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What to split the beam of a ML Argon with?

LtKernelPanic

LtKernelPanic

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Topic pretty much says it all. I bought a nice glass equilateral prism but it doesn't split the beam unless I had it orientated wrong. I'd like to be able to do something like in the pics in these threads:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/ml-argon-w-coherent-optic-50686.html

http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/ml-argon-w-coherent-optic-50686.html#post696434

I see Greenmechanic linked to one mirror that looks like it'd work nicely but was wondering if there was any other recommendations? I'd prefer US based sellers so I don't have to wait a month for stuff to arrive.
 





Keep your eyes open for a "diffraction mirror"

Peace,
dave
 
Thanks guys. The mirror GM linked to appears to be a diffraction mirror so now I know what to look for. Too bad the seller doesn't have anymore of those. I forgot to mention that I picked up two diffraction gratings in the slide type holders but I didn't realize they were dual axis gratings so instead of splitting the beam into individual lines that are easily visible it makes a pattern of dots with the lines barely visible.

Last night I fired it up to try the prism again and got some decent video of it bouncing off a CD. BTW use an old CD because the beam left a mark on the disc I used. Once I get a mirror I'll get my good DV cam out and post the results in the multimedia forum.


If anyone knows of a source for a mirror that won't break the bank I'm all ears because in my search for one last night I was pulling up blanks with every search. Overseas sellers would be fine too since I can't seem to find anything ATM. I might ask over in the optics forum too t see if any of the knowledgeable folks there who may not visit this forum have any suggestions.
 
The cheapest one I found right now is $75!

Be patient and you can get them for less ;)

Peace,
dave
 
LtKernelPanic said:
Thanks guys. The mirror GM linked to appears to be a diffraction mirror so now I know what to look for. Too bad the seller doesn't have anymore of those. I forgot to mention that I picked up two diffraction gratings in the slide type holders but I didn't realize they were dual axis gratings so instead of splitting the beam into individual lines that are easily visible it makes a pattern of dots with the lines barely visible.

Last night I fired it up to try the prism again and got some decent video of it bouncing off a CD. BTW use an old CD because the beam left a mark on the disc I used. Once I get a mirror I'll get my good DV cam out and post the results in the multimedia forum.


If anyone knows of a source for a mirror that won't break the bank I'm all ears because in my search for one last night I was pulling up blanks with every search. Overseas sellers would be fine too since I can't seem to find anything ATM. I might ask over in the optics forum too t see if any of the knowledgeable folks there who may not visit this forum have any suggestions.
Click to expand...


PM me I have one exactly the same as GM used in those pics of the Argon ML he got from me. They are very delicate so keep it very clean - it cannot be cleaned once you get anything on it. $40. to USA shipped free. I have 2 or 3 to part with. I think I got all the guy had left- Coherant prolly wants several hundred for these.


hak
 
Hakzaw-

I'll be PMing you shortly. :)


daguin said:
The cheapest one I found right now is $75!

Be patient and you can get them for less ;)

Peace,
dave
Click to expand...

You're right. One did ;)

I did want to give you a big :thanks: for the deal on the PS. I was really worried that the head was toast as well. I have to admit I got that sick feeling again when it didn't fire off the working supply before noticing my little "whoops!" And man you weren't kidding that those gold brick style supplies weigh a ton. I think it weighs more than the old one and head combined.







I won't admit thinking that it had been damaged and really was dead when later that night it didn't fire. Turns out I didn't turn the key quite all the way. Now the "firing procedure" is PS on, power to idle, tube current on, turn key until it stops. Hasn't failed me yet.
 
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Equilaterals don't work well for lasers, you want Littrow prisms or for those spectacular photos.

You can sometimes stack prisms in series, but again, best done with Littrows.

A second choice is a piece of diffraction grating, I like 400 line per inch and 2400 line per inch gratings for photos. The low line count will have just a few beam orders, and the high line count just fills the screen with beams.

Places like Edmund Industrial Optics and Anchor Optics sell cheap diff grating slides.

Steve
 
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Hey Hak the package arrived in one piece a little while ago. I loved how the mirror was packaged. I'm not going to remove it from its package until I go dig out my darkroom gloves to keep it clean. I have a fog machine on the way from amazon that should be here tomorrow (love my prime membership!) which should make capturing the beams easier. This is my weekend off so I should be able to get some pics and videos. That is if I can get my work room cleaned up after 3+" inches of rain ij just onder 45 minutes managed to flood it slightly a couple weeks ago.
 
YEP - I scored a big bag of the orange mini highlighters just to remove the wicks to make orange flouresent concentrate dye and as I hate to throw away something that may be useful I kept them and the are perfect for shipping diodes-smd driverboards and for you the Coherant silicon optic fit right in there-- btw the bag of ~30+ highlighters was only 1$ at a charity thrift shop... win/wn/win

hak spca thrift shop volunteer
 
Glad you liked the silicon Coherant optic- I sold one at the SELEM event and many saw how well it worked with the many ML gas lasers at the meet. I still have one left to sell. PM me if you want it- afaik there are no others available(at that price) and nothing works as well as these.

I will be posting some new pics soon. Its time for my monthly argon burns.
 
I would love to get myself a nice diffraction optic like that. I use cd's for low power stuff.

I think in this picture we actually used an open hard disk drive, or something similar. It was able to take all the power without melting... Probably only a couple watts in this picture. Laser is my sp168

I'm the idiot tasting the beam! Haha

blue.jpg
 
I'd say safe would be different, but the big question is: How did it taste? (does the wavelength matter in that?)
 
GooeyGus said:
I would love to get myself a nice diffraction optic like that. I use cd's for low power stuff.

I think in this picture we actually used an open hard disk drive, or something similar. It was able to take all the power without melting... Probably only a couple watts in this picture. Laser is my sp168

I'm the idiot tasting the beam! Haha

blue.jpg
Click to expand...
^^^^^ THIS is the photo that gave me my first bout with ML fever-(?2009?) thanks for letting me see it again, Gus-- +1 to you sir! I still have one Coherant silicone grat left PM me and we will haggle-- hak lol

I still have mine and traded my other one to GreenMechanic who first found those grates.. mine is about to join a LOC DYI lab to make 7 color Lumia.
see the vids on SELEM V at PL or YT. His (Randy) also has also a 405 not sure of the mW. built by DZ. iirc its a 2114 ml40 like mine. i get six lines @ 145mW. Gets hot so I like about 50% or less.
 
Holy shit! Gus, where have you been bro? You haven't posted in like forever.
 
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