled from the components described above.

Diy laser scheme

The first thing to do is to disassemble the DVD drive. Remove the optical part from the drive by disconnecting the ribbon cable. Then you will see a laser diode - it must be carefully removed from the case. Remember that a laser diode is extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations, especially cold. Until you install the diode in the future laser, it is best to rewind the diode leads with a thin wire.

Most often, laser diodes have three leads. The one in the middle gives a minus. And one of the extreme is a plus. You should take two finger batteries and connect to the diode removed from the case using a 5 ohm resistor. In order for the laser to light up, you need to connect the minus of the battery to the middle terminal of the diode, and the plus to one of the extreme. Now you can assemble the laser emitter circuit. By the way, the laser can be powered not only from batteries, but also from a rechargeable battery. This is everyone's business.

You can use an old Chinese pointer so that your device is going to a point when turned on, replacing the laser from the pointer with the one you have assembled. The whole structure can be neatly packed into the case. This way it will look prettier and last longer. An unnecessary steel lantern can serve as a housing. But it can also be almost any capacity. We choose a flashlight not only because it is stronger, but also because it will make your laser look much more presentable.

Thus, you yourself have seen that assembling a sufficiently powerful laser at home does not require deep knowledge of science or prohibitively expensive equipment. Now you can assemble the laser yourself and use it as intended.

Many people know about the possibilities of laser technologies and their benefits. They are used not only in industry, but also in cosmetology, medicine, everyday life, art and other branches of human life. However, not everyone knows how to make a laser at home. But it can be built from scrap materials. This will require a non-working DVD drive, lighter, or flashlight.

Before going home, you need to collect all the necessary items. First of all, you need to disassemble the DVD drive. To do this, unscrew all the screws that hold the top and bottom cover of the device. Next, the main loop is disconnected and the board is unscrewed. The protection of diodes and optics must be cracked. The next step is to remove the diode, which is usually done with pliers. To prevent static electricity from damaging the diode, its legs must be tied with wire. Remove the diode carefully so as not to break the legs.

Further, before making a laser at home, you need to make a driver for the laser, which is represented by a small circuit that regulates the power supply of the diode. The fact is that if the power supply is set incorrectly, then the diode can quickly fail. As a power source, you can use finger batteries or a battery from a mobile phone.

Before making a laser at home, you need to take into account the fact that the burning effect is provided by optics. If it is not there, then the laser will just shine. As optics, you can use a special lens from the same drive from which the diode was taken. To get the focus correctly, you need to use a laser pointer.

In order to build a regular pocket laser, you can use a regular lighter. However, before you can make a laser from a lighter, you need to know the construction technology. The best thing is to purchase a high-quality incendiary element. It needs to be disassembled, but the parts should not be thrown away, since they will still come in handy in the design. If gas remains in the lighter, it must be released. Then the insides must be carved out using a drill with special attachments. Inside the lighter body there is a diode from the drive, several resistors, a switch and a battery. All elements of the lighter must be installed in their places, after which the button that previously lit the flame will turn on the laser.

However, for the construction of the device, you can use not only a lighter, but also a flashlight. Before making a laser from a flashlight, you need to take the laser unit from the CD drive. Basically, the structure of a homemade laser in a flashlight is no different from a laser in a lighter. It is only necessary to take into account the power supply, which almost never exceeds 3 V, and it is also desirable to build an additional voltage stabilizer. It will increase the life It is very important to take into account the polarity of the diode and stabilizer.

All the assembled stuffing must be placed in the body of the disassembled flashlight. Beforehand, not only the inner part, but also the glass is removed from the flashlight. After installing the laser unit, the glass is replaced.