Cheapie red lasers for optical/mechanical parts

[Corona]

Anyone have a recommendation for a commonly available (in the US), low cost red pointer that can used as a basis of modified laser modules?

I'm looking for something that has the following characteristics (in order or importance):

1) Able to disassemble and replace the laser diode relatively easily, without damage; i.e. not potted or cemented

2) Metal laser diode carrier

3) Able to adjust the collimating optics

4) Runs on AAA or AA batteries (no watch batteries)

If it meets #1 and #2, I don't really care about the rest as it would find it's way into some other housing anyway.

Any suggestions or experiences are welcome. Sources and costs too please!

 

[Corona]

NVM - using Aixiz stuff

 

[chuck]

I picked up a <5mw red diode from a "handgun" shaped pointer. Found it at a dollar store.

Cheap enough?

I had only to remove the screws holding together the housing, and it came apart effortlessly. Plastic outer housing with a metal carrier. The optics were integrated into the diode carrier, though...took the whole module out, intact.

-- Chuck Knight

 

[Atomic_Chicken]

Greetings!

I also have found several laser products at dollar stores, bought a few 3xLR44 powered units and the entire stock (about 7 or 8) of a 2-AAA powered unit last month, for $1 each. Check your local dollar stores, you'll probably find a few.

Best wishes,
Bawko

 

[Corona]

Sorry $1 is NOT cheap enough!!

j/k

Good idea, even if I can't get the diode out easily, they have to be good for SOMETHING.

A laser for a dollar! I'm there 😀

 

[Kenom]

Man you guys have great dollar stores. My (singular) dollar store never has that just lots of soap, toothpaste, shampoo, food, and crystal dishes.

 

[SenKat]

Ooooooooooo - crystal dishes ? No home should be without those !

 

[Corona]

Well, you can probably make a dye laser from the shampoo. Toothpaste is good for grinding your own lenses. Soap for temporary mounting of prisms and mirrors, plus for cleaning optics. Crystal dishes are great beam splitters and raw material for those grind-it-yourself optics.

And you need food for sustaining your energy level while grinding broken glass shards mounted in a bar of soap into collimating lenses using toothpaste.

See? EVERYTHING at the dollar store is good for laser work.

 

[Hemlock Mike]

Wweeelll -- Here in Ioway, the dollar stores DON'T carry those little pointers because children were taking them to school. Because the kids have no responsibility (nor their parents), adults can't have them either.
The "At Risk Falacy" at work :-(

Mike

 

[Kenom]

Kind of reminds me of computer rights managment where the user is supposed to have the control not the computer. computer: "are ya sure you wanna do that?" You: "why yes I do!"
Computer: silently ignores your response.

 

[Kenom]

Oh and don't buy the laser pointer at Target for parts. It's too cheap and can't be pulled apart that I could see.

 

[luvlasers]

Man you guys have great dollar stores. My (singular) dollar store never has that just lots of soap, toothpaste, shampoo, food, and crystal dishes.

Gulp crystal dishes for a $1 Do you reckon you can manage a group buy???

You better head down there right now before the store manager realizes their giving them away at $1.