dvd-rw disassembly safe?

[aaqubit]

in order to save space and weight for a custom-built case, I have taken the casing out of my BENQ DW1610 dvd/cd burner to make the optical drive smaller. Does anyone know if this is a laser hazard?

It warns:

"CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT"
Caution: Class 3B visible and invisible laser radiation when open, avoid exposure to beam

Could anyone clarify the statement above, such as the consequences of exposure and what constitutes exposure (direct/indirect/diffracted exposure)...

Thx.

 

[TSCrv]

Just dont run it unless its covered, by law thhey have to put that warning, but i have found no real threat... i do know they dont want the laser getting out (to your eyes), and they dont want light interference getting in and causeing bad reads... i used to take apart cd drives all the time because kids in highschool are always jamming pencils into them.... since i donot know the technical specs of the laser i cannot comment on that, all i know is that i run cd drives open a lot, without injury... (but i am smart about it, im not the type to stare into it)... but if you are putting the cd drive into the case i wouldnt see any harm in it... as long as no mechanical parts use the top cover as a guide, also some chips contact the cover to use it as a heatsink, be careful...

 

[imported_CromsDog]

save space.......explain. And how much weight can a DVD/RW casing weigh? Just wondering if the savings were worth the effort. As far as hazards go, I would worry more about exposing the laser to contaminants than actulal "laser" exposure. The laser in a DVD or CD drive can be easily effected by scratches, like those caused by fast moving dust and debris found in most computer cases with no filter on the intake fans. Save yourself the worry and put the case back on......or wrap it in aluminum foil.

 

[MWink]

I wouldn't do it just because optical drives are very sensitive to dust.

 

[aaqubit]

Thanks for all your insight (so fast too! lol...). Anyway, here's the reply to:

TSCrv
I wasn't planning to stare at the drive, but one thing I want to distinguish is that you said you were dealing with regular CDROM drives, while I'm referring to a DVD+/-RW, which might (not sure) have a higher powered laser.

CromsDog
There isn't much space to save, but I'm interested in the "recessed" areas of the drive that would be used to for better air flow in the case, since the case will be highly compacted. I think you're right about exposing the laser to contaminants.. though I did considered wrapping the drive with something (without shorting the circuits). As with weight, the current desktop case I constructed (with wood+nail+wood glue) plus all the components and a portable luggage case weigh about 14lbs. I'm trying to make it just under 10lbs so carrying it on the plane is permissible.

MWink
Yea...agreed. Might wrap something that's not conductive.

Your responses are appreciated!

ps: I constructed a case that just fits inside my portable luggage case; however, I wanted to finish the case with sheet aluminum and a paint job. This will make the case just slightly too big for my luggage, so I have the tendency to make an even smaller case.

edit:
this is my current case. I want to make a new one that's smaller/lighter than this, so I have to save as much space/weight as possible.
FYI the height of the case is about 32cm, depth about 36cm(?), width about 16cm.
http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?image=case11nc.jpg

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Use a notebook DVD-RW and save yourself the stress. An uncased optical drive is going to become worthless very quickly due to lens contamination.

- M4H

 

[imported_CromsDog]

sorry..... Should have clarified..... Just kidding about the aluminum foil. Please don't wrap anything in your computer with a conductive material.

P.S. Nice Case!

 

[aaqubit]

Originally posted by: CromsDog
Use a notebook DVD-RW and save yourself the stress. An uncased optical drive is going to become worthless very quickly due to lens contamination.

I plan to wrap the drive in something (that's not electrically conductive), so it shouldn't be a worry.

Originally posted by: CromsDog

P.S. Nice Case!

it's got front USB ports too! but the power switch is still dangling

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: aaqubit
Thanks for all your insight (so fast too! lol...). Anyway, here's the reply to:

TSCrv
I wasn't planning to stare at the drive, but one thing I want to distinguish is that you said you were dealing with regular CDROM drives, while I'm referring to a DVD+/-RW, which might (not sure) have a higher powered laser.

CromsDog
There isn't much space to save, but I'm interested in the "recessed" areas of the drive that would be used to for better air flow in the case, since the case will be highly compacted. I think you're right about exposing the laser to contaminants.. though I did considered wrapping the drive with something (without shorting the circuits). As with weight, the current desktop case I constructed (with wood+nail+wood glue) plus all the components and a portable luggage case weigh about 14lbs. I'm trying to make it just under 10lbs so carrying it on the plane is permissible.

MWink
Yea...agreed. Might wrap something that's not conductive.

Your responses are appreciated!

ps: I constructed a case that just fits inside my portable luggage case; however, I wanted to finish the case with sheet aluminum and a paint job. This will make the case just slightly too big for my luggage, so I have the tendency to make an even smaller case.

edit:
this is my current case. I want to make a new one that's smaller/lighter than this, so I have to save as much space/weight as possible.
FYI the height of the case is about 32cm, depth about 36cm(?), width about 16cm.
http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?image=case11nc.jpg

While I think the case looks really nice and classy, perhaps it would have been easier to get it under 10 lbs if you had used something other than hardwoods? lol

 

[aaqubit]

While I think the case looks really nice and classy, perhaps it would have been easier to get it under 10 lbs if you had used something other than hardwoods? lol

the wooden frame is actually pretty light. It's made with poplar, the lightest wood I could find at my home depot. I would guestimate the frame at ~1.5lbs. It weighed 4.0lbs with my mobo/cpu/cpu hsf/chipset hsf/2 mem sticks

 

[thescreensavers]

love to see the back of that. b/c ive made a case out of wood before.

 

[TSCrv]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: aaqubit
Thanks for all your insight (so fast too! lol...). Anyway, here's the reply to:

TSCrv
I wasn't planning to stare at the drive, but one thing I want to distinguish is that you said you were dealing with regular CDROM drives, while I'm referring to a DVD+/-RW, which might (not sure) have a higher powered laser.

heh, sorry when i say cd drive i mean optical drive, meaning any type, dvd, cd, etc.... just for the h*ll of it i have replaced lenses in xbox drives...


if oyu wnat to safe space just get a low profile drive as mentioned, or use a drive that has shorter dimentions.... (some drives are longer than others)

 

[TSCrv]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
love to see the back of that. b/c ive made a case out of wood before.

does mounging everything on a piece of plywood and mounting that on a wall considered making it out of wood? hehe