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Question about laser module power

Ralan

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Hi! I recently completed my first laser build with some advice from fellow members, basically what I set out to do was achieve a green burning laser with a visible beam.

As it stands, I just get the green dot and it doesn't burn.

I ordered a 200mW 532nm Green Laser Module (3V 11.9mm) from dx which supposedly is enough for a novelty burning laser (matches, paper, etc)

I got the inspiration from a Youtube video using a laser with similar specs and his worked great using a 2x AA battery pack as a power source.

For my power source I use 3 AA batteries in series. Is my module just way under performing or can I do something to beef it up?

Also, the 532nm spec, I am a little unsure of what is it. If someone would like to explain it to me you would be helping a newb out. Thanks!
 





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I just looked again at the photos in the other thread and your module is adjustable. On the side with the button in the upper right there is a potentiometer, a screw you can turn, you could try adjusting it. It may be it wasn't set right at the factory, be careful it's probably only one turn, turn it gently, they can break, and do it with the power off. Your module is probably just under spec though.

The 532nm is the wave length of light (green), the visible spectrum is approximately 400nm (ultra violet) to 800nm (infrared or IR). The 532nm are not direct diode lasers they are DPSS, this uses a more complex design that makes them break easy and temprature sensitive. You are better off with a 520nm if you can afford it, that is if you must have green. If you want a laser that burns stuff then go with a 405nm (violet) or a 445/450/462nm (blue). A 445nm will give you the most for your money. You would of course need Li-Ion batteries and a charger and appropriate safety glasses.

Alan
 

Ralan

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Cool, I do want to build a blue laser at some point in the future, I just kind of like green. Quick question: I do have a pair of safety goggles, eagle pair, they completely block the green light from this laser but not the red dot of a standard walmart laser pointer. The goggles I bought were general protection and not green specific, am I safe to work with other colors?
 
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Cool, I do want to build a blue laser at some point in the future, I just kind of like green. Quick question: I do have a pair of safety goggles, eagle pair, they completely block the green light from this laser but not the red dot of a standard walmart laser pointer. The goggles I bought were general protection and not green specific, am I safe to work with other colors?

Within a certain range yes, what wavelength range do they cover? Or just post a link to the ones you bought. If they're good for violet through green they wouldn't be for red, you will need different glasses for red. There are none that cover the whole spectrum or you wouldn't see anything through them. If you build a large collection of lasers you will eventually need 3 or 4 types of glasses.

Alan
 
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You link to their international site and yet you are in Michigan. Survival Laser USA Home Is their site for U.S. Customers. Anyway the 190-540nm tells you what they're good for, ultra violet, violet, blue, green. They are however not quite good enough for most 532nm green because the 532nm are DPSS so they also put out IR, the very expensive ones are IR filtered but the cheap ones aren't. You are fine though with that low power 532, just don't take a direct hit in the eye. Some glasses are just for violet and blue, some for green only, some for red, some for IR, some for a certain part of the spectrum plus IR. As I said you will need more than one, I have one pair good for UV through blue, and one for violet through green, and one for red, I still don't have one for IR yet.

Alan
 

Ralan

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Yeah different sites but same glasses, I got the important part. Thanks for all of the info, I will look into tweaking the screw to see if it improves results.
 




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