DIY Blu-ray LASER

Not sure if anyone saw this:

http://www.joeyhagedorn.com/2008/04/19/blu-ray-laser-pointer

Randy

Looks like a knock off of the one I made a few weeks back.

I'm one of the first people I know to get a BluRay diode from an XBox HD working stably. Since no one knew (or knows) anything about the diode used in the Xbox (it's not a Sony however) I killed the first one, likely by driving it too hard. Microshaft is now dumping the XBox HD drives for $50.00, so now is a good time to get one for 'harvesting'.

You can read about it here, with pictures:

(first attempt)
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206117400

(second try, still going strong)
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206147131

Can you give the circuit you used to drive these hd-dvd blue diodes? I'm considering building one as well. So any tips are welcome.

bleufan said:

Can you give the circuit you used to drive these hd-dvd blue diodes? I'm considering building one as well. So any tips are welcome.

Click to expand...

Sure, I'm using the 'DDL' circuit. Very simple & proper circuit for driving laser diodes. It regulates current which is absolutely essential for a long lived laser diode. More about it here:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1185701612

It's based around the LM317T, though it's used to regulate current and not voltage in this circuit. It can be used to drive red (DVD) diodes, or BluRay diodes. The only difference is the input voltage - for red diodes you need 6+ volts, and for a BluRay around 9 volts. Most people are using a nine volt battery with the DDL circuit, as low power BluRay diodes don't need more than 30-40 mA of current. You can get the parts for < $10.00 at radioshack, or order them online for much less.

If you're making the circuit for a BluRay diode you want around 30-40 ohm of resistance, along with a 20-40 ohm potentiometer. When you first power up the circuit you want the diode to come to life using no more than 10-20 mA of current. Then, while metering things on a DMM, adjust the pot until the current is between 30-40 mA. Much more than this you risk killing the diode, or at least shortening its life. I'm assuming you're using a BluRay from a PS3.

There other more exotic boost/buck circuits available, which will allow you to drive a BluRay from a single Li cell or a couple 1.5 volt batteries. drlava may still have a few of these for sale.. look here:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209418066

Here's a picture of the first DDL circuit I breadboarded up, driving a red (DVD) diode:


Not much to it.

Very nice. I'm planning on buying a hd-dvd drive just to get the laser diode out of it and make a laser module out of it, similar like yours.
I take it this circuit is ment to be powered with batteries?

Yes to the batteries. If you're using a mains supply for the diode you need to make certain it's free of any transients (especially when you turn it off/on). Batteries are safe.