Beam spreading too much (pictures)

• May 5, 2009

• #1

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atlemo

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Hi everybody,

I recently bought a used 125mW Viper laser, and it seems to be working fine, popping balloons and all that ... but I notice the beam is not "focused" all the way.

The beam is solid, but if I put my hand close to the beam, I see a lot or spread green outside the main beam, if that makes any sense to you.

I´ve attached a photo where I hold my hand close to the beam, not ON it, but about 1 cm from it. You can clearly see the spread I´m talking about.

Now, I tried cleaning the lens with air and very carefully with the cloth I use to clean my glasses - bad idea?

Nothing seems to help, so any input on this would be great.
Thanks!

 

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• May 5, 2009

• #2

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ElektroFreak

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That's scatter, it's usually caused by grime on the lens. To clean it, pick up some lens paper from a local photography supplier. Use 90% (or higher) isopropyl alcohol as a solvent if absolutely necessary.

 

• May 5, 2009

• #3

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atlemo

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Thanks, I´ll look into some isopropyl.
Is there anything I should look out for, something that could do more harm than good? Or just any lens cleaning alcohol and a fine cloth will do?

 

• May 5, 2009

• #4

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ElektroFreak

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A fine cloth will work, but lens paper is guaranteed not to scratch. With optics, too much pressure on a piece of cotton can act like sandpaper.

 

• May 5, 2009

• #5

RA_pierce

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A can of compressed air is also a good thing to have handy.
Sometimes there are particles of dust left after I clean lenses... It's easier and safer to blow them away than to try to wipe it down again.

 

• May 5, 2009

• #6

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atlemo

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Thanks for the advice, I´ll give it a try.

 

• Jul 4, 2009

• #7

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Passerby35

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Hey did that ever work (cleaning your lens?) Im experiencing the same deal with my optotronics 150mW

 

• Jul 5, 2009

• #8

randomlugia

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Passerby35 said:

Hey did that ever work (cleaning your lens?) Im experiencing the same deal with my optotronics 150mW

Click to expand...

Don't you think you could've PM'd him, instead of bumping an old thread?

 

• Jul 5, 2009

• #9

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nikokapo

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RA_pierce said:

A can of compressed air is also a good thing to have handy.
Sometimes there are particles of dust left after I clean lenses... It's easier and safer to blow them away than to try to wipe it down again.

Click to expand...

This ^ one will solve your dust problem

 

• Jul 5, 2009

• #10

realista

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i think all laser pointer have this porblem..! i think that it is a normal thing.......

 

• Jul 7, 2009

• #11

Krutz

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there seem to be big differences in scatter! i got those three o-like "5mw" modules, they have uncoated acrylic lenses. one of them (they are around 30mw) has no visible scatter at all! so any scatter you see comes from the lens. i ordered me a lenspen, will report back if this helps (better)..

manuel