Assembling your MD laser meter

You can assemble your MD laser power meter in just a couple of minutes.

You will need:

• a laser power meter circuit board
• a minidisc (preferably with a transparent shutter)
• a utility knife
• CA glue (such as "Super Glue")
• double-sided tape
• CR2025 battery with leads (such as this one)
• tweezers
• a soldering iron and some wire

Step 1:

Gently remove the shutter with tweezers.

Step 2:

Using the utility knife, run around the edges of the minidisc and pry it open. Remove the disc.

Step 3:

Flatten the leads of the coin battery. Use a bit of tape to make sure you don't short it.

Step 4:

Solder the wires connecting the battery to the PCB. You can also add an on/off switch or wire the UPDI pad on the PCB for accessing data stored on the EEPROM.

Step 5:

Add a bit of CA glue to the edges of the PCB and place it in the shutter window. It should fit snugly. Place a length of double-sided tape under the battery to secure it in place.

Step 6:

Add a bit of CA glue to bond both halves of the minidisc together. You can secure it with office clips until the glue sets.

Step 7:

Your MD laser power meter is ready!