488nm Direct Diode 20mW CNI-PGL-III-C Custom Build

Custom CNI-PGL-III-C
Direct Diode 488nm SkyBlue Diode Laser




:drool:


A long and awaiting for thread. This is a thread dedicated to my build and a few points on testing the diode. There will be another thread full of details on what i have learned and tested about these 488nm diodes. I might also add in my Opinion on the 473nm diodes aswell since i have different info/results on them then a few others that have tested them so far.

None the less here we go.:wave:


So why choose a CNI-PGL-III-C host rather then a custom host. Well i dont really like aluminum custom hosts all that much for blue. I was always more of a flashlight host laser guy anyway but for blue i dint like them unless they where a flashlight body. Maybe just old school from when the 445nm first came out.. The PGL-III-C is probably one of my favorite host and i wanted this laser to be in a laser host and frankly there is not many out there to choose from that i think would fit this Wavelength. I was going back and forth with the PGL-C or PGL-A and decided on the C. "Ill put the 473nm one in the A probably"

So here is the diode i have:

http://www.combinlasers.com/7Nichia/NDS1113E.pdf

^If that link does not work google the Model number it will be the first one on googles list.


The Diode is Case "-" due to the photo diode that is installed in the 488nm diodes.

In this build i will be using the 489nm one i have.














Here is everything that went into the build:



I had to create a Custom Driver or more so a Custom Size version of my X-Boost to work in this host. Since it was a Side Switch and had an LED i made this. On the Left is my driver and on the right is the stock CNI driver:


Top:


Bottom:


Bottom with Switch:


Now i also wanted the LED to Emit 488nm. That was a challenge. I purchased probably about a dozen Different LEDs because alot of them would only list a range not a dedicated Wavelength. Even when they did they where either too Green or to Blue... So I contacted DJNY "Phi" For some help and he told me to check out Roithner. So I did just that. I looked there there price list an came across the SMC490. Which is a 490nm dedicated LED. It emits at exactly 489nm to 490nm on my spectrometer. So its spot on.!:wave: Also i need the LED to be around the 1206 size package. This was the hard part was to find something in this size so the SMC490 again was a perfect fit.! Now Roithners shipping chargers for overseas is around 30$. The LEDs where about 5$ each so i order 3 just to have. However what i dint know was Phi also lives within Minutes of Roithner so he contacted them for me to see if he can pick them up for me to save on shipping. The Said Sure and off he went to get them for me.:wave: Can't thank Phi "DJNY" enough for finding it for me and then going to pick them up and ship them to me saved me 30$. Thanks Buddy..:beer: Ill let him post the pictures if he likes of Roithner.

SMC490 Datasheet:
http://www.epitex.com/products/surface_mount_led/pdfs/SMC490.pdf

Here are some close up shots of the LED. I find it very cool looking.






Rebel LED on the left,in the middle a random 1206 size LED and on the right SMC490:


Here it is a close up on the Driver board:


Here it is On:


Side view:


So after this is when i set the driver. Now i decided not to overdrive the laser. Iam happy with 20mW. So i set it to exactly what it said on the diodes case it came with. 98mA on my Custom Testload:


After that i mixed up some epoxy just enough to hold the driver in place in the Host Pill setup:


I soldered my wire to the "-" Spring. (Please note thats a large solder blob that was original on it that CNI did. So just reused that and attached it there):


Tested it again to make sure everything was working good still:


Now i went to work in the head and diode module. Which the design was so. Basically the old Focusing lens Ring is acting as a stopper and the brass tighten ring holds the new diode heatsink sandwiched together inside the head. Like so:




I used some thermal adhesive to hold the module in:


You can see the setup here:




Diode is in and here you can see the stopper in place:


Putting the module/Heatsink in:


The brass ring holds everything in place:


I experimented with many different lenses. Iam still waiting on a few more to arrive but as of now i went with a G-lens. What iam waiting for is a longer Focal length Lens and a couple different triplets and achromat to try out. The issue with finding the right lens with these diodes is like many of the Nichia diodes you get that square box off the dot which is the internal reflection of the facet. Spatial filter would take it away but i dont have the room in a handheld for that. So Edmund optics recommended me to use a longer FL lens so that the reflection is not so close so that it doesn't reflect the image in the output as bright. Thats the only downside with Direct diodes. IMO:


After that i pushed the driver assembly into the host body:


Side view:


Then i got the custom sleeve i made to hold down the driver pill assembly so that when i put the cell in or press the button it doesn't move:


Goes in like so:


I choose to use a diode socket. instead of solder since i will be taking it apart to test the new lenses. This socket is a good quality one. For laser diodes Not photo diodes. SO everything fits really tight.:


Here is a picture of th cheap ones not to use for laser diodes which are meant for photo diodes. The dont host the diode pins tight at all:


So i soldered my leads:


Put Flaminpyro's heatsink tubing (Love this stuff) on:


So at this point here is where iam at:


Now i attached the + Input Voltage wire from the driver to the case with a set screw since i was making this laser case + to keep it with the original design of the host which all CNI PGL are Case +..:


Then after shorting the drivers +/- Diode leads i plugged the diode in:


To put the aperture back on you have to be careful. There is these white plastic stoppers or shims that go into the screw holes to press against the aperture ring so that when you turn it, it has some Resistance and not loose. So i put those back in here:


Then put the aperture cap on and tightened the 3 small set screws to hold it in place. Not super tight:


Screwed it together and Done.:wave:


:beer: :drool: :drool: :drool: :beer:































LPM Results:



Here is the Spectrometer results of the dedicated Wavelength:


Spectrometer Setup:





Videos:



Beam Shot 1:


Beam Shot 2:




Final Thoughts:

Iam very happy how this laser build turned out.:wave: Iam happy with how everything came out especially the LED matching the Wavelength of the diode where you cant tell the difference. Iam glad that i made the custom driver size and setup Originally i was just dong to make a switch board and have the driver attached in between the diode and the switch board somewhere but i figured why not make the driver as iam sure some more people might have a use for it in side clicky builds. (These switches can handle some decent current if anyone needs one) I wanted to go with the X-boost as i can change the soft start or Ramp up time in which i did 2 seconds sweep. I might need to make an adjustment to the aperture of the laser if i choose a longer FL lens but other then that the laser is perfect.! My next build will be a a DPSS 488nm handheld. Already got the parts but thats going to take me sometime to finish. Its alot more complicated then a diode build.

Think CNI will higher me.?:crackup: J/K

Ill post my diode testing results in another thread in the next week or so. Ive got a couple big projects to finish this week as parts just arrived for them. Keep a look out.:wave:​