Build Thread Illustrating Fixed Focus in Hobby Lasers

[IsaacT]

My Take on Leadlight Host - Fixed Focus

So I have, for a while now, desired to create one laser of every available
wavelength in a single host type. Well after a lot of toying around with
different hosts, I finally found the one I am doing.

Hosts that didn't quite make the cut:
1. Aurora SH-032 SS Host - I hate the Green Tailcap
2. Aurora C6 Black Anodized Host - Is not shiny
3. Kryton Groove - Many of my Diodes are 3.8mm Single Modes...too much
modification

Well I finally decided on Jayrob's Chrome Leadlight host. It is an elegant host,
pretty easy to put together, and it is small enough to accompany me as an
EDC laser. Here is a picture of the front of one from Jayrob's thread. I
HIGHLY recommend them.

But, I had a choice to make. You see, while I really like what many people do
with the hosts(discard the aperture cap and use an aixiz focus ring), I
absolutely adore the chrome aperture cap that is included with the laser. So
I decided to try something I haven't seen anyone do yet - Make the laser
with the cap.

My plan is simple, construct the laser as compactly as I could, set the lens
to infinity, and then press in the aperture cap....



AND IT WORKED! I used a dab of Krazy Glue on the side of the lens
barrel(taking care to not let the fumes hit the lens), and then pressed the
cap on over it. The end result:












I really feel like using the chrome aperture cap helped to preserve the
overall look of these simple, yet stunningly beautiful hosts. I have ordered
all the parts at once for the following builds:
650nm Single Mode Leadlight Chrome @ 300mA
638nm Single Mode Leadlight Chrome @ 300mA
520nm Single Mode Leadlight Chrome @ 300mA
405nm Single Mode Leadlight Chrome @ 450mA
532nm Single Mode Leadlight Chrome ~110mW

DTR has been extremely helpful in all this, and he was as usual very pleasant
and happy about removing my money from my account In all seriousness
though, he is the man you need to go to if you need diodes.

This is going to be one of my favorite parts of my collection - a collection
within a collection, one might say, and I will be shopping around for a
professional case to display them in. I will put out more build threads as I
create each one(all parts should be here by Thursday), and I hope to have
this line of lasers done soon.

Thanks for looking, I hope you all have enjoyed taking a look at my take on
the classic Leadlight host.

:thanks:
Isaac

Also, going to be putting a 638nm Leadlight up for sale. It has a slight
surface imperfection on the aperture cap due to a slip when modifying the
cap. May be a good opportunity for someone to get a 638nm Laser for a
really cheap price. Here is a video, please excuse the mess, I have been
busy lately.

 

[sinner]

Damn that's beautiful, Can't wait to see the elegant collection come to life! Good luck, may the wavelength Gods be with you!!!

:beer:

 

[ARG]

Fixed focus for the win! I dislike focus able lasers, it's annoying to focus it to infinity every time. I've glued down the focus on all my personal lasers.

Great build mate!

 

[IsaacT]

I agree! For my 3W build I will allow focus, and I have a 12X with focusability, but it is so much easier to just fix it

 

[KapHn8d]

That is going to be an awesome nested-collection when you get'r done. Nice looking host... does it get "fingerprinty" when handling? I may have missed the mention, but what wavelength blue were the first set of pics? What's the power soure in this build?

Great write up of your plan to tease us a little, Isaac. Keep us posted on the progress!

Cheers!

 

[norbyx]

very nice lasers. I have 3 hosts that look just like the ones you have. I need to make them into lasers but it's not an easy build that is for sure. And it has to be time consuming.

 

[Stin]

:drool: This collection is going to look fantastic! Great idea, fixed focus with the cap makes this build look so elegant and regal. Good luck!

 

[Livinloud]

and the sale price???? #icalldibs

 

[IsaacT]

That is going to be an awesome nested-collection when you get'r done. Nice looking host... does it get "fingerprinty" when handling? I may have missed the mention, but what wavelength blue were the first set of pics? What's the power soure in this build?

Great write up of your plan to tease us a little, Isaac. Keep us posted on the progress!

Cheers!

Thanks! It actually does not get very fingerprinty at all! The blue is the PL450 Diode from DTR, so it is a 450nm Blue. And the power source is a single 10440 Li-Ion with a Spacer. Unfortunately the Li-Ion I got has a lip of plastic which prevents contact so I had to peel it off at the end to get it to contact the back cap.

and the sale price???? #icalldibs

I just posted the FS thread. I am pricing it at 70 Shipped anywhere in the US.

 

[jcranmer]

Dang, now I have to hunt up my ledlight (a140) and see if it uses the cap. I can't remember.

 

[lazerphase]

Great collection idea! Hope it goes well :beer: and can't wait to see it complete

 

[IsaacT]

I am definitely dying to get all of my parts in! I also need to find a good case for them

 

[lazerphase]

You should get a metal lockable briefcase case and have slots for all of them to go in order by wavelength that would be awesome :drool:

 

[IsaacT]

That's the plan

 

[mdubbicus]

Nice man, that's going to be a pretty sweet collection when you get done. You'll definitely have to keep us posted on the progress, and throw up some more pics as you go along.

 

[Lazerbeak]

Super clean build Issac. Keeping the cap was a great choice. Elegant and I love the beamshots in the video. Beautiful :gj:

Looking forward to seeing a most excellent wavelength set :beer:

~ LB