I wasn't about to let summer pass by without one laser build. This is probably a great project for beginners looking for a really cheap laser pen just over 100mw. This will work with all cheap 445nm laser pens without risk of overdrive failure. I wouldn't choose a 1W driver for this, yet others may choose to live more dangerously. Also, the key here is that the module came out just by removing the front cap, as they are threaded together.
It's an A140 cuz I burned out the original diode cuz I apparently strive to do so, but the original was multimode as well
I took
[this laser]
(which is set static to lasing threshhold)
and switched the driver with
[this one].
It's a case-positive driver. Best cheap-o driver for low power 5v laser diodes.
Don't go ordering this laser from Laserlands without first asking if it is in stock. They stopped selling it on ebay, and that usually indicates that it's out of stock.
On 3.2v, it goes up to 60mw. On 3v, it's 20mw.
![]()
On 4.2v, it can reach 175mw, but the driver gets up to 50 degrees C in under a minute (measured by how long I could hold my thumb on the board until I started to melt). I did put one of these drivers on a PL450 once at 4.5v input, and the diode never complained, so it should be good for max power.
![]()
The front cap isn't pressed in all the way because I'm using an acrylic lens, and am wondering if it'll melt.
To decide on the correct driver, I made a model. Now I'm kinda depressed that you can't get this laser host anywhere anymore.
[GrabCAD SolidWorks file]
The module inside can be approximated by this'a one
And the front thread on it is probably compatible with this pen host
I wonder if the ready-made 445nm pens have the threaded cap.
I just wish I could have ordered another to do this again with a PL450 for a much lighter blue and blindingly tight beam in a brass host.
It's an A140 cuz I burned out the original diode cuz I apparently strive to do so, but the original was multimode as well
I took
[this laser]
(which is set static to lasing threshhold)
and switched the driver with
[this one].
It's a case-positive driver. Best cheap-o driver for low power 5v laser diodes.
Don't go ordering this laser from Laserlands without first asking if it is in stock. They stopped selling it on ebay, and that usually indicates that it's out of stock.
On 3.2v, it goes up to 60mw. On 3v, it's 20mw.
On 4.2v, it can reach 175mw, but the driver gets up to 50 degrees C in under a minute (measured by how long I could hold my thumb on the board until I started to melt). I did put one of these drivers on a PL450 once at 4.5v input, and the diode never complained, so it should be good for max power.
The front cap isn't pressed in all the way because I'm using an acrylic lens, and am wondering if it'll melt.
To decide on the correct driver, I made a model. Now I'm kinda depressed that you can't get this laser host anywhere anymore.
[GrabCAD SolidWorks file]
The module inside can be approximated by this'a one
And the front thread on it is probably compatible with this pen host
I wonder if the ready-made 445nm pens have the threaded cap.
I just wish I could have ordered another to do this again with a PL450 for a much lighter blue and blindingly tight beam in a brass host.