Anyone in the UK making a laser device ?

[ih67]

I am looking to buy the parts to build a 70-100 device and just need to know my best options for someone in the UK. My funds are limited.

[ih67]

No help here then. :-" :-" :-" :-" :-" :-" :-" :-" (sound of tumbleweed)

[Anxious1]

do u realise how easy it is?

seriousl,y u buy 70 x 650 nm diodes from aixiz, place them in some foam, then buy some 14 and 16 gauge wire, cut it up and connect the thinest black wire to ten of the black wires from ten diodes, and the thinnest red wire to ten of the red wires from the diodes, u do this 7 times, so that u now have 7 black wires , and 7 red wires, which u twist together, and then twist the red ones onto one final 16 gauge black wire, and one final 16 gauge red wire. u then connect them to the pos and neg of a 2500 milliamp, 3 volt power supply (each diode requires 30 milliamps @ 3 volts), and u r done. just attach this piece of foam onto a hat or helmet, and use 3 times a week at 20 mins a time.

dont quote me on this, read the instructions on overmachogrande.com, im just making the point that its not rocket science. the circuitry needed is included in each diode. all u have to do is connect the diodes to a power supply.

[general zod]

I'll get back to you on this at the weekend, ih67. I have a decent list of sources but not the time to compile it at the moment.

[general zod]

Right then...

The diodes I got from aixiz. I used the discount order form on overmachogrande.com. Maybe it's still there...

I generally did quite a lot of searching around the web for all this stuff. I took into account price, quality and whether the website looked legit or not. Never buy anything from www.fast-lad.co.uk (I never received my glue from them but I did have a rather large sum of money disappear from my account not long after ordering. As far as I'm concerned, simply not delivering the ordered product puts them in the frame! Bunch of dicks..).


FOAM:

3mm/6mm foam (white) - http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/Plastazote.html

I grabbed some 2mm white/black from hobbycraft (I know OMG suggests 3mm, but it doesn't make a great deal of difference)

I got some 6mm RED from amazon or ebay (don't remember) for the inner part of the base of the helmet (couldn't find black).

You may want to have a look at these sites also, to see what they're offering at present;

http://www.rapidonline.com (search for 'plastazote foam sheets')

http://www.craftdepot.co.uk/CraftProducts.cfm?SubCat=39


LEATHER HOLE PUNCH:

Okay, it's not the leather hole punch OMG recommends. I just bought this belt punch and hammered in the diode holes (the diodes fit perfectly well); http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-1 ... lt%20punch


EYELET KIT:

I picked up two 8mm eyelet kits at hobbycraft


VELCRO STRIPS:

http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/Gro ... s-914.aspx


GOOP-LIKE GLUE:

I order from here: http://www.modelshopleeds.co.uk/catalog ... 1880b177de

Although I just noticed you could get it cheaper (and with a discount price for 2) from here:

http://www.servoshop.co.uk/index.php?pi ... &area=ACCS

(I haven't purchased from them before though so I can't make a guarantee against dodgyness)


WIRE NUTS:

I got the 12.7mm ones;

http://www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Conne ... 0connector


MALE/FEMALE WIRE DISCONNECTS:

Generally referred to as 'crimp terminals', 'terminal disconnects' and the like, if you purchase from the UK;

male: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=42727

female: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=42728


RED AND BLACK WIRE:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=6187


AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPERS:

http://www.rapidonline.com/sku/Tools-Fa ... 58/86-0390


BARRIER STRIP:

http://www.digitel.uk.net/prodDetail.php?p=2740659


POWER SUPPLY:

http://www.trcelectronics.com/Meanwell/rs-35-3.3.shtml


I guess you can get your ELECTRICAL TAPE at maplin.co.uk or rapidonline.com. I happened to have some lying around.



Well, that should get you started!

[Anxious1]

thats a great list, but really its all unnessesary, aixiz diodes are neccessary, and so is the correct power supply, but if u just go to any electronic store, u can either find, or order a 2500 mamp , multi volatage power supply. wire is everywhere, just need to get the corret gauge, but any guy in an electronics guy can tell uthat as long as u tell him the voltge and amps. amps just has to be above wat is required, doesnt have to be exact.

foam u can get from old mouse pads. its exactly the same. theres even different thicknesses. if u dont want to build the helmet, u can just cut the top off a bike helmet, and install the diodes in foam and put that on top.

really the only thing u need to order is the diodes.

[ih67]

Hey thanks General Zod for taking the time to list all your sources. Thats really helpful mate and kind of you.

I will order the diodes first but not sure how many I want. I had a transplant nearly 3 years ago and just want to stop or slow down the crown thinning and try and hold on to the rest. If lasers are my answer I am a happy man.

One thing, 70 diodes at $210 is too expensive for me. Would I get away with 50 ? I see people selling combs and other home made devices with a lot less diodes.

Thanks again.

[ih67]

Anyone please

[Anxious1]

who knows.

laser combs = 9 diodes
lasermax = 50 - 90 diodes
clinics = 107 diodes
helmets = 300 diodes or combinations moved to = 300

those r all 650 nm, 3-5 volts

if u want to use 50 diodes, then thats exactly why i said all of those parts arent necessary,
just install 50 diodes on a piece of foam from a mouse pad, wire them back to a power supply,
and install it on a helmet or hat or strap, so u can move it to different areas of ur head.

the less diodes there is, the more times u have to move it to get the same coverage. u could move the 50 3, 4 or 6 times
for the equivalent of 150, 200, or 300 diodes, but apparently it doesnt work as good as a full helmet, but thats the trade off for
it being so cheap. I'd probably just make a strap with vecro, and work out a way to accurately position it on 4 different quarters of the head,
putting it in the same place each time, for 20 mins each = 80 minutes 3 times a week.

u could space the 50 diodes out more to cover half ur head, and do 2 moves at 20 mins each, or u could space them out so the 50 covers the whole head,
but the more u space them out, the less effective they are. its up to u. i'd go with 50 x 4 zones x 15-20 mins a zone, 3 times a week
but that may be hard to keep up, maybe u should just save some more money, its only another 60$ for 20 more diodes.

[ldj111]

Hi mate,

I'm in the UK. After reading up on some of these forums, I found a laser helmet on ebay from a newly listed company. Looks ok and has 104 lasers in. I don't have time to build my own one so will give this one a try. I have been (stupidly) using a lasermax comb for about 5 years now. I could swear it did work a little for me, but then I am on propecia as well. So hopefully this much more powerfull laser helmet will give me better results...however I am seriously concidering dropping propecia very soon!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Please note that I am not trying to sell this helmet to anyone, and can't say how well it works as am still waiting for it in the post.

cheers

Leon