UV Laser Continuous Duty

[leif26]

Hi, I'm new to lasers. I'm an artist that works with UV LED's and I'm experimenting with UV lasers. I need a laser light source around 405nm or less in wavelength. The light produced by a cheap UV laser pointer is adequate it just doesn't seem to like staying lit.
I wired a UV laser pointer with a 3v dc adapter and it worked fine for an hour before dimming quite a bit and becoming useless. Any ideas for a UV laser light source that can stay on for at least 12 hours at a time and cost less than $60?
Thanks

[VDX]

... you'll need a better driver, that won't overheat/overpower the diode ...

Viktor

[leif26]

Okay, do you know where I could find a stable UV laser light source? Or, do you think I could just put a heat sink around the brass part of a disassembled laser pointer to cool it?

[swamidog]

i'd use one of these:

https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf...12x-405-diodes
12X S06J Bluray Diode In Copper Module W/Leads & Three Element Glass Lens
$62

and one of these to drive it:
https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf...12x-405-diodes

and maybe one of these to mount the laser module in:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/131117174288?lpid=82

Okay, do you know where I could find a stable UV laser light source? Or, do you think I could just put a heat sink around the brass part of a disassembled laser pointer to cool it?

[dsli_jon]

^ what swami said.. Or, if you don't fancy 'diy'ing it, I'd give a jingle to Kevin 'Junktronix' - http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...270-Junktronix ..I seem to recall he was selling some reasonably-hi power 405's, recently.. In any-case, he should be able to hook you up, and will take good care of ya..

fwiw..
cheers..
j