Laser Diode Mount

Laser Diode Stand

This simple stand holds a 5v laser diode in place, with a simple hinge for up/down positioning. A cable clip on the base protects soldered joints on cables, and mounting holes on the front can be used for securing cables or attaching rulers, switches, and other pieces of equipment. I originally designed this to use with a coke-bottle magnetometer for the Astronomical League Space Weather observing program, so I could have a consistent laser position during the entire project.

Parts Needed

1x M3 Bolt >20mm long

1x USB cable (worn out charger cables or outdated apple charger cables work well here!)

1x 6mm OD laser diode (Amazon link)

Soldering Iron + Solder

Heat Shrink Tubing (optional)

Assembly

Print the two parts with PLA or any other filament, and after clearing any supports, slide an M3 bolt into the hinge holes. Tighten the bolt as needed to adjust the tension on the laser holder. 

Cut the end off of a worn out USB cable, so that you have the type A side and a few feet of USB cable. Strip the end an inch, and separate the red wire from the black wire. Solder the red wire on the laser diode to a red wire in the USB cable, and the blue wire on the laser diode onto the black wire on the USB cable; cover the joints with heat shrink tubing if available. This will feed 5V into the  laser diode when plugged into a computer or any other USB port. 

Verify the focus of the laser diode by plugging it in. Burn it in for a few minutes to make sure it doesn't fail, and if the beam focus is wrong, adjust the diode focus by turning the brass cylinder at the front of the diode until it is focused. Once the diode is glued into the mount bracket, you will be unable to adjust the focus. Unplug the diode.

Finally, glue the laser diode into the 6mm hole at the top of the bracket. Once the glue has dried. you can press the USB cable into the small clip on the base to keep it from getting kinked. 

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