Aside from all the logistics of it and the cash layout to build your own laser diode or semiconductor laser - or whatever you want to call it - I have a question for you: What do you want to do with it?

 

Not that I am questioning you, but why can't you get gallium arcenide yourself and do it?

Even if you could get some is it something you really want to play with?
https://uwaterloo.ca/giga-to-nanoel...files/uploads/files/galliumarsenidewafers.pdf

3. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed. Repeated and/or prolonged contact may cause dermatitis. Repeated exposure may produce adverse effects on the lung, liver and kidney. A possible human carcinogen.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a053697.pdf

 

A lot of dangerous chemicals are used in semiconductor manufacturing. The local Intel fab had another incident and people had to go to the hospital.

That doesn't instill confidence in the people who live around the fabs, but the air coming out of the stacks is usually cleaner than required. One nice side benefit for people who like snow is that the Ronler Acres facility produces it's own snow when conditions are right.

 

A lot of dangerous chemicals are used in semiconductor manufacturing. The local Intel fab had another incident and people had to go to the hospital.

That doesn't instill confidence in the people who live around the fabs, but the air coming out of the stacks is usually cleaner than required. One nice side benefit for people who like snow is that the Ronler Acres facility produces it's own snow when conditions are right.

Heard about that via the SEMI smoke signal network. Seems like an air-handler problem in a support building with people sensitized ('detected an odor') to possible chemical agents. Everyone tested negative for actual chemical effects.

 

I once almost embarked on building a CO2 laser ... it's a lot simpler, and most materials can be bought from scratch. Except maybe for the mirrors. And even those I researched a little bit to see if I could make them on my own too. What happened in the end is that I was aiming "too low" in the sense that I wanted to do everything myself from scratch. The unavoidable consequence was that I got discouraged, and didn't follow through.

If I were to try it again, I'd probably stick to the doing the glass work, and simply buy the rest of the components. And trust me, that is already hard enough as it is. Working on glass is an art that can take a lifetime to master.

 

What do you want to do with it?

If I have to repeat myself, what do you want to do with it?

 

Having a minimal idea of who dl324 is, I would tell that he he has some chances to get gallium arsenide and know what to do with it but you could not even that.

You give me too much credit.

I worked for several companies that manufactured semiconductors, but the closest I got to the actual processing was talking to people who worked on process development and looking in the windows.

 

This sounds like the guy that came here a few years ago wanting to make his own ICs and transistors because he had some sand. His answer too was, "it can't be that hard".

 

You can build AND; NAND; OR and NOR gates with just relays. In fact, couple decades ago I built a circuit that I could start my car, energize the circuit then turn the key off and lock up everything while the engine continued to run. Did it with CMOS. The circuit didn't last very long before it was dead. So I rebuilt it using relays and diodes. Never blew out again.

I STILL want to know what the thread starter wants to do with this laser he wants to build.

ME? I want to build a space ship / time machine. Can't be all that hard!

 

Now I remember... back in the 90's I used to be a member of a CO2 laser group of enthusiasts that were called "Lasergrowers" that no longer exists. Among them were many knowledgeable people, one of them was named Sam Goldwasser, who built this website filled with extremely useful information. It's definitely worth a look.

 

If you do not have a background or an interest in physics or a very large budget, then I believe you wanting to build a laser diode is a bridge too far.
Why try to re-invent the wheel? Go to the Dollar Tree and get a laser pointer for $1 and disassemble it.
They even have an adjustable collimator so you can focus the beam at a distance if the beam divergence is too great.

 

I just wanted to experiment with it. I get that there's dangerous chemicals and its expensive, but I really thought someone out there would have done it by now.

As for all the talk of people making their own ICs and transistors, a few have.
http://sam.zeloof.xyz/first-ic/

TonyR you would have said it couldn't be done if I asked about the ICs and it was done. Im not saying its a easy clean thing you do at radio shack, but there has to be someone out there with the knowledge.

 

I just wanted to experiment with it. I get that there's dangerous chemicals and its expensive, but I really thought someone out there would have done it by now.

As for all the talk of people making their own ICs and transistors, a few have.
http://sam.zeloof.xyz/first-ic/

TonyR you would have said it couldn't be done if I asked about the ICs and it was done. Im not saying its a easy clean thing you do at radio shack, but there has to be someone out there with the knowledge.

Yes there are people out there with the knowledge, but the point you seem to be missing is that it requires a lot of very expensive and specialised equipment to process the materials so that you end up with a working device. Hence my original post.....You need an enormous amount of money and a research laboratory. Without the funds to buy the equipment to make your research lab, even if you have the knowledge, you will not be able to make one that works.
Yes it has been done, but at great expense and considerable research by teams of engineers with the required know how.
As Tony said, I too would like to go to the moon, but could not possibly build a Saturn 5 rocket to do it.
Not meaning to be rude, but just by asking the question makes it clear that you do not possess the required knowledge to do it, but If you have the resources and acquire the knowledge, then prove us all wrong and we will applaud you once you can demonstrate a working device

 

I get that it requires a lot of specialised equipment, but ICs do to. I figured a person could build one simple one as he built one simple IC even though it normall requires lots of equipment and money.

I'm not denying any of that, but I figured someone out there would have come up with a solution for a less expensive but not as good version.

 

I am beginning to smell troll.

A person can't create a simple IC without vast resources either get real. One simple transistor would be a feat for the common hobbyist,

 

I am beginning to smell troll.

A person can't create a simple IC without vast resources either get real.

You cant go to the store and just get a kit, but people have done it. Read the links before you call names please.
http://sam.zeloof.xyz/first-ic/

This stuff isn't as simple as ordering some parts and putting them in a breadboard, but some people do it.

 

You cant go to the store and just get a kit, but people have done it. Read the links before you call names please.
http://sam.zeloof.xyz/first-ic/

This stuff isn't as simple as ordering some parts and putting them in a breadboard, but some people do it.

People with professional level training, you are clueless about what it takes to fab even a simple alloy bjt.

 

No, that was a high school kid, who made that and you don't know what I know.

 

What is required to drive a high-power (kW) Solid State (slab) laser ? How about gas lasers (apart from the HV). Do they need to be current regulated, temperature compensated etc ? I am not interested in precision control, maybe steps of +/- 5% from zero to full power

 

I am beginning to smell troll.

A person can't create a simple IC without vast resources either get real. One simple transistor would be a feat for the common hobbyist,

I agree, although I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt for a while.