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Question about a cd burner laser — Parallax Forums

Question about a cd burner laser

roughwireroughwire Posts: 78
edited 2007-10-29 14:07 in BASIC Stamp
I'm trying to integrate this cd laser diode, to make a laser beam to burn stuff, to my borard of Ed. Now i believe this diode only requires like 3 volts (give or take). I want to pc control this laser, by telling the BoE to cut and send power (kinda like with simple LEDs). So i figure all i have to do is slap a resistor on it, and run the "high P#, low P#" program right? The laser eye (diode has 3 leads, but you only use the pos. and neg. ones, so i'm just running this by you guys to see if there's anything i missed... Thanks. P.S., what size resistor would i need to bring down the 5v coming from the boe, down to 3v?confused.gif

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MIKE

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-28 22:29
    Unless you have experience with the use of lasers and the proper protective equipment, I suggest you find something else to experiment with. It's very easy to blind yourself or others by accident. It only takes a moment for a laser beam to reflect off something towards you and burn a permanent hole in your retina before you could even blink.
  • roughwireroughwire Posts: 78
    edited 2007-10-28 22:51
    yea, well i'm just a rebel. No really, i've got it undercontrol.
    I'd really just like to know what resistor size to use, and if it IS possible...

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    MIKE
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-28 23:02
    I'm not certain, but I think that the current through the laser diode is very sensitive to temperature and the 3rd terminal provides active control for regulation of the laser diode current (and light output). Have a look at some of the datasheets for laser diode current regulators. Here's one article on this issue: www.k3pgp.org/laserbias.htm. There's plenty of information on the web. You just have to search for it.
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2007-10-29 14:07
    +1 to the advice "Be very, very careful". Some of these laser's are Infra-Red (so you can't 'see' the light), yet put out enough power to scar your retina.

    So protective eye-gear is mandatory, both for yourself and anybody near the robot when it's running.

    Also, the very idea of using a BOE to control a laser-diode powerful enough to burn CD's implies to me you definitely do NOT "have it under control".· Also, using one of these devices requires quite a lot of willingness to look on the web, get the manufacturers documentation for it, understand high-current use, understand what every terminal does and why.· Saying you're·simply 'adding a resistor' implies a level of ignorance that is very dangerous.

    Post Edited (allanlane5) : 10/29/2007 2:14:09 PM GMT
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