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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Building my own DPSS yellow

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Hi, I have been wanting a yellow laser for a long time and see that they are incredibly expensive. I know quite a bit about lasers and am well aware of the process used to sum frequency generate a yellow beam from IR as well as the R+G combined "yellow" lasers that some members on here have made. However, I was wondering what it would take to build a real yellow DPSS laser from scratch myself. I know I could get the high power IR diodes online, but how about the two crystals that I would need? Is this something I could realistically make at home? Please let me know if/how this could be done or if i'm just barking up the wrong tree.

Thanks!
 





Sta

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This really isn't possible, unfortunately. The process is too complicated and too precise to be done without specialized equipment. It is almost impossible to build a DPSS 532 on your own, let alone a yellow. :(
 
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Damn, oh well. Yeah I'd never heard of anyone building a 532 from scratch before but I see 532 diodes around, do these diodes have the crystals built into them?
 

Sta

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Damn, oh well. Yeah I'd never heard of anyone building a 532 from scratch before but I see 532 diodes around, do these diodes have the crystals built into them?

There aren't any 532 diodes. You'll see 532 modules, however, which do have crystals built in. There are also 520 diodes (I prefer 520 anyways.)
 

Razako

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Damn, oh well. Yeah I'd never heard of anyone building a 532 from scratch before but I see 532 diodes around, do these diodes have the crystals built into them?
No 532nm diodes exist. Only 520nm diodes.
As for building a DPSS yellow on your own, forget about it. It would only be remotely doable if you already had the crystals for one sitting around. Otherwise the project would be totally nonviable.
 
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Rivem

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Damn, oh well. Yeah I'd never heard of anyone building a 532 from scratch before but I see 532 diodes around, do these diodes have the crystals built into them?

Yes, but they're modules not diodes. You can pull the KTP out and have a 1064nm Nd:YAG laser or pull an 808nm diode out.

Edit: You could make a non-portable pulsed yellow laser at home pretty easily via a different method though. Build a Nitrogen TEA laser and use it to excite a dye from Pink/Red highlighters, and you'll either get an orange or yellow laser.
 
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Yeah, I guess the crystals have to be cut a certain way. Also yeah I prefer 520 also, I have a 1W 520 and it's just insane. But I would be interested in the non-portable yellow, could you offer some more info on that?
 
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Interesting, so I just need to get the dye from the highlighters concentrated to lase? Surely there must be a way to do this besides a TEA laser
 

Razako

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Yeah, I guess the crystals have to be cut a certain way. Also yeah I prefer 520 also, I have a 1W 520 and it's just insane. But I would be interested in the non-portable yellow, could you offer some more info on that?
Unfortunately lab yellows are even costlier than portables. If you really want a yellow at an affordable price your best bet is the DL spartan 589nm.
 

Rivem

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Yeah, I guess the crystals have to be cut a certain way. Also yeah I prefer 520 also, I have a 1W 520 and it's just insane. But I would be interested in the non-portable yellow, could you offer some more info on that?

Do some searches on Nitrogen TEA lasers. Tons of DIY info on them online (here as well). Pretty easy to make if you're comfortable and safe with high voltages. Flashlamps are another option, but I think TEA lasers are going to make it a lot easier since you might not even need mirrors.

Check here for info on the dye part: Laser Kids - Dye Laser

Edit:
Unfortunately lab yellows are even costlier than portables. If you really want a yellow at an affordable price your best bet is the DL spartan 589nm.
We're talking superradiant dye lasers not DPSS labbies Razako.
 
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i did try to build a a dpss green from scratch and it was a pain in the butt!!<(Pman;Bowtie;Lifetime;......) waiting for your pun....
 
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Why was it so difficult to build a 532 DPSS from scratch? I'm just curious about what the process is and what about it was so difficult
 
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Yeah, it's not going to happen my friend. Why do you think only few people in the world with a degree in Photonics can make them? ;)

Why was it so difficult to build a 532 DPSS from scratch? I'm just curious about what the process is and what about it was so difficult

Process for 532 is:
808nm--->1064nm--->532nm


-Alex
 
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Why was it so difficult to build a 532 DPSS from scratch? I'm just curious about what the process is and what about it was so difficult

the crystal are very small to work with....1mmx 2mm

very easy to break them.(paper thin or even thinner than that.)

got to decan the ir diode to align it probably.

alignment is a pain....

i don't wanna give all the detail as it will become a ranting essay.:D
 
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I know what the wavelengths are and the kinds of crystals used, i'm just curious as to exactly WHY it's so difficult to build a DPSS if you are able to obtain the crystals
 

Rivem

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I know what the wavelengths are and the kinds of crystals used, i'm just curious as to exactly WHY it's so difficult to build a DPSS if you are able to obtain the crystals

Crystals are crazy expensive, and if you get them, the frequency doubler can be very delicate, alignment is crazy difficult. You need expensive little optics on top of all that. It's doable but not easy for a hobbyist.

Build a Nitrogen TEA pumped dye laser if you really want a doable project. Really the cheapest way to get very exotic wavelengths.
 
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