HACKED!: Laser Diode from DVD Burner || Constant Current Source

UPDATE: It works! Here is a small video where I use another laser diode: • Laser Diode from DVD B...
Previous video: • Electronic Basics #13:...
Constant Current Load video: • Li-Ion Capacity Test |...
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Parts list, Schematic, PCB Layout is on instructables: www.instructables.com/id/DIY-L...
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Twitter: / greatscottlab
Support me for more videos: www.patreon.com/GreatScott?ty=h
Parts list (affiliate links):
Aliexpress:
1x Laser Module: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZl...
1x MCP602: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7g...
1x 3.3Ω / 5W Resistor: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVd...
1x Vero Board: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dWv...
1x 1kΩ Resistor: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYW...
1x IRLZ44N N Channel MOSFET: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dSu...
2x Screw Terminal: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d8g...
1x 500kΩ Potentiometer: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Bfh...
1x Thermal Paste: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVi...
In this episode of HACKED! I will show you how I extracted a laser diode from a DVD Burner which should have the power to ignite a match. In order to power the diode correctly I will also demonstrate how I build a constant current source which delivers a precise and steady current to the load.
Music:
2011 Lookalike by Bartlebeats

[@josemedrano2645]

I love love LOVE that you did a video on a project that DIDN'T work. That's such an important part of the process and I feel like people get discouraged when their projects don't work rather than just getting up and trying again, like your awesome attitude at the end.

[@jerkycam]

*Spoiler Alert*

[@danieldusentrieb4082]

😂

[@brentmorris262]

"Since this is exciting, dangerous, and has the potential to blind you for lifetime, it's perfect for KZbin." Yup. Exactly my thoughts too.

[@jerryt6340]

Watching in 2019 and youtube was so much simpler back then

[@Sandwich4321]

So basically styropyros channel

[@layton3503]

I went blind watching this video. Right here 3:33, in case you want to try.

[@spyderdyneincorporated6600]

Yes!

[@jerryg50]

This engineer is terrific. He knows design and process for electronic circuits very well. He is concise, and accurate with his facts and process. His videos are terrific!

[@claireclark2076]

+Jonathan Knirsch Terrific is a positive thing.

[@domasselezenevas4007]

+Claire Clark Yes...

[@Dyl_Cam]

Well don't blow your load bud, jeez

[@johnelbertmamonong969]

tom and jerry

[@annelieseocallaghan801]

He's also hilarious.

[@saeidyazdani]

2:04 Carefully removed the diode....flies away 5000 meters

[@TommyGx69]

*PEW*

[@solaris7404]

Hey R.D. Hows it going?

[@BloodyRainRang]

Just like Tommy said, "PEW" was exactly what I was thinking too at that moment xD

[@magicdev2192]

LOL😁😁

[@pavanpratapsinghchauhan6804]

in electronics it is counted under carefull

[@zarkzangetsu21]

I just loved how he said it is perfect for KZbin lol

[@ebrocoliphoto]

LOL

[@obviouslytwo4u]

And failed so was definitely following suit

[@temprmj1]

I had to 'like' this video after hearing 'See a screw, remove a screw'. lol

[@mikescherer9196]

the

[@durlav1n1]

same lol

[@boblewis5558]

When stripping for parts it's a great maxim ... unless you're actually after sub assemblies. :D

[@donaldfilbert4832]

Loved your comment at 2:05 " .... and carefully removed the two diodes ..." And then you take you pliers - jam them behind the diode - and it goes flying off the screen !! LOL !!!

[@cyclcrclicly9840]

WHY DID NOONE TELL ME THERE IS FREAKING NEODYMIUM MAGNETS IN A DVD BURNER?

[@spoderman15]

well now we know I guess. I need to find a junkyard around where I live, the stuff people throw away would give electronics enthusiasts nightmares

[@Spirit07700]

+sans you can't find neodynium magnets since dvd players roughly. i'm sure i'm wrong but in some old CD players i've never seen them. Or i was really blind.

[@leekshooter4825]

neodymium is pretty fun... as long as you don't need surgery to remove them from your face when you try to be an idiot with them.

[@Tom-dy5ub]

YEAH ME TOO!

[@boblewis5558]

Actually gives me cause for puzzlement but otherwise HIGHLY delighted that they do. I could spend a week at our recycling plant saving a fortune in bits, pieces and perfectly usable components Just today picked up two fully functional Makita drills, both two speed and one a hammer drill also. Well used but otherwise look in pretty good condition, only missing batteries - big deal - get on eBay for less than £25 for TWO!. Don't need the standard chargers as they f**k up batteries big-time. Have my own which doesn't! Also collected three PC's c/w psus and some older DDR400 memory (I needed some for an old shoe-box PC too), a few DVD RW drives (hence being here) LOADS of SMD components I can recover off these if the boards don't work. Amazing stuff people chuck away. A few fans (I always refurbish fans whenever I can. A few drops of 3-in-1 oil onto the bearing from behind the stopper - or sticker - work it in and bingo. I have one fan that I've re-lubed twice and it's still going after 16 years!! Quiet too.

[@GoGreenMan]

Don't know how I haven't found you untill a week or so ago, but so very glad I have! makes me want to get into playing with electronics all over again! thank you sir!

[@darkprincesayan]

Welcome to the GS fandom!

[@GoGreenMan]

rainbowfrog yeah and now I'm sitting here gathering pieces to follow his diy bench top powersupply!

[@Jimbo78ify]

They make precision voltage references for small amounts of current. Basically you can use it similar to the schematic with a few changes. Constant voltage across a resistor = constant current. The precision voltage references are used in IC's like LM34 and LM315. The LM1117 is a low voltage high efficiency voltage supply that would be ideal to run this kind of application in addition with the voltage reference and a battery pack. Nice application and tutorial.

[@lomeranger]

I appreciate your failed attempts at worthy projects. They show humility and design acumen. It’s awesome to watch a video more concerned with the process than the outcome.

[@rphuntarchive1]

The Technics SL-P1200 CD player had a particular point of failure in the CD door switch. The switch was a blade that contacted copper fingers, meant to prevent the player from operating whenever the door was open, because potentially a user could look right at the laser. But it was a crude design, so we had to replace them regularly.

[@Dr.Cosmar]

"and has the potential to blind you for a life time" said with such enthusiasm I died.

[@ExpertCMX]

Thank you! Love your professional videos & work. I just had a question, how many (total volts) was the laser diode consuming?

[@bgable7707]

Great explanation of the disassembly of the CDrom device. I now know what other parts I can pull out of them.

[@0326Hambone]

Love how you chose to explain why setting up the diode with constant current is better.

[@odsutton5006]

Only if using projected heat .thats contained and distributed through camera iris or shutter. At point of exp ells ion with on off switch. Or trigger

[@antonnpn9063]

This actually works, I tried it:)

[@JacobP81]

You can also salvage hard drives for neodymium magnets :-)

[@catchdisl2558]

Best diy tech channel I've seen keep up the work you got yourself a new sub

[@Xebozone]

I tried this myself before which also resulted in disappointment, but your solution was much more elegant!

[@Gounesh]

I'd like to see "DVD drvier to Mini Desktop Engraver" man. Love your clean English by the way!

[@Colaaah]

What nationality do you think he is?

[@einflinkeswiesel2695]

@@Colaaah he is german

[@Dannyvphantom]

"Carefully removed the diodes" flies across the table xD

[@nicewhenearnedrudemostlyel489]

"Repeats most popular comment" hopes people will like it more so they'll think he did it better. lmao. loser...

[@david7402]

Good video! The warnings are much appreciated.

[@Spartacus-4297]

Omg I remember these old projects it's so weird to see them again nearly a decade on

[@khalilburno9713]

Awesome Non Functioning project :-)

[@user-zi8jn1go8k]

2:04 - that was very "careful" :D

[@gmoney7912]

I was looking for some other site and seen your home made stereo box ,so I watched the video ,anyways I could watch this all day my grandfather was an inventor one of the things I was told he invented was the thermostat inside your furnace ,my dad. invented lots of different types of tools for sears and my uncle's are inventors also they do the same things you do thanks for your time and videos I subscribed ,love it .

[@exgenica]

For the future, there were likely 2 additional neodymium magnets that you may have missed...depends on the drive. They are REALLY TINY magnets, too...about 3mm L x 2mm W and less than 1mm thick. They should be attacked to a small movable coil that further stabilize the LASER beam emitter based on optical feedback from the disc. This helps the drives achieve much higher speeds than before.

[@robertselectronichobbies9507]

I would think you could use a high current pulse to drive the laser much harder. You can do this with infra red LEDs when you need to send the light over a longer distance. The data sheets will tell you how much current and for how long of a pulse to use.

[@fullywireduk]

You have the same did reader and burner as my pc

[@Li_M0_N]

Great Video! Hope you will continue this series ;)

[@swlee9289]

GreatScott! I am an electronics amateur and I know the high power laser diode is not that price cheap, I mean the one you can put something on fire. You proved fake things all around in youtube. I love your video - clear and professional.

[@Citizen5000]

Just searched for ages, the other song in this video is: Phase Three - Huma Huma

[@themadhacker9376]

Warning label: Don't do that! Me: That's adorable...

[@labscience8271]

I also did the same previously And found all these components Cool video!

[@BloodyRainRang]

The demonstration of the safety glasses was quite interesting. Like how the voltmeter turned black and the numbers on the 7segs completely vanished.

[@Xenro66]

You should use a Bluray diode if you can get your hands on one. They're damn powerful.

[@greatscottlab]

Jordan O'C OK, I still want to ignite that damn match. I hope to get one someday.

[@Xenro66]

GreatScott! I would say "pump more power into the DVD laser diode", but that would probably burn it out. xD

[@greatscottlab]

Jordan O'C I think so too ;-)

[@JoshuasRecordings]

Jordan O'C I once got a Blu-Ray diode, but lost it.

[@AdrasHoriaGaming]

Jordan O'C who's willing to break one of those tho ;/

[@apburner1]

Can I mount this on a shark?

[@johanneszwilling]

When I was a teenager I thought about how cool that would be to do. Thanks for answering that question by showing how nothing visibly interesting happens.

[@eamonn280958]

Nice video. I need a constant current source around 1 miliamp and made it with a LM317.I did not know this was an inefficent way to do it, so I will be looking out for your more efficent constant current source. Thanks.

[@ricardoguimaraes7545]

muito bom pode evitar o esquema pra meu email ,se seus vídeos fossem dublado em português Brasil seria um sucesso .Boa sorte

[@Forssa1]

If the forward voltage of the diode is less than 3V, then it is the IR diode. It still gives off visible red light at, so beware - you can easily blind yourself, thinking it is just a dim red diode.. An LM317 is sufficient if you keep the input voltage not far above 7V. 500mA is too much for an unknown diode. Don't go above 400mA MAX (even this is pushing your luck), and the 1/4W pot will handle it fine if you put an appropriate series resistor before it (the voltage drop over the pot will be low (P=V*I) . Disconnecting the diode from the constant current source and reconnecting it while under power will kill the diode.

[@greatscottlab]

Forssa1 I also powered the IR Diode but it did not emit any visible red light though.

[@Forssa1]

GreatScott! Maybe you are not as sensitive in the near IR as I am, or you powered it wrong or even killed it before it got a chance to laze.

[@greatscottlab]

Forssa1 Sure

[@greatscottlab]

Patrick Yoon Could you stop trolling now?

[@neutrino9738]

There are at least two different IR diodes 840nm and 910nm the 910nm should not give any visible light (at least for regular diodes tho not laser ones)

[@justinp4235]

for an episode of hacked you could build a dvd drive mini laser engraver/plotter. You could use 2 dvd drives (already got one from the drive you took apart for the laser), a servo (for the plotter, if you go that route), 2 stepper drivers and a arduino, it would be a fun project to see

[@DMonZ1988]

hi scott! i really like your videos, thank you. did you ever make the video showing the more efficient constant current circuit? i need to make one and would love to apply the less power hungry option.

[@kajenjegatheesan634]

Hi, woher hast du dein Labor Netzgerät? Danke im Vorraus.

[@kylebrooks8162]

Hallo, ich studiere deutsch. Why didn't you use a verb in that sentance besides haben. I know that youre using past tense but there wasn't a second verb. I was curious.

[@danielheidorn]

i never thought about this, but i guess this is a really often used slang term: www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/herhaben So "hast" is not really past tense but rather "Indikativ präsens"

[@Benedicc]

@@danielheidorn Das ist doch kein Slang

[@uilsoum875]

"see a screw, remove a screw" my tactic

[@rebatecheck]

Every youtube electronics channel teardown: I'll save this motor for a future project! Future project: Never needs a motor.

[@mattibboss]

i did try this few years ago ...and it worked you need at lest 16x dvd burner and focus (not infinity)

[@defamatt]

"carefully" 2:04

[@rudder7488]

we he said " you can be blind instantly " i knew this project was not for me lol

[@davidmallo8815]

me too😂😂😂

[@Wilson84KS]

Yes, you need to be extremely careful, those protection glases should be a must, as I experimented with it I broke the lens in the diode and the laser light came out just everywhere out of the diode and for a short time I got a little into one of my eyes, my heart started to beat like crazy, it was really a shock but I had luck because probably the laser isn't powerful enough without its lense. I can just say to every beginner: Do not touch it if you have any doubts, except of you have all that is needed to protect you, no matter what it's about.

[@TheHockeyPotter]

This is awesome! Thank you!

[@RXGUSR]

i had that pc ! all the memories!, I also used the dvd burner for another case

[@TheDyonvideo]

Make in a new build project a fog/smoke machine! Like this commant when you want it to!

[@karolisjuoz]

***** its very simple components water pump heater licuid and some pipes

[@adsicks]

Kind of a bummer. I always thought it would be useful to take the laser diodes out of these old optical drives and use them to solder SMD's....

[@Colaaah]

I was wondering if they would be good to cut think foam?!

[@brunocabral1578]

@@Colaaah me, if it can remove black ink from PCBs - laser etching

[@joachimpeiper7471]

GreatScott is basically my hero.

[@neophobicnyctophile8264]

OMG ROTARY TOOL DRILL PRESS??? I didn't know such a thing existed! And they do! OMG thank you!!!!!

[@jacobkiser]

try it with a DVD burner they burn things

[@the-bgrspot6997]

DVD microwave... lmao

[@CSO3DOnline]

Laser 1 - Scott 0 :( BTW will the CD burner diode works? Keep up good videos!

[@greatscottlab]

~☆ XzCraftP ☺♂ I think CD burner do not work. But I am not sure.

[@kyoudaiken]

~☆ XzCraftP ☺♂ BluRay Burner diode will do. :D

[@greatscottlab]

ardystal gysr I just found another laser diode and ignited a match with it. I will upload a video tomorrow on my second channel.

[@agonymobile]

GreatScott! 230ma is the nominal current, anything above you'll risk damage the laser and it will turn to a very weak laser, even a short over current mistakes like adding 0.01uF might 🔥 burn it.

[@Charvin91]

~☆ XzCraftP ☺♂ It does work. A diode from CD-RW will burn matches easily. But since it is infrared, it's very dangerous because the beam is INVISIBLE. Around 180mA will do just fine.

[@Spycyzygy]

Wow I've never seen a video that so completely went over my head

[@wienergemeindebautischler2298]

Du machst echt saucoole und informative vidz. Danke dafür. Echt thumps up und liebe Grüße aus Wien

[@IIGrayfoxII]

Just get a PS3 laser assembly Their cheap on ebay and they has the bluray laser diode.

[@neutrino9738]

Will it work even as ps laser lacks burn capability?

[@flocki190601]

are you a german ?

[@greatscottlab]

+Melzob yes

[@flocki190601]

nice

[@moritzbtg]

Hab ich mir auch als erstes gedacht. Das hört man einfach

[@lennyleistung1998]

Hab ich auch gedacht

[@MarkRobertCuthbert]

+GreatScott! Subbed & Thumbed up for the effort you put into making this video. Also your "German humour" lol but I thought you might be Austrian as you sound a bit like "Arnold: I'll be back" Greetings from Ireland, Sláinte! ([to your] health!)

[@Amber-si7kx]

THANK YOU KZbin SUGGESTION FEED!

[@joshwaid9073]

I hit the like button because I appreciated the honest reporting of a disappointing result

[@DominoSixO]

So we learned that it's waste of time to open a dvd-rw better go buy a laser diode and do your project :D

[@greatscottlab]

+Domino SixO Take a look at the first link in the description.

[@DominoSixO]

GreatScott! What exactly should I look? I see a lot of stuffs there

[@CIubDuck]

+Domino SixO "take a look at the FIRST link"..

[@PhilWaud]

So I watched all of your video and it didnt work... you owe me six minutes dude!

[@greatscottlab]

+Phil Waud Check the link in the description. It did work after all.

[@PhilWaud]

GreatScott! OK, but not in this video.. Thanks anyway, dont mean to complain.

[@greatscottlab]

+Phil Waud No Problem

[@winstongrundy7289]

Dats right if it didnt work then it didnt work

[@evo71]

I watched until the end wondering how the laser diode could possibly still function after the way he was treating it. Turns out he broke it after all.

[@rsattahip]

Nice honest video. Thank you

[@DelSqueeto]

EXCELLENT VIDEO GREAT COMMENTARY!!!

[@KaelinatorPVP]

did he mean to rhyme the whole time?!

[@quint3570]

KaelinatorPVP he's a poet and he dosn't know it..

[@master_moose6836]

Steve Adams So are you, cause ya rhyme too

[@Qwrtyuiop]

KaelinatorPVP That rhymes

[@tpmadness1172]

Kaelinator ur a poet and didn't know it.

[@BrianEvans766]

Joseph Peavey green eggs and ham your bitch is gettin my jam

[@calebb5106]

as I cm watching this it has 777,888 views illuminati confirmed

[@jclowe735]

The red laser diode is for reading while the ultraviolet or blue ray diode is for writing which can also be used as a burning laser.

[@EpicBigfoot]

I just watched this video and immediately dismantled 7 of the 10 dvd drives I had sitting. I would love to see a tutorial on how to use multiple diodes simultaneously, I would imagine that many others may want to do that also.

[@krishsatpati2476]

Well if the laser diode is blue then it is a blu-ray drive.

[@tgtgtg9010]

U german?

[@1RCHunter]

+Toni Montana look it up in the channeldescription :)

[@hustlaz2k]

thank u for busting all the myths of dvd burner laser!

[@AmateurInventor]

Congratulations for 1m subscribers

[@shmeet]

Why would you paint the match head black?

[@eurenton99]

Dark colors absorb heat better.

[@shmeet]

Yes it does, but it may also have made the match head too wet to ignite. I would have like to have seen you put a new unpainted match in front of the new diode. Oh well.

[@shmeet]

PunakiviAddikti Still, it is something being placed between the match surface and the laser.

[@shmeet]

PunakiviAddikti How does it manage to manipulate the material on the disc if it's so weak?

[@kv-2743]

to maximize absorption of light to increase the heat being generated on the surface of the matchhead.

[@emmanuelsheshi1553]

Good work Scott...

[@ozfartface1914]

I bought an £8 laser from eBay, that worked wonderfully at lighting matches etc

[@deanmoulder9348]

Love your videos! So smart.

[@casaverdero]

you are the best!!! Its the best tutorial ever on this!!!

[@carstenmueller6180]

At least you tried! Anyway very nicely done :)

[@jaxonblade1659]

Awesome videotutorial. Good job.

[@digitalbroadcaster]

'Arnie makes a video' But at least it saves others wasting so much time with hacking the old laser diodes from computers, so a worthy video.

[@gasturbat8]

Thanks for the awesome video Scott! Your videos ignite the interest in me to study electronics engineering in the university! :)

[@greatscottlab]

Yonatan Vologdin Awesome!

[@damianmandich8723]

Need to buy some precision soldering kit. Love this kind of stuff and have bunch of components already. Hope the laser diodes are still okay.

[@JuanAriasArias]

Good job. Thank you.

[@harmindersingh7833]

Sir you are great engineer

[@zaintlouis]

Thanks for saving us time!

[@arjunbhardwaj7931]

i like this channel a lot .. good work dude

[@kanchansharma5802]

Great scott you are a great burning laser maker

[@thelonewolf8023]

Thank you! you helped me a lot

[@saturn5tony]

Very cool... thx 4 sharing.

[@ssikarim]

Thank you for tutorial.

[@baloniMCYT]

You have a new subscriber!!! GreatScott!

[@bora57719]

Great experience!, I want to test myself also but I am afraid to lose control and it turns an whole aim not a hobby. At this level keep watching your nice videos do nothing. Thanks.

[@paulojadergodoi7422]

Adorei também pela sinceridade. Muito bom.

[@professorfidelcat]

great video scott, please make a N machine with the dc motors you salvaged and show us next video project!

[@masteruan]

Hi Scott. Great video! Which kind of program do you use for project on strip perfboard? I use fritzg or Eagle.

[@Mosfet510]

I was waiting for the match to ignite then....but hey, nice try anyway! And I like the circuit using the z44! I'm going to go find it on instructables and check it out, as a project fell through and I have extras. Cool video :-)