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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

DIY Collimator HELP

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Feb 2, 2008
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I have the DX200 and I need something to help me focus the beam. I am thinking of something like the plans I found at http://www.amazing1.com/download/COLMIN1.pdf, I want to know of others experiences and what the best idea is. I don't see too many threads on this or something like this so I thought I would start one, here are the plans from the link above:

COLMIN11.jpg


COLMIN12.jpg
 





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Sep 16, 2007
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All you need is two lenses... I made one using plano convex and plano concave...
Anyway... you put one lens in front of the laser and it expands the beam... then you put the next lens in front of that, and depending on how far or close the lenses are to each other it either expands, focuses or collimates the beam. I wouldn't recommend this because passing the beam through all those lenses reduces the power by a lot. All they did there was stick two lenses in some tube with threading (so it's adjustable) and then set it to the ideal focal length.

And it honestly won't make a big difference unless the divergence on your laser is more than 1.5mrad.
 
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I heard the DX200 is sometimes as much as 2.0mrad, that's why I was thinking it would help. I mean I need something, anything, to focus the laser.
 

polop

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you could try using the existing optics - if it has similar optics to the 20 it should be posible. In the end of the cap there is a focusing thing (like an aixiz module) but u need to remove the cap to turn it. this method wont loose any of the laser power but getting the silver cap off is dificult. you should be able to see where the focusing thing is by looking down the end (dont turn the laser on lol) then there is a brass arrangement that has a flat head slot (either side of the lens 0 a picture of inside the apeture is below (web cam quality yay) you can see the slot were the screw driver goes
 

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If you are able to safely disassemble the laser you may be able to adjust the collimating optic inside. But really building this thing shouldn't be that hard.
NOVA sells some small lenses and you can get some type of housing for them at a hardware store or something.

Try testing the divergence first. And if you can I would definitely recommend adjusting the internal optics.
I managed to get my X105 down from 1.2mrad to about 0.9mrad (estimate on the 0.9 because I haven't measured it yet).
 
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Thanks, I guess I'll have to figure out how to take off the cap, except it mode hops, so I gotta send it back to DX :/
 

polop

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even tho i have already posted a pic i made a much nicer one through the apature - the optic module is much clearer
 

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Thanks everyone, I might try this but unsure at this point if I am going to send it back (don't want to void the warranty) due to it mode hoping. If I keep it I will do this. If I send it back I might try an add-on.
 

IgorT

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I was asking myself the same question, especially since i have my DX200 apart.. I thought it would be easy to focus, but i was wrong..

Pretty much everything is glued together. I had to break the glue, and after that i spent about an hour cleaning the bits and pieces of glue out of the brass module. (not to mention the brass splinters)..


But even tho i can easily adjust the top lense now, i just can't make the beam any narrower, than it was when i got it.


The other lense is held slightly above the aperture with four blobs of glue.. So i can't adjust it. And if i took it off, all i could safelly do, would be to put it closer to the crystals - directly on top of the aperture and fix it with glue again.


What would this do to the beam, if the first lense was closer? (i'm new to green lasers, didn't even know, they have two lenses)
 
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OK I will dig this thread out...lol

I have the same experience with all 3 of my NewWish lasers. I can't get the beam any smaller than say 3cm at 12m, grrr... Plus, they have coronas something fierce that NO amount of inside cleaning will help.. Micofiber cloth and alcohol do not even help. Funny thing is the corona wasnt there on my 150mw when new.. I think it actually may have fried its own lens :mad:
 

JLSE

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Remember to, when you take the lens assembly out for cleaning, it is possible to get very fine strands of cotton from q-tips or cloth stuck on the burrs on the brass. Even though you cannot see it (unless u use a magnifying glass) they can cause an assortment of annomalies.
 
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I found that out the hard way... :-/. I have tried everything from microfiber/polyester cloth, alcohol, even canned air. I need a new collimating lens, as mentioned in the NW spec thread, even though I was careful, I scratched the AR coating on the inside of the lens:(. For now I may just put a paper sticker on the end, and carefuly poke a hole in it where the beam exits. Ty for all the advice BTW:D
 
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The lens at the end of the laser is adjusted by craftmen and then glued. Sometimes you can heat it a little them it will turn and U find a better beam.
Don't ever unfasten(pop the glue) the expander lens that comes before it. It has a mirror on the inside surface(I believe).

I have ordered professional 23X expander lens only kits I will sell for cheap, stay tuned for details.


Cheers
 
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Polop --
That's quite a camera you have there to go inside the head that way.
Nice picture.

Mike
 




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