Sled optic removal

Hi all,

Has anyone got any tips for removing sled optics in good condition? I read a thread, (ha, I read a thread!!:crackup, in which laser ben suggests a good soak in pure acetone but that's the only tip I've seen.

How do YOU do it?

Thanks,

M
:yh:

(I'm liking the full list of smilies now I've gotten round to adding it!)

Depends which sled it comes from. The PHR sleds are pretty easy to disassemble because the glue used in them isnt that hard to remove, most of it is fairly soft. The LPC sleds though are a bit harder, at least for me, to disassemble just because the metal is a very hard metal and the glue is a lot harder too. Basically though I just use q-tips on optics to gently press them out or a paperclip to push from the bottom because on the PHR sled a lot of the optics have a small hole underneath them where the glue is in order to hold better or something, I dunno.

Many thanks for that bhank. Anyone else have any tricks?

M

The phr sled is so brittle you can just snip it to little pieces with pliers very easy and the optics will just fall out. But personally I use toothpicks and micro screw drivers to gently pry the optics out of any sled. I can do this without even chip them, but it is not easy.

I use a wood or bamboo Chop Stick from a Chinese restaurant. They're strong (especially the bamboo sticks) & they're tapered enough to get in the holes behind the optics, so you can just push them out...............rob

Cool ideas there. I have yet to try removal of any optics at all as the sleds I have are nothing special and didn't have a project worthy of experimentation. That has changed recently though so the need has arisen. I thought it was a topic worth raising too as the fear of damage may stop some people from messing with them.

Like I said, cool ideas. Any further additions will only add to the thread.

From what I've seen so far:

PHR sleds seem to be fairly risk free. If the optics don't just push out, (as the glue is soft), then blunt force trauma will release them! If you have it you can soak them in acetone, (credit to laser ben for that one).

LPC sleds may be a little more tricky as both the glue and the frame is stronger. Anyone know if acetone will work here? Is acetone inert with the coatings?

With all the knowledge coming in from GGW and BDR sleds we may be able to add some tips on for these ones too.

Don't know if there is already a thread in optics but a compiled list of what is where, and in which sled might be a useful one? Maybe? Waddaya think?

M

For the dichros, I just put some tissue between the jaws of some needle-nose pliers so they don't scratch the surface, and then pop them off the glue. As for the other glass mirrors, you have to be real careful about breaking off the glue with a pin or thin screwdriver, or else it'll crack. You could also bust the magnesium frame instead.

The PHR sled is easy, I'd be happy to upload a video if I get time. As for the LPC, I haven't yet managed to take out the 2 mirrors in the centre of the sled, near the turning mirror. The BDR-S03 is if anything even easier - I managed to take all but one out with a strong metal "pin" like object (very blunt and thin hex screwdriver head)

thanks for the hints, guys! will try them next time!
anything special i should look out for? the "big" pbs cube from the ps3 sled (5mm wide) comes to mind, then there are beam-correcting optics in 6x or 8x sleds, the dichroic turning mirrors may be useful. anything else that is actually useful, not just fun to experiment for an hour?

manuel

I do similar to badger. I tape thin cardboard to my needle nose and flathead screw driver. It works really well for me.

I take out everything that even LOOKS like it's an optic of some sort. I use several of those MEDICATION daily dosage reminder plastic containers. They're divided into 7 compartments, SUN. through SAT. This way I can keep like optics together.........rob