Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
c4r0, Sat Apr 11 2009, 08:49PM

Hi!
I was using something very similar to aixiz modules to collimate 405nm light and it works fine - . Your problem may be that the lens is not in axis with the diode just as you noticed. Also the lens could get dirty from glue vapours - I've had problems with it when making my collimators. And the third reason may be the lens itself. It's some odd kind of Fresnel lens so it may not be perfect to collimating the light in the way you want. I would suggest using aixiz module housing, it's cheap and reliable. Notice that in the 405nm range Rayleigh scattering is much stronger than with red light - you will never acheive a sharp little spot in distance of several meters with 405nm light.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
EEYORE, Sat Apr 11 2009, 09:22PM


Nice work! What kind of driver is that that I see in the pictures? Looks like some kinda inverter?
Matt

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
101111, Sat Apr 11 2009, 09:47PM

uzz0rs, I am very curious what type of driver circuit you are using..

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
c4r0, Sat Apr 11 2009, 09:51PM

Thanks! Yes, it's a current source made of a voltage regulator (BD9703, a buck converter) desoldered from a DVD writer PCB. It's the third circuit described here:

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
uzzors2k, Mon Apr 13 2009, 01:17PM

It's a simple little linear regulator, made of discrete parts. Unfortunately the minimum voltage is 3V, so only 9V batteries can be used for practical purposes. An inverter design like Karol has, accepting a single AA battery would be neat.




Karol, can you take a picture of your beam shone at something distant? I'd like to see how far the beam can reach despite Rayleigh scattering. Currently mine hardly reaches across the street.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
c4r0, Mon Apr 13 2009, 06:32PM

No problem

Both the laser and the camera in about 10cm distance:


Laser about 5m from wall, camera close to wall


Both the laser and the camera in about 5m distance from wall:


On the last pic the spot looks just like on the middle pic. Actually, when looking with naked eye the spot in the third situation (both laser and me in 5m distance from the wall) has a strange halo that looks to be about 5cm in diameter. When I'm looking at the spot I can't focus my eyes on it, the same feeling when you wear somebody's glasses. I have no idea why the camera can't see this phenomenon, I was sure that it's Rayleigh scattering but now I'm confused

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
..., Mon Apr 13 2009, 08:18PM

The reason you can't focus on the spot at long distances is quite simple that--you eye can't focus on 405nm light (it is for all intensive purposes UV). There really isn't anything you can do about it, human eyes just don't work at that wavelength.

Also, the lens out of the sled really isn't well suited for collimation, it is an ashpere designed for focusing onto a cd and has some pretty weird specializations to make it work well for that. A much better bet would be the lens out of a cheep laser pointer, however you might need to modify the module to allow the lens to be closer to the laser diode (the lens will have a shorter focal length at 405nm than at the 650 it was designed for).

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Conundrum, Sun May 03 2009, 03:25PM

Also it might be possible to add the "zone plate" from a spare PS3 module, that ought to clean up the beam with a slight loss of power.

see Sam G's RepairFAQ for more information.

-A

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Cypriotica, Sun May 17 2009, 10:20AM

A question on my behalf guys, i asked around computer shops for a malfunctioned DVD and got one. The diode was red and i burned it out by accident. Would a cheap laser pointer lens work for a collimator for this? Im planning to make a screw assembly out of brass to get the lens closer or further from the laser beam. I will post pics in a new thread if i achive this. And also any other ideas of which lenses i can use with this laser is appreciated.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
EEYORE, Sun May 17 2009, 03:48PM

Search for aixiz on ebay. They sell everything pre made for you. (housing with lens)
matt

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Cypriotica, Wed May 20 2009, 12:35PM

I searched on Ebay like you said, and i found 1 aixiz collimator `12mm Aixiz Laser Module Focusing Tool Axiz Diode 5.6`. It looks like a metal tube and i cannot see a lense. Shall i buy this item and do i have to buy an extra lens for it? The item number on ebay.com is 280345481688. My laser is a red DVD laser. Can you guys check it out for me? Cheers

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
EEYORE, Fri May 22 2009, 04:56AM

Tada!

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Conundrum, Fri Jun 19 2009, 12:05AM

is this the same diode used in the HD-DVD xbox360 sled?

regards, -A

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
uzzors2k, Fri Jun 19 2009, 07:44AM

I'm fairly sure of it. From what I gather the PHR-803T sled is a replacement sled for the Xbox 360, so any blue diodes you find in a 360 will probably be very similar. Karol has a bunch great info on these diodes.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
lpfthings, Mon Jul 06 2009, 08:38AM

Yes, the PHR sleds are from the HD DVD drives.

I bought about 6 sleds. If you are looking for a driver, you can get one from

It's a boost converter, and runs the PHR diodes (Forward voltage of 5V) perfectly off a 3V source.

You can also buy the "Aixiz" modules from the page aswell. The plastic lens ones are recommended for 405nm lasers, glass fluoresces with 405nm light :)

I have one running at 100ma with the flexdrive and it barely gets warm, and I am going to eventually build it into a barrel from a Wicked Lasers Core.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
c4r0, Fri Oct 02 2009, 05:28PM

Yep, the diode from this thread is from Xbox360 HD DVD drive. You can find two different laser modules in these drives: PHR-803T which is the one described here, and DT0811. Diodes from PHRs are considered to be more powerful. I've had several diodes from these drives and haven't seen DT0811 one that could stand more than 120-130mA (every diode from DT0811 should stand 80mA I think). PHRs can sometimes stand even about 320mAs (I had one that could do it), and I think that every diode from PHR can work pretty well at 150mA. You can find A LOT of information, also power vs. current charts, on .

[edit]
Oops, sorry for digging up the thread

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Xplorer, Sun Oct 04 2009, 07:27AM

Very cool! I've made one of these. Keep them at no more than 100mW and they will last just fine.



-Tony

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Conundrum, Sun Oct 04 2009, 10:44AM

i did find that reversing the lens on the aixiz modules works fine if you are trying to focus these things...

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Meatball, Fri Oct 09 2009, 11:24PM

I hope you all aren't paying anymore than $10 or so for your PHR sleds...

Careful with Ebay laser sellers.... they feed off of their consumer's ignorances and will attempt to sell a PHR sled for much more.

The PHR has always been a tough little diode. They HAVE been pushed to high currents, but this greatly shortens their lifespan. The PHR is considered a 60mW CW diode.

Since this diode is very efficient, we can feed them about 120-130mA safely for long lifetimes, as well as retaining their burning capablilites. At typical 120mA PHR can light any match in less than 1 second. It can pop balloons, and even cut throgh white paper if focused properly. At 120mA, a typical PHR should output about 110mW.

At 405nm, its light is deep violet light. It is NOT UV. UV is begins < 400nm, and it technicially not visible. Since this is a laser diode however, there is still a plus or minus 10nm on the diodes actual wavelength.

405nm light will make light colored objects glow. (Theres a name for it, but I can't remember it at the moment) It makes objects behave as if they are under a blacklight. You can 'write' with a sustained glow on just about any glow in the dark object with this laser. The focal distances on these are shorter than they are on red diodes, so I definitely do not recommend reversing the lens to focus the dot. The best colliminating lenses available for blu- ray diodes are currently from the aftermarket realm. (If you wish to know where, I can show you).

Driving diodes is as easy asusing an LM317 as a current regulator rather than a voltage regulator. There are ways...

Right now, if you'd like to feel the burning power of 400+mW of 405nm.... than I recommend buying an 8X blu- ray burner drive. These diodes can burn through CD cases with a 3mm wide beam.... unfocused! Keep in mind, that 12X burners have just been released in Japan.... its rumored that they contain about a half watt of violet inside!

ALWAYS wear safety glasses! Know that any laser >10mw can not only permanently damage your eyes, but can do so instantly. There only needs to be a few microseconds of this much power across your retina to leave a nasty blind spot in your vision. Buy glasses that are only certified for their safety, and for the color range that they protect against.

For any questions or information about whats and wheres.. feel free to PM me. Lasers are one of my specialties!

Happy lasing!

-Tyler

<------- Burning 8X video to enjoy.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
uzzors2k, Sat Oct 10 2009, 11:57AM

Laser pointers are fun little projects, I feel like doing one again. Where is it you find collimators for blu-ray diodes, Tyler? Do you have a cheap source for 650nm burning diodes?

Btw, very nice laser pointer you have. Burning white paper yet!

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Meatball, Sun Oct 11 2009, 07:18PM

Yes, quite fun!

As for blu ray focusing lenses, the best choice out there is the 405-G1 lens made by Jayrob at LPF. Its a lens that blocks only 5% of passing 405nm light! It also allows you to focus up to infinity. His sales thread is here, I recommend Jayrob for the best DIY laser kits available.



For diodes, you can go to lots of web stores set up by enthusiasts. At these stores, you buy the diodes already pressed and soldered in an aiXis module.







These are probably the best parts stores out there. I commonly buy from Drew at Modwerx for his very fast shipping.

Kendall at Hightechdealz had a huge array of 405nm laser accessories that glow.

Tyler at Darklasers is a growing business, so sometimes he is out of stock.

Be sure to check out the pro sales thread at LPF. There Jayrob has all of his professional kits available for very reasonable prices.

Happy lasing!

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
lpfthings, Wed Oct 21 2009, 09:11AM

I bought 4 LPC sleds (High power 650nm) and 1 PHR sled from modwerx, very easy to deal with :)

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
uzzors2k, Wed Oct 21 2009, 07:02PM

Modwerx is actually the guy I got my sled from on ebay.

Re: Blu-Ray Laser from PHR-803T sled
Meatball, Sun Oct 25 2009, 10:58PM

Yeah, I've bought from Drew at Modwerx about 5 times now, and have yet to be disappointed. He's always quick to answer emails, and he ships reasonably fast.

For PHRs and LPCs, I wouldn't buy from anyone else!