476nm / 480nm diode build by styropyro REVIEW (pic HEAVY)

Hello everybody! This is yet another one of those oddball lasers that I got my hands onto

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Before I get into the review, it all started with a thread on PL with some guy selling 4 of these diodes. Time went by, and styropyro ended up buying the lot.

Then the murder fund/giveaway came out to test these suckers before anyone dared to play with them.

That lead to styro making his own personal pen build using one of these, and later another build.

Well, this is where I came in. I tried buying one off styro from the very beginning. Ran into some financial troubles and ultimately couldn't buy one right from the start.

Eventually I got over it for a bit, but I came back when I had more money on-hand, asked if he was still willing to part with any. I got a PM a bit later--

styropyro said:

...I actually do have a 30mW 476nm/480nm in a MiniSabre v2 that you may be interested in...

Click to expand...

This was shortly before the thread was posted on it.

Well, finally having enough money... I bought it without any hesitation.





I love the host for this. In my opinion, a great choice for this.

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Now this is what I'm sure quite a few of you guys want to know. How different is it compared to 473nm?

The color is shockingly different than 473nm. After staring the four down as best I could, as well as sending quite a few PM's to myself, I determined that this is the most accurate I can show the color in comparison to other wavelengths in the region on different screens. Very surprising!



Now while it is different in comparison to 473nm, it still isn't unique enough on its own for me to say "Hey that's definitely a different color" without comparing. It's not noticeable without comparing like 589/594 is.

My camera doesn't distinguish between 476nm and 480nm yet alone 473nm and 488nm, so the next photo is how it appears. (Photo by ARG)


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The datasheet for this diode is here.

I adjusted the focus to the best divergence I could possibly create (calculated here).

Slow axis:

At aperture: .5cm
At 40 feet: .55cm

Roughly 0.041mRad

Fast axis:

At aperture: .3cm
At 40 feet: .85cm

Roughly 0.452mRad

Took a pic to compare the spot sizes of more common lasers at a distance of 70 feet
this build, 520, 450, 532 (left to right)



Under LPMs, this is outputting JUST below 30mW


Duty cycle? Pfft. This thing won't get warm. It can probably survive a half hour LPM run no sweat like my 520 did. But I wouldn't dare do such a thing to this laser.

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Finally, onto the good stuff. Pics!

I'd like to start by showing off how it actually looks in person. Mind you all, a 30mW beam isn't very impressive.




Comparing to 473nm
(diode on left)

(diode on right)


And finishing off with some beamshots



And finally, perhaps my single greatest beamshot to date.



I feel sorry for those of you guys who wanted to buy one of these but didn't get the chance, it's an awesome novelty! But, not that on the contrary "30mW is just not enough". But I wouldn't dare sell this because of that

A huge :thanks: to styropyro on this laser, wouldn't have such an awesome toy without you!

Keep your eyes open on this thread, I'll be adding more to it since I really like this one

Next up is a little modification to this build. Won't be done for a few months though...

:thanks: for reading everyone! :wave:

I am sorry for not replying much on skype

This laser is extraordinary. It's nice to see such beautiful lasers coming around.

really love those beamshots. Looks like those fake lightsaber toys with the opaque plastic, just lights it up so well.

P.S. That's not just me love for ML's talking

EDIT: I totally forgot that I was the reason people blew up over these on LPF. *horn toot*

Nice review

It sure does look like a fascinating wavelength and is a great little guy to add to a collection.

Keep it up! +1

BEAUTIFUL You are so lucky to have that laser ;P Great review, i can keep dreaming though after seeing the price :O

Beautiful wavelength. I hope we soon get these diodes in 1W just like the 520. I'd sell an arm to get one of these

very nice shots +1

I've always wanted one of these...but lately with so little money, not likely to happen anytime soon

Stunning wavelength :drool:

I'm glad you like it! That sure was a fun little laser. I still have one of the unused diodes left...now I just need another minisabre

I'm glad you were able to get one of these because I know you love these blue wavelengths!!

Now find me a 600-610nm diode, and I'll go grab a bonesaw from Home Depot.

You can always get the 620 and be happy enough with ones that actually commercially exist

Gonna be playing around with a few other cameras tonight, hoping I find one that can show the difference in wavelengths somewhat accurately.

For now, a slightly blurry pic of all my "always on buttoned" handhelds running at once

Man that's a nice color. Hopefully more of these diodes pop up at some point, in larger quantities and lower prices!



Hey, I can hope, darnit

They pop up as sample diodes, I have my doubts for these to be commercialized though (unfortunately )

I like the color on this a lot more than I like 473nm.

Yea, unless for some reason there is ever a sudden need for RGB projectors, I imagine 473/476 would give nicer results than 445. Or, if they replace 445's in DLP projectors

crazyspaz said:

Yea, unless for some reason there is ever a sudden need for RGB projectors, I imagine 473/476 would give nicer results than 445. Or, if they replace 445's in DLP projectors

Click to expand...

RGBs used 473's back in the day, and I saw a few at SELEM that used a few hundred mW of 473.

Pure beauty.

Though not trying to derail

Slight bump! I did a quick comparison between four lasers--

Distance: 70 feet
Lasers used (left to right): 476nm/480nm, 520nm, 450nm, 532nm



Yup, definitely better divergence than even my 520nm.

Edit: Whoa... that 450nm line... what...