DIY: How to build a laser diode driver

Hi all. I decided to make this guide because I couldn't seem to find one already made on youtube. I made this guide really simple for a really simple kind of person. There is also a schematic at the end. And then another simpler schematic for beginners.
This driver can be used for Red laser diodes and Blu-ray laser diodes.

Good luck!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• laser
• diode
• driver
• circuit
• red
• blu-ray
• blu
• ray
• redlaser
• voltage
• volt
• current
• amp
• amps
• mas
• ma's
• regulator
• make
• build
• how

[szkkteam]

Someone could help me? I built the driver, correctly, but, when i turn low the potentiometer, the diode shining red, but it spreading it's light, and can't focus, more than 2-3 cm. What am i doing wrong?

[phazonxl]

@szkkteam The diode itself will be as a flashlight unless you place it inside a diode housing which has a lens in it. The diode itself is working, great job on the driver. :)

Where did you get the diode from? You'll need a housing for it. Your source might have info on where to get them.

[TheBlueCreeper1215]

YEAH!!! METROID!!!!

[iceCOLDkillaxDLoL]

@solidliqs noo you are wrong...it is a current regulator and not voltage regulator

[drumstick9000]

how many mW is that good for?

[10chilled91]

what is the pot?

[axel1973w]

Is a 3pin Laser Diode Pinout always the same ?!?

[axel1973w]

What type of laser diode is used in laser printers?? any "visible" or more like IR ?

[patmyer]

If I'm not mistake, you put the two resistors in parallel to get 10 ohms. This is not correct. A series combination of two 5 ohm resistors = 10.

[gfetggggggggggggg]

At the beginning it's said 25 Ohm pot, but at the end (the schematic circuit) it is 100 Ohm. Which one is correct?

[renzowen]

so you don't have 1 dollar to buy one (or did you did this for FUN)

[solidliqs]

@R2Processor There are many ways to regulate current in a circuit. One easy way is to use an OP amp to drive the gate of a FET. Have one input to the op amp a reference voltage, and the other the voltage drop across a current measuring resistor. Put this circuit on the low side, and it'll ensure a constant current. Google for "constant current sink" to find something like this. Alternately, you can also google for "constant current source" to find a high side driver circuit.

[poop5953]

HEY I NEED HELP WITH THIS I made one and it does not work it will not adjust it will give me 8.88v ?!?!?!?!?