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Hi2all,
I have three "modestly-powered" 532nm lasers.
The first one (80mW constant) is a perfectly round, low-divergence (1.2mrad) IR-filtered beam emanating from a high-quality LP (module type & characteristics unknown). The second one (150-130mW) is a "classic" O-Like module (Mar. '09) which also has a perfectly round, albeit slightly less divergent (2.0mrad) and non-filtered beam.
The third (125mW-80mw) & main topic of this post is one of those newer "DX-style", shorter, non-filtered modules. This guy's a real mess. At start-up (cold start), there is not one, but two points, which after 30s or so, merge into one. At this point the module has dropped to it's lowest o/p level (80mW). I'm guessing TEM01, for lack of better definition. The next odd characteristic is that when seen through 532nm googles, one point is a dull yellow (as are all my other 532nm lasers) & the second one is... green!!! Thirdly, it has the worst divergence by far, maybe 5mrad, but has a pinpoint spot at a short distance (~10cm) which "burns" better than even my 130mW module...
So what are we talking about here, a misalignment of the IR diode & crystals? Why does it burn so well - due to the selected focusing point or maybe a more powerful (& focused) IR output? FWIW, placing an IR filter in front of the beam did not change it's appearance (shape, color, etc.).
I'm not really interested in 532nm lasers for burning; I have enough 650nm & 405nm lasers for that purpose. I'd just assume have a clean, powerful beam with low divergence towards infinity. But what is it if these cheap DX modules are "configured" to burn at close distances to impress the casual LP owner?
All theories / suggestions welcomed :beer:
I have three "modestly-powered" 532nm lasers.
The first one (80mW constant) is a perfectly round, low-divergence (1.2mrad) IR-filtered beam emanating from a high-quality LP (module type & characteristics unknown). The second one (150-130mW) is a "classic" O-Like module (Mar. '09) which also has a perfectly round, albeit slightly less divergent (2.0mrad) and non-filtered beam.
The third (125mW-80mw) & main topic of this post is one of those newer "DX-style", shorter, non-filtered modules. This guy's a real mess. At start-up (cold start), there is not one, but two points, which after 30s or so, merge into one. At this point the module has dropped to it's lowest o/p level (80mW). I'm guessing TEM01, for lack of better definition. The next odd characteristic is that when seen through 532nm googles, one point is a dull yellow (as are all my other 532nm lasers) & the second one is... green!!! Thirdly, it has the worst divergence by far, maybe 5mrad, but has a pinpoint spot at a short distance (~10cm) which "burns" better than even my 130mW module...
So what are we talking about here, a misalignment of the IR diode & crystals? Why does it burn so well - due to the selected focusing point or maybe a more powerful (& focused) IR output? FWIW, placing an IR filter in front of the beam did not change it's appearance (shape, color, etc.).
I'm not really interested in 532nm lasers for burning; I have enough 650nm & 405nm lasers for that purpose. I'd just assume have a clean, powerful beam with low divergence towards infinity. But what is it if these cheap DX modules are "configured" to burn at close distances to impress the casual LP owner?
All theories / suggestions welcomed :beer: