1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Just want to let everyone know that Yobresal's service on these is top notch, too. I have *4* total (including the color variations) and #4 arrived with an intermittency problem and eventually went out: lets just say his response was great and unexpected.

Really Luke is great to work with on this, so, buy these lasers with confidence. I know I'll probably get yet more, so long as he keeps selling them. Much better than buying from overseas for so many reasons.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

hey yobresal, is that a glow-in-the-dark dust cap in the pictures of page 1?

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

536616 said:

hey yobresal, is that a glow-in-the-dark dust cap in the pictures of page 1?

Click to expand...

Yes, it is glow in the dark.
Another I got from him was not.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Anyone got any tips for cleaning the lens? My laser has a heck of a crazy splatter now, and when you hold the lens over a flashlight, you can see a milky area and dust spots.

I've tried Q tips and windex, which works for the milky area, but the spots are still there. So my dot still has like a 4-5' splatter area around it. I didn't want to try anything strong until I asked. I have acetone, but I really didn't want try that...

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Boosted240 said:

Anyone got any tips for cleaning the lens? My laser has a heck of a crazy splatter now, and when you hold the lens over a flashlight, you can see a milky area and dust spots.

I've tried Q tips and windex, which works for the milky area, but the spots are still there. So my dot still has like a 4-5' splatter area around it. I didn't want to try anything strong until I asked. I have acetone, but I really didn't want try that...

Click to expand...

i just use a microfiber cloth... worked for me

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Boosted240 said:

Anyone got any tips for cleaning the lens? My laser has a heck of a crazy splatter now, and when you hold the lens over a flashlight, you can see a milky area and dust spots.

I've tried Q tips and windex, which works for the milky area, but the spots are still there. So my dot still has like a 4-5' splatter area around it. I didn't want to try anything strong until I asked. I have acetone, but I really didn't want try that...

Click to expand...

I think acetone will toast acrylic if you have the Aixiz lens.

I found a microfiber cloth did wonders.... had one in a camera case.

I tried the q tip alcohol and windex thing too... q tips are nasty with tons of little fibers and they are abrasive too.
If you look at one through a loupe you can see why.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

PM sent.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

windstrings said:

I think acetone will toast acrylic if you have the Aixiz lens.

I found a microfiber cloth did wonders.... had one in a camera case.

I tried the q tip alcohol and windex thing too... q tips are nasty with tons of little fibers and they are abrasive too.
If you look at one through a loupe you can see why.

Click to expand...

The aixiz lens yob provides with these is glass just fyi so I don't think a qtip will do any damage.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

how bout a blast of canned air , the stuff they sell for clearing dust out of computers and electronics ? maybe not at point blank range but ...

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

dandiele said:

The aixiz lens yob provides with these is glass just fyi so I don't think a qtip will do any damage.

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Yea it's glass but still take care when cleaning ANY optic on ClassIV lasers. Any piece of dust (we call it FOD for Foreign Object Debris) in the path of the beam creates heat. If it's something that really absorbs 445 and turns it into heat that micro sized hotpot can damage coatings on the lens. If this happens the only way to restore beam quality is replace the element.

Not trying to scare anyone here but make sure whatever you're using is CLEAN!

Acrylic elements are attacked by many organic solvents and will distort. If this happens the lens is trashed. Also using plastic with ClassIV powers is risky as the tiniest FOD can heat up and pit the surface rendering the lens, you guessed it...useless!

Not sure if your diode window has FOD on it? Remove the collimator, point to ceiling and check out the beam. It should not have any dots or circles on it. If so you need to clean that window. Be careful as it's fragile and too much pressure can crack it. It's not the kiss of death if cracked if the diode still works. You can (carefully) extract all the pieces of sapphire? out and the laser will work. Its beam will be very clean now as there is no window at all. The diode will also be more fragile to FOD as well...

I've been messing with diode lasers for nearly 25 years and I'm finding these high power short wavelength diodes are really, really pesky on the quality and integrity of what you place in the path of the beam.

Finally I will close a little bit more on topic regarding the service...

Luke rocks! My laser suddenly flickered and quit working. I verified it was not a battery issue and sent a PM to Luke. He said send it back and apologized. He got it on Wed and Wed night I got the "your package is on its way" email we all love!

He replaced the driver and diode and I received it yesterday. He's on the Left Coast and I'm on the Right. Exactly a week turnaround with a holiday in the middle! If that's not outstanding service I don't know what is! Cheers mate! :san:

Oh and it that's not enough this replacement is very good. Everything it hits catches on fire! I even set a cardboard box flap on fire. My wife hates it! :drool:

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Received my shipment yesterday and could not be happier. Solid build quality, fantastic performance, and as smooth a transaction as anyone could hope for.

I'm looking forward to shooting some nice videos and pics of distance shots with this badboy.

Thanks Luke.... you're the man.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Whoops. I meant to post this about a week ago. Though I'd chime in and say after two months the laser is still going strong even though one of the batteries crapped out almost immediately which was no biggy since I had already ordered a set of protected ones. Measured it on my LPM earlier tonight on a set of batteries that had a 3.85v charge and it came in at 980mw. Not bad at all.

I took these pics right before Halloween.


2010-10-28_08-27-37pm by ltkernelpanic, on Flickr

I was attempting to point it at Jupiter (right of beam) but the laser moved in the holder I had it in and I noticed a plane moving into the area so I had to take the shot. The 5 second exposure makes it look more violet than it is.



2010-10-28_08-10-43pm by ltkernelpanic, on Flickr

The longest 5 seconds in my life when I saw the lens flare. I knew there wouldn't be sensor damage since it's just lens flare but when you're using a three month old D90 you start to question the wisdom of the shot while waiting for the shutter to close.



2010-10-28_08-31-31pm by ltkernelpanic, on Flickr

A fairly close representation of the beam color.


2010-10-28_08-15-44pm by ltkernelpanic, on Flickr

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

dandiele said:

The aixiz lens yob provides with these is glass just fyi so I don't think a qtip will do any damage.

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\
Ah guess your right..... I think reading this is must have what threw me "

Glass Lens Mod - 28% Increase vs AixiZ Acrylic!"

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I wonder how much more output the G-1 is from the "glass" Aixiz?......
I personally like the Aixiz due to the tighter convergence for my uses.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

WUHUUUUU!

got the laser today. It went over my expectations. wow! . what a power in this little device. DONT use this without goggles, i did, and my eyes hurts a little.

thanks yobresal.

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

I have received my laser and it is nothing short of amazing. It was shipped on 11/26 and arrived on 11/30 which is very fast considering I live in Alaska.

But I have a question for you guys. Is it safe to focus the laser while it is turned on or should I turn it off in between focusing it? I have big fingers and I am afraid of them getting in the beam.

I have these goggles on the way

405nm,473nm,532nm laser safety goggles [OLGLG532] - $19.99 : Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products

and some 18650 batteries on the way.

I am new to lasers so I think I will slowly work my way up to using this laser at full power. I'll start with a 50mW green that I ordered and then use Luke's laser with the 18650 batteries before going full power.

This thing is way brighter than I thought it would be and I am kind of scared for my and others safety. That is why I am taking slow steps to learn how to handle lasers first.

I have read a lot about safety and have learned a lot from these forums.

LPF = Awesome!

Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180

Ex Nihilo said:

I have received my laser and it is nothing short of amazing. It was shipped on 11/26 and arrived on 11/30 which is very fast considering I live in Alaska.

But I have a question for you guys. Is it safe to focus the laser while it is turned on or should I turn it off in between focusing it? I have big fingers and I am afraid of them getting in the beam.

I have these goggles on the way

405nm,473nm,532nm laser safety goggles [OLGLG532] - $19.99 : Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products

and some 18650 batteries on the way.

I am new to lasers so I think I will slowly work my way up to using this laser at full power. I'll start with a 50mW green that I ordered and then use Luke's laser with the 18650 batteries before going full power.

This thing is way brighter than I thought it would be and I am kind of scared for my and others safety. That is why I am taking slow steps to learn how to handle lasers first.

I have read a lot about safety and have learned a lot from these forums.

LPF = Awesome!

Click to expand...

Welcome to LPF!

You will find that focusing while running does tend to get painful! My fingers get in the way too! I click it off, turn and try again. I like the lens tight (wrap teflon tape around the threads liberally) so it requires a good grip to turn. If you leave it loose you can just nudge it with a finger while on. For my personal use I find the lens holder is too loose without teflon tape, however.

Those glasses should be fine. I use OD3+ for most things but higher 6+ if viewing up close or there is a risk of reflection back, etc.

Also the laser will run electrically off an 18650 but not optimally. It needs more voltage so dual R123s should be your primary pusher.