i saw an article on makezine.com about a guy who took a laser diode out of a DVD burner and built a laser pointer out of it tht can light paper on fire. i want to do this. i found an eBay auction for a 500mW 808nM laser diode in the tripod-looking package: could i put it in a housing like and put that in a kit like this? how would i best install a lens and heatsink? for that matter, could i buy a pre-built housing or will i have to charm the shop teacher at my college to let me use the tools? .:EDIT:. ok, i just googled and found out those diodes are in the "ATC package" and http://www.us-lasers.com/lasdiohs.htm sells housings that include a lens. would the housing they sell handle a half watt lasers heat output?
808nm is infrared, yes it'll burn paper, but you won't know if the beam is bouncing off anything and causing danger of blind eyesight. Wear 808nm blocking laser goggles if possible.
