Tout sur les Diode laser.-Mozilla Firefox. DIY Homemade laser diode driver - Laser Pointer Forums - Discuss Lasers & Laser Pointers. Controlling 3V laser with arduino. What is it that you need the laser to do, and how fast does it need to do it?
Is it a variation of a few % of 40mA, or a full 0 to 40mA? I am told (but not tested it yet) that it is tricky to modulate low-cost lasers much faster than 5KHz. It can be done, but the electronics gets more complex. This looks like a good source of info Sam's Laser FAQ which might help. The laser will need a limit on the current to 40mA. The laser modules I have are relatively relaxed about using higher voltages (an Arduino pin is only 4.2V), but they were more sensitive to current. Also, I would be nervous about trying to source 40mA from a single pin for long periods.
Have you access to a copy of the Art of Electronics? If it is relatively coarse modulation (i.e 8 levels), you could try using a bunch of Arduino pins, each limited to, say, 5mA with a resistor, and just modulate by switching them between on and high-impedance. I have found the owner very helpful. Sam's Laser FAQ - Diode Laser Power Supplies. {*style:<b>Sam's Laser FAQ, Copyright © 1994-2012, Samuel M.
Goldwasser, All Rights Reserved. I may be contacted via the Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Email Links Page . </b>*} Back to Sam's Laser FAQ Table of Contents . Sub-Table of Contents. Laser hacks. How to use a Laser diode. Ok - wait a minute - he's referencing the laser -diode- offered on that page - not the laser MODULE.
A laser -diode- is going to need a little more than that circuit to operate properly (without it burning out); it needs the proper voltage and current control... What that circuit shows that the OP posted is a control for a laser module, but shows a diode in place of the module (which is incorrect). The OP is referencing the data for the diode on futurlec's page - which is not what is called for in the circuit. The OP should either use the laser -module- that futurlec sells on that page, or investigate how to properly build a power supply for a laser diode (which can then be controlled by the circuit already posted). Simple laser diode supply schematics can be found here: ...and here: ...among other places on the net (google "laser diode driver").