How to make a laser from a DVD?

Probably everyone in childhood, having learned about the existence of a laser, began to dream of their own, capable of cutting everything in its path: wood, stone, steel. Of course, this dream could not come true, because powerful lasers are too dangerous to be given to ordinary people. However, at the present time, when computer technologies are developed, everyone can realize this dream to some extent.

A laser from a DVD is a device available to everyone who has an unnecessary (but still working) drive. Of course, the received "weapon" can not cause harm to hard materials, but here paper, cardboard and even plastic will be quite capable of it.

In order to make a laser from DVD with your own hands, you do not need much: a working (necessarily writing) drive, voltage capacitors, wiring, a battery for a mobile phone, a multimeter, a resistor, a soldering iron, a pointer, a LED flashlight. And, of course, desire, free time and the ability to solder.

To make a laser from a DVD drive, you need to disassemble it. It should be recalled that only the writing drive is suitable for the design, since others do not have sufficient power.

Having disassembled the drive, it is necessary to find a laser diode in it . It must be remembered that in any drive there are two: one is weak (IR diode), the other is powerful (laser red). It is difficult to distinguish between them, but it is possible: a more powerful diode, which is needed to make a laser, is in the disk carriage and has a larger radiator.

It should be noted that before removing the laser diode, it is recommended to wear an antistatic wrist strap, as it (the diode) is very "afraid" of static electricity, which can destroy it. In the event that the bracelet is not available and you can not get it, you must wrap the laser wires with a thin wire.

After removing the diode, you need to solder the driver. Without it, a laser from a DVD can not receive the power needed to operate. For the driver, two 0.1 and 100 μF capacitors are required, a resistor whose current strength is selected depending on the drive speed (250, 300, 400, 450 and 500 mA respectively for 16x, 18x, 20x, 22x and 24x).

When soldering these elements and drawing wires to plus and minus, it is very important not to confuse the polarity, otherwise the laser will deteriorate immediately.

To power the device, you can use a battery from a mobile phone with a capacity of 200 to 300 mA. However, some lasers may require a large capacity.

Also AA batteries can be used as a current source .

In order to check whether the driver is properly soldered, it is necessary to connect it to the second (weak) diode from the drive and use a multimeter to measure the current.

If everything is done correctly, you can finally collect the laser from the DVD and put it in the body you like. In order for the device to last longer, it is recommended to fix all elements in their places with glue and seal them.

Making a laser from a DVD is easy enough, but you need to be careful when using it. It must be remembered that it can cause damage, and therefore it can not be directed to animals or people. If you get into the eyes, the laser can lead to deterioration and even loss of vision.