Well if you have followed my efforts over the last year on making a mini low power programming projector than you know I first had the dichro issue to solve. Check done thanks to Dave and Bridge. Special mention to Fred at one stop for trying as well. Had to build up a small rgb module. Check done thanks to logsquared. lovely piece of machining. Diodes from DTR thanks for a great site and service. Needed drivers Thanks Andrew for the new run. Well that got me to a completed 200mw light source. Then Bill made the 506's and turned the idea of a miniature scanner on its head. Add some driver sauce and finally I'm ready to assemble the unit. I'm going to buy a 12"x6" piece of 1/4" alum for the plate because once again the heat issue thanks to bill is no big deal BUT I am hoping to get it all on 6"x6" of the plate and chop off the extra 6". Better to have the extra space than need it. When done I am pretty sure it will be a 6" cube with a window on one side and a power cord and db25 on the other. This thing will draw less that 2A weigh under 2 lbs (way under). Now with a laptop I can sit in total silence and get the equivalent of a 60x argon and 30mw hene combo that cost 3k and drew 15A. This total build is less than 2k. Add in a fb3 and you have the ultimate hobby box. If you take away my mistakes along the way you might be able to do this under $1200.00
I'm doing the build on Monday so look to this thread for pictures of the unit. PS: it would be no big deal to change the rgb unit out to be well over 2W in the same space. I just wanted the beauty of single mode diodes. You can easily use the 120mw green in place of the 50mw in the same unit I am using. I am sure logsquared could offer the metal work as a kit. He doesn't make completed modules so you need dichro, diodes, lens, and drivers. Looks like I hit the bottom of the text box..............
The last pic is my existing 12x18"x12" projector for comparison. This all fits on a 6" plate and is 5" deep with space to spare. Tomorrow is drill tap and assemble