How Focus 405nm laser

Greatful for some help from you experts before buying parts please.

1.With no focus lens etc what kind of beam angle does the laser light come out of a TO18 laser diode at ? Looking at OFL318 from Home - OdicForce Lasers Online Shop.

2.They sell a focus lens OFL161. The datasheet looks like it makes a 1mm beam/spot. Would I be able to focus this more to get 0.2mm spot size ?

I'm trying to mount the UV laser pointer into an XY plotter to directly develop the photoresist on a PCB prior to etching.

any help gratefully received.

Rodders

ahh Rodders..
we forgive you..

happy to give out advice BUT-- you need to do your part also my friend...

even though I see you are knowledgeable ...

like:

your first-ever thread here 'should' have been an introduction and placed in the 'WELCOME' section

you could be living down the street for all we know


once you are totally addicted this will become clear-

most of us relish any 'face time'(excluding SKYPE) we can have with someone who also 'speaks laser'

so I have a nice +_5 for your rep beginnings if you will add your DOB
(no offence meant by that)

and at least a general location in your PERSONAL PROFILE...

it is NOT any kind of rule

READ th top threads in each section (stickies) starting in WELCOME -

A good one; 'How to get along on the forum'

just kidding-you seem to have perfect manners!!



BUT most agree this is common good manners at a *friendly* forum like LPF.

Just looked harder at the OP (Original Post)


not to assume otherwise but-- are your taking ESD precautions ?

______________

My 'spidey sense sez you are NOT from the USA- -

I like Odicforce--

so my guess is your are UK -

Len (TEXAS)



no worries we have members every where (almost)

Two that come to mind

'Things' (Dan) from OZ knows a lot as does swamidog (Chris) (from Arizona USA) both have built laser cutters so almost the same --in theory at least-
I think you need to press the diode into an AixiZ(.com) blank module (they come also in copper) and get the AixiZ single element AR coated GLASS lens for 400 to 450 nm lasers. they have some other great items like a socket/wire (long too) to make changing diodes as easy as pulling a plug from the wall-(no soldering requited--$3.50 usd IIRC) other module mounts- HUGE solid lab heat sinks (4 oz!) -- adjustable mounts- lots of stuff--

TBH
there are a few items at AixiZ that were gotten BACK when the prices were MUCH higher- so AixiZ cant really compete and admits this - I consider those items as for buyers NOT from the forums. Once out of stock AixiZ will get new that will be BELOW market-





SO welcome - PM me if you need-- ( I am 'associate' for AixiZ -JETLASERS & Laserking)

sounds like an interesting project you have going- not within my expertiese but i have a friend or ten....

hak

ps
I am actually a self-professed expert on nothing... w/ opinions on everything lol. jk