eBay gambles: how I got a 25mW 488nm DPSS for $75...

AnthoT said:

Wow talk about luck! Anyway congrats on the great price 488nm laser hopefully it lasts you awhile :beer:

-Anthony

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PLEASE don't quote his ENTIRE POST, it's a pain to scroll through.

Very good review, well done, just enough pictures :gj: +3

Cool how you figured out how to hook this to your computer and make it work

Can you do that for a 532 Compas ?

Tech_Junkie said:

I've never seen an auction off eBay won over a nickle before. Its usually $1, or at the very least $0.25.

Never apologize for getting a good deal. Thats silly.

Nice score though.

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See, I usually put in weird-ass numbers. I'll bid like 56.83 on something, or 78.87 -- I figure other folks are sticking to more 'round' numbers, I have no idea if it works any more for me than anything else (I'm sure there are statistics that say it doesn't) -- but it could just be superstition.. Anyhow, this time it did work, as I'm guessing the bidder below me put in 76.00 figuring 'hey thats one more than folks who will bid 75.00'; though I had the same thought .

Flaminpyro said:

Very good review, well done, just enough pictures :gj: +3

Cool how you figured out how to hook this to your computer and make it work

Can you do that for a 532 Compas ?

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Probably. I highly doubt it's that different. I haven't messed with Coherent stuff, but I've had good luck getting things to respond to RS232. First thing though we'd have to figure out what pins on the Compas were what. That's usually possible, if not documented, to take a look at the UART IC (transciever) on the controller board, get the specs for -that-, and trace those to the connector. From there it's just a matter of trying well known protocol settings like N/8/1/19200 or N/8/1/9600 first, and then going to more obscure (E/7/1) settings on the serial until you get a response. RS232 is nice that way, its pretty much two pins and ground.

Well I didn't want to start another thread for the same subject, and I don't mean to hijack or steal any of your thunder aryntha.

I was also watching your 488nm unit, but i'm glad you got it in the end....I would have never thought of the things you did to get it up and running!

Back to it.....
I keep an eye on ebay as well with different searches....mostly looking for deals on gas lasers. When this one came up it was $75 obo.....I decided to not risk loosing it while I waited for an obo response and just went for it.
As usual, some laser off ebay with no pictures of it running is a gamble......I just couldn't pass it up though..

Finally I have what I have been looking for, and at $75 I think the price was right.
(it does have an artifact, but i'll have to deal)(it didn't come with the base)

Yes, that says 594nm
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Again aryntha, sorry for the short high-jack.....just goes to prove that 'SOMETIMES' you can score......(side note, this HeNe was the cheapest of the 5 the seller had up for sale...all the rest being red......just keep your eye's out!)

EDIT: aryntha check your PM's

That is an interesting piece of equipment you got there! Does the head on the end of the fiber get noticeably warm at any times? I wonder how easy or difficult it is to remove the possible "Doubler" component? Reminds me of the ends of those higher output DPSS "portable" round 27mm modules. nice that it has such steady output, and glad that this laser made it home so easily, relatively speaking :beer:

So wait, the Laser was never broken, they just didn't read the directions and wait the 7 minutes?

great find! you pulled the rabbit out the hat.

WELL DONE SIR!!

You never know what you're going to find on ebay!
:cheers:

Bumping an old thread, but ...

High Power External Cavity IR Laser Diode Arrays 40W 976nm Vcsel Novalux Blue | eBay

Would you be able to do anything with this?

Le Quack said:

Bumping an old thread, but ...

High Power External Cavity IR Laser Diode Arrays 40W 976nm Vcsel Novalux Blue | eBay

Would you be able to do anything with this?

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Not much, the 15mw 488nm is a much better score for personal use. You'll have a cool color thats actually visible. Not to mention you'll keep your eyesight and not burn down your house.

Hello, This is a real great story. Last week I've got a laser module 10mW 488nm DPSS labeled JDSU FCD488-010. Basing on published in your post description I was able to start the laser module, but after few minutes of work it switches into iddle mode. I was not so lucky to get user's manual. Is this manual available online ? (I was trying to find one - no success).

Wow that 488 is so blue it's almost white.
I bet it was quite expensive when purchased new.
You got a nice win there.

This is an old thread, but I see no problem with someone adding to it on the same subject looking for a manual. Good luck!