No, so I'm going to order a weak laser pointer and play with it first, take it apart in time, and then see what I can do. I need recommendations for good websites to get a non retina damaging laser from. Not eBay. But, I will learn how to do some of that because I'm going to be an electrical apprentice soon.

There is no such thing as a non retina damaging laser beam unless it is so weak that you cannot see it.

 

There is no such thing as a non retina damaging laser beam unless it is so weak that you cannot see it.

Laser goggles it is, then

Hello,

Making a laser diode yourself will be a task that needs special equipment.
As said, try a pointer, but be carefull.
Here are some pages on lasers and laser safety:
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
http://donklipstein.com/lasersaf.htm
The following page will tell you more about the diode laser, like the ones used in pointers:
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserdio.htm#diotoc

Bertus

Thanks for those links, I'm looking at them now

Thanks for that! I looked at the seller rating and it boosted my confidence

Forget buying a laser pointer and dismantling it; the only thing you'll learn from that is how devilishly clever the Chinese can be when putting together a product so that it cannot be disassembled.

Rather than go through that agony, just buy the raw laser diode module; you can get them on Amazon, pack of 10 for five bucks and change (just enter "laser diode" in the Amazon search window):

View attachment 197451

 

Cheap laser toys can easily be found in many grocery stores in the pet supply isle. If your local store doesn't have any there you can go to a pet store and find one quickly in the cat toy isle.

Safe lasers? Never heard of such a thing. They're all dangerous. I see someone has already said that, so I just want to reiterate it. Safety should be concern #3. Concerns #1 & #2 should be "Refer to concern #3." In other words - safety - safety - safety.

I, too, have some of those cheap laser modules. As it was said, they're cheaper than buying a toy and disassembling it. I've done that. What's inside is the batteries, a switch, a laser module with a resistor on it to limit current. Aside from that - absolutely nothing to be learned.

With the Amazon Laser Modules - I'd recommend a current limiting resistor. I couldn't begin to tell you what a safe current would be for those modules because Amazon sellers often don't give you data sheets with the electronics I've purchased, and finding one on line is next to impossible. Or worse.

 

With the Amazon Laser Modules - I'd recommend a current limiting resistor. I couldn't begin to tell you what a safe current would be for those modules because Amazon sellers often don't give you data sheets with the electronics I've purchased, and finding one on line is next to impossible. Or worse.

The laser modules I bought from Amazon have a 91Ω surface mount current limiting resistor built in. They work fine off 5 volts and draw about 30 mA.

 

Cheap laser toys can easily be found in many grocery stores in the pet supply isle. If your local store doesn't have any there you can go to a pet store and find one quickly in the cat toy isle.

Safe lasers? Never heard of such a thing. They're all dangerous. I see someone has already said that, so I just want to reiterate it. Safety should be concern #3. Concerns #1 & #2 should be "Refer to concern #3." In other words - safety - safety - safety.

I, too, have some of those cheap laser modules. As it was said, they're cheaper than buying a toy and disassembling it. I've done that. What's inside is the batteries, a switch, a laser module with a resistor on it to limit current. Aside from that - absolutely nothing to be learned.

With the Amazon Laser Modules - I'd recommend a current limiting resistor. I couldn't begin to tell you what a safe current would be for those modules because Amazon sellers often don't give you data sheets with the electronics I've purchased, and finding one on line is next to impossible. Or worse.

Thanks, I'll do that then.

 

Thanks, I'll do that then.

For the price of the equipment to make a laser diode I could buy a very nice new car, and possibly a nice garage to park it in. And all that would not include the cost of the education required to use the system to produce the laser diode. A gas laser is a lot simpler, but don't bother because you lack most of the skills t do that, also.

 

Where I worked. I would have had most of the equipment to make it.

https://www.slideshare.net/uttam999/laser-diode-fabrication-52782937

No GaAs though. No clean room.

 

Thank you for that, I've been checking our the sites people have posted.

Where I worked. I would have had most of the equipment to make it.

https://www.slideshare.net/uttam999/laser-diode-fabrication-52782937

No GaAs though. No clean room.

 

i'am stupid - so i can keep optimistic
► one can grow salt crystals
► one can use electroplating
► one can use etching or micro-polishing
► one have access to ready made lasers
► there is variety of special sealants/epoxies/coatings

it is probable for one to hoax out something "laser" that is possible to home-"grow" alike http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/els/zincosc-el.htm

 

Creating a crystal of Gallium Arsenide would be a bit of a challenge. The gas is rather toxic, and the equipment to handle it is expensive. And one error of breathing much of that gas would be rather fatal. So while some crystals can be grown by hobbyists other types are more complex.
Purchasing lasers is quite different from creating them. And still, it was the gas lasers, years ago, that folks were able to build. I investigated building a 1000 watt output carbon monoxide laser 15 years ago because I had a suitable power supply. Building the laser was not the problem, it was the rest of the system that was the show-stopper.

 

Which site has laser pointer a you recommend?

Most office supply places online have laser pointers. blue, red, green, take your pick. Or purchase the laser diode of your choice from digikey, or mouser, or any of a number of online places, get the datasheet, and build a circuit around it.

Cheapest is probably to purchase laser pointers and take advantage of the manufacturer's purchasing power (they had to buy tens of thousands of laser diodes):

amazon.com

get them as pet toys, 3-to-a-pack for like $20.

Anddicek Interactive Toys for Cats and Dogs, Green Red Blue Pet Chaser Toys for Exercise(3 Pack)

 

Hi,

I have never made a laser before or have electronics experience, but I do want to make a laser and if possible (without highly specialized equipment) the diode as well.

1. Is making a diode possible?
2. If yes, how do I do it?
3. If no, where do I find resources on how to adjust or remake an existing diode? (Can you change the color output?)

Thanks,
Cheeky Remarks

Unfortunately a lot of negative threads have been posted which I feel are unwarranted. perhaps it is because those posting have had failures and feel if they can do it nobody else can..<No religion>" Laser devices exists and the technology exists for individuals to make one. No one said it is easy and does not require any training and/or experience. I agree it may be cheaper to purchase one. The fact you can purchase one implies some one has built one. There was a time when people thought it was impossible to fly. Fortunately the Wright brothers did not listen to them and flying is commonplace today There was a time when people thought it was possible to do surgery on the heart. if everyone believed this, think of how many people would be dead from surgical correctable heart disease.
As an educator, I am compelled to stimulate individuals to be creative and productive not discouraging them from persuing their goals. Realistically it is not easy but it is not impossible. Creation of light bulbs, telephones and communication equipment, automobiles, computers, and much of the technology available today was thought impossible at one time. Instead of saying one can not do without knowing the individuals skill level and knowledge, why not say it can be don but in addition to not being easy, it requires more than just a desire and my require you to get more knowledge and skills.
Hopefully I do not offend anyone with this post but I was taught to be positive and to believe if anyone can do something, someone else als has that potential.have the potential

 

I suggest that the TS read some of the trade publications related to the production of semiconductor devices, including LEDs and Laser diodes. I also suggest they learn about the chemicals used in the process. This will be a valuable starting point because all of that knowledge will be needed to produce a laser diode. Proceeding blindly will certainly fail, knowing what one needs to do and achieve is always the first step towards actually doing it.

 

Which site has laser pointer a you recommend?

Any laser pointer available (that people use for office meetings- they are everywhere). Seriously- on Amazon you can get the actual laser diode & lens modules ready to use 20 of them for < $9 (US):

https://www.amazon.com/20pcs-Lasers...aser+pointer+assortment&qid=1618693630&sr=8-3

 

Thanks! I will be looking into a couple of options but because that is cheap, that one is definitely one of them. I still want to get a laser pointer though, maybe from an American-based company, if there is one. If one day I make one, I want to have learned from taking apart quality ones.

The lasers they are showing you- are what laser pointers use.

 

There is a company that My company has purchased many laser devices from. Search for "Laser66" and you will find their website. They don't answer emails, even when you want to buy, but they do talk on the phone. We bought about 50 of the laser for $17 each, boresite aligned and 2 mW out 630 nM (bright red) beam. Prices may have gone up a bit but those lasers lasted about 7 years powered constantly, 23/7/365, which there was no need to have them on constantly. They were indutrial quality, not pointer quality. They were very good.

 

Hi,

I have never made a laser before or have electronics experience, but I do want to make a laser and if possible (without highly specialized equipment) the diode as well.

1. Is making a diode possible?
2. If yes, how do I do it?
3. If no, where do I find resources on how to adjust or remake an existing diode? (Can you change the color output?)

Thanks,
Cheeky Remarks

The wavelengthdetermines the color. If you look at the light spectrum, you will find different wavelengths. The wave length determines the color or absence of colloe depending on whether the wavelength is in the visible or invisible range. The wave length also determines the depth of penetration through tissues and objects. There are graphics showing depth of penetration based on wavelength and colors based on wavelengths. Some colors of objects, will interfere with penetration andd.or absorption of light waves. If you are interested in building a device you should become familiar with these so that you can know limitations of the device you want to build.

 

OK, one more time I am going to say that creating a laser diode will not happen just bt a random set of actions. One might create a rectifier diode that way, but even that is unlikely.
So the start of the project will consist of learning, first learning just what a laser diode actually is, and learning how it works. Then learning just what that laser diode consists of, which is also what is needed for producing one. And none of this learning will be wasted effort because all of this knowledge is needed to produce a laser diode.
As for changing some other variety of diode into a laser diode, all that is required is the ability to transform one material into a different material. (if I had that ability I would work at changing granite into gold instead.)
"Diode" is a very broad category, and so just because a power diode and a laser diode are both diodes does not make them similar.
So the TS has alot of learning to do.

 

The TS last posted over a year ago and hasn't been active since Jan 25 2020. I think by now he's either figured out it's not so easy to do - or has succeeded in making something that very well could have been quite dangerous. See post #28

Thread Starter
really.cheeky.remarks
Joined Dec 26, 2019 12
Jan 23, 2020

After further review, it was clifferg who woke this thread. He/She joined April 17, 2021 and has made a total of two posts thus far.

 

One outcome of this thread is a signal example of the Dunning-Kruger effect (or else of expert trolling, hard to tell which...)