How to assembly a 520nm astronomy laser pointer

Hi,

I would like to build a 520nm laser pointer with a <5mw power to use on my telescope, something that stands low temperatures and it is not too powerful (harmful). Something like this

Z-Bolt&#174 BTG-2S-P XT Green Laser Pointer for Low Temp Use 14° ~ 122°F Star Finding

Issues with buying a pre-assembled from US is 1) Risk at the Italian custom for the item to be rejected for import 2) Lower costs if I assembly.

I can't see in Europe, professional looking online shop that sell preassembled pointers with these specs but I believe I found on odicforce.com all the components

I want some help on the shopping list

Essentially I should buy a host like this (part A)

Waterproof Laser Host for Green Module - OdicForce

And a laser 520nm laser module like this (part B)

10mW Green (520nm) Locking Focus Direct Diode Laser Module Dot, Line and Cross (16mm, 3-5V) - OdicForce

Although this seems to be 10mw rather than 5mw

It could appear obvious to you, but I was just wondering if part A and B are compatible and how to connect A to B and if I need any other part or any specific tool.

Please help, I have good DIY skills, some electronics skills, but I never done something like that, so I am looking for the simplest and more straightfoward procedure possible.

Thanks in advance

Giangi

It would help us if you could give us more specifics on why you what to do. Are you using it simply to point out objects or are you going to affix it to the telescope etc?

It will also help if you put your location in your profile, there may be members near you that could help.

If you can solder some components and don't mind some assembly than you could build it yourself a little cheaper. This way you can also customize it a little more. Again, more details will help.

I wouldn't think those two parts you listed will work together. I think you'd have better luck with a module like this > https://www.fasttech.com/product/1057303-5mw-532nm-green-laser-module-3v-119mm

but install a spring instead of the wires.. that host won't take the module you listed as it looks that the module has a wire for a battery pack and you need one that can run a spring and 16340 batteries.

*Note - The spring would be the negative, and you'd have to route the positive wire to case somehow as the modules are case positive. Most of these modules have a pot on them to turn them down, one of the fasttech modules I received was about 50mw+ at full power. They are on eBay with springs already soldered.

Mattronium said:

It would help us if you could give us more specifics on why you what to do. Are you using it simply to point out objects or are you going to affix it to the telescope etc?

It will also help if you put your location in your profile, there may be members near you that could help.

If you can solder some components and don't mind some assembly than you could build it yourself a little cheaper. This way you can also customize it a little more. Again, more details will help.

Click to expand...

Hi,

I live in the northern part of Italy, near Milan. I need to affix the laser on both my telescopes a 12" Dobsonian and an 4" refractor using a removable holder to switch telescope.

I bought already a cheap ebay green laser 1mw, 532 DPSS unit for few dollars but it fades away when <15°. So I was looking for a solution that was brighter (read more powerful) but still legal in italy, and that was stable at low temperatures.

I have read that 520nm LP should tollerate up to -10°C, the thing I can't understand is why not all the commercially available 520nm laser pointer have an operative range down to -10 but some are quoted as operative range down to +15°C as the 532nm. Is there any other component apart from the diode that can be sensitive to temperature?

Going back to the project, I was planning to import everything from EU dealers, like Odicfoce, could you please confirm what do I need to buy, (module, host +other parts) to assemble something that is working without much soldering?

Specs should be 515 or 520nm, power 5mw, operative temperature range -10°C to 30°C.

Thanks

94Z28 said:

I wouldn't think those two parts you listed will work together. I think you'd have better luck with a module like this > https://www.fasttech.com/product/1057303-5mw-532nm-green-laser-module-3v-119mm

but install a spring instead of the wires.. that host won't take the module you listed as it looks that the module has a wire for a battery pack and you need one that can run a spring and 16340 batteries.

*Note - The spring would be the negative, and you'd have to route the positive wire to case somehow as the modules are case positive. Most of these modules have a pot on them to turn them down, one of the fasttech modules I received was about 50mw+ at full power. They are on eBay with springs already soldered.

Click to expand...

Hi, thank you for your message.

So I should buy rather than a module with a wire, a module with a spring already soldered?

Could you suggest any site where I can find all the material,

520nm 5mw module with spring and the host

What else should I but to put it together and get it to work?

If you are saying that the cheap DPSS pens you bought from eBay are dying in the very cold temperatures, then most likely all of these cheap modules you are going to find online will do exactly the same thing. Almost EVERY one of these cheap 532nm pens are the same 'type' of 532nm DPSS module; Including the modules you can buy for cheap.

If you are looking for something that is direct diode it's going to go up in price, and it wont be those types of modules.


Here is a few choices of direct diode 520nm
https://www.sanwulasers.org/product/pocket

PL-E Pro 520nm Diode Green Lasers - PL-E Pro series - JETLASERS

HL 520nm 30mW-500mW

Although, for your use (mounting to a telescope) you will probably want to use laserbtb, or sanwu as they will mount with any regular shotgun clamp mount most likely; with the jetlasers you will want a separate tripod probably but it's way cooler host.


---- or you can do your own build. with this diode > https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/osram-10mw-plt5510-515nm-green-laser-diode
Looks like you need 50-100mA for low power output. Jordan offers it with a nano buck/boost; throw it in a survival lasers C6 (get it with the battery contact board only, and use jordans driver... probably need extended heatsink for this setup)

These diodes appear far more powerful of what can be legally usable in italy. Moreover they will be too bright.

Can you suggest an online shop where I can buy a 520nm 5mw laser module with the spring plus the correct host, so I can make a single order/shipping?

Thanks

Esculapius said:

These diodes appear far more powerful of what can be legally usable in italy. Moreover they will be too bright.

Can you suggest an online shop where I can buy a 520nm 5mw laser module with the spring plus the correct host, so I can make a single order/shipping?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Gonna be hard to get a 520nm setup in a single order/shipping bud.. Also, you didn't read into the page enough because it's possible to get 10mw output from that diode I post for you.

If anyone knows of a strictly 5mw 520nm diode i'm sure they will chime in; but you should be able to get a real 5mw output from that diode with a driver capable of pushing low current with correct voltage.



Here, you can see 4mw output @ 42mA and 5.77v

http://www.ebay.com/itm/635nm-650nm...093776?hash=item3f6509ffd0:g:H00AAOSwmtJXZSGO

There is a driver capable of 50mA


Not sure what else you would be looking for, I know DPSS has issues in very cold temperatures because the wavelength shift and the frequency doubling. Have you considered keeping your 532nm DPSS laser, and adding some kind of small heating element to it? There are tons of ways to maintain the lasers temperature, and it could possibly help maintain it's own temperature once running for awhile.

Will 5 mW be sufficiently bright?