Good feedback from everybody!

This is certainly one of the greatest projects to do! A great idea from rog8811, that made building the lasers we normally build, a completely new experience! (for me anyway)

It is a precise and difficult chore to get perfect alignment on the three lasers, but once you have it, you will not be disappointed.

This kit from sightfx is a 'must have'!

It is the most rewarding project that I have done so far...
Jay

Can you just use three good 8x 405nm diodes? So you'd end up with 1 watt+ of 405nm.

Not sure how that would work out with the PHR sled optics...

I'm sure you can get the right optics in there to make that happen, but I believe that the PHR PBS cube is not going to allow much 405nm through the red side. And I don't know about the turning mirror either...
Jay

Finally got my new replacement green module output adjusted lower...

I normally don't mess with the pot on the stock drivers (green modules), but even with a 3 volt supply, my new 50mW module was too bright for the color blend.

So instead of disconnecting the stock driver and using a DDL, I first tried to turn the pot on the driver, and am very happy that it actually worked!

Now I have it right where it needs to be for a good blend! Right around 39mW's through the sled. (see first post for all power settings)
Jay

Wow, I can honestly say that I am blown away by this build. You guys are ALL geniuses! Seriously...holy crap I want one of those. I would love to have an attempt at it myself but I think I'm still too much of a newb to attempt this....

I'm working on 7 color laser that will be controlled with 3x LM317 drivers.
All diodes will be controlled.

I'll post review as soon as I calibrate lasers.

And one question.

No matter what I do I always get splashes that looks like cross.
Even module itself produces splash.
The splash is in the form of "the wing".

Problem like that :



Any idea to solve this problem?

That line is normal in most red DVD diodes...

You will also get some reflection type stuff through the sled optics, but it can be minimized by first, rotating the red and blu-ray modules to the best power through the polarized splitter cube.

Then, the hardest part. Getting the turning mirror positioned perfectly. You will notice that there is a 'sweet spot' for the turning mirror.

And finally, you will learn to live with a little of this, because if you get perfect alignment, you will love the results so much, that a little reflection and a couple of lines won't bother you so bad!




mfo, yes it is a rather difficult build, but so rewarding!
Jay

Yeah I wish I had known about this before I started building mine. I made everything entirely from scratch, machined a aluminum plate, mounted dichro's with custom made mini mounts, Fully machined heatsink with direct diode press. But hopefully mine will be the most powerful one yet using LPC, 8x blu-ray, and 100mW green all adjustable from 5mW-full output. Also with the best battery life using 3x 18650 in a custom seperatable custom case to become pocket sized (two pockets thought).

Sounds like an awesome build...

I hope you will show lots of pictures and details!
Jay

Is it possible to use a 5mw green module in order to use a phr 405 to keep costs down? ( i know i know, what is this absurd request for lower power)

Yes... there is a link right under the first picture in the first post of this thread to my 'low power' 7 color build...

You can go there and see what diodes/lenses/settings for that one!
Jay

Do you have any tips for getting the beam sizes to look right? I have mine fairly close to aligned, but when I set it to yellow, the red beam is much fatter than the green beam, and it doesn't look so vibrant.

I can only go off of my own experience on two builds...

I set focus on the red and blu-ray for best visual dot at 70'. Bouncing the beam off a mirror in the other room so that I can see the dots at close distance to me.

I have also found that if you don't have good beam alignment at the aperture, you will not be satisfied. Even if the dots are aligned.

This 'beam alignment at aperture' is the hardest part. It involves getting the turning mirror in the perfect adjustment, so that the beams are aligned, as well as the dots. (as good as you can get the dots) Then later, you can go for dot alignment at distance...
Jay

jayrob, problem is beam diameter.
Most of green modules have very tight beam, about 1.5cm.
But red and UV beams are 4-5mm in diameter.
Tighter beam will be more visible at close distance.

I have the same problem.

That happens few meter from sled, but after few meters divergence does job.
10 meters away from sled beams look the same size.

If you use the reading lens from the PHR sled on the red and violet diode instead of an aixis you'll get a very tight beam, smaller than the optics. It does however make some minor artifacts in the beam at distance but its not bad.



Modified lens

Yes of course there is still a difference is beam width, but if you get the alignment just right, you can get the green beam perfectly centered inside the other beams, and it's not too noticeable even at 3' or 4'.

In my higher powered build, I am using a 405-G-1 glass lens for the blu-ray, and I think that helps a little...
Jay

It can't be perfect for that amount of money.
Green is much more visible 4-5 meters away from sled.
But after 4-5 meters beam looks good.
When I point it to sky I see white beam, not green.

Is there any way to get wider beam with green module?
If I use reading lens from PHR sled there will be more artifacts.
Even now I have some artifacts with red laser (ahhh, red diodes).
And what is about divergence with reading lens from PHR sled?
I think divergence is bad...

I have one more problem.
I think that crystal in my green module (from 50mW DX True pointer) is defective.
When I look at the beam 10 meters away from sled, green beam flickers in horizontal line.
Beam goes from one side to another.
Looks like crystal is changing TEM modes from TEM00 to another.
Did anyone have this problem?

I ordered new 50mW module from DX and I hope that this module will not suffer from these problems.

Yes, I had to replace an o-like green module that was mode hopping on me...

Also, I have noticed that temperature changes will make the green beam move just a hair.

It's not too bad, but it is definitely temperature related...

The divergence is very good, 0.8mRad-ish.

I finally went ahead and buttoned it up...




I have been testing and letting it settle, making minute adjustments for weeks, and it was finally nice and stable, so it has a home now!

I have had some luck adjusting the focus on DX greens. The Green modules I've used are harvested from DX pens so the have a focusing nut with 2 holes in the end. I have yet to play with O-Like or any others. I built a peg wrench out of some finishing nails and a piece of key stock with 2 holes drilled in it for the nails to be epoxied into. I had a greenie where the beem was too broad and I was able to get it focused to the same size as Red and BR at 100 feet.


Hope that helps.

Chears,

Ryan

I tried to adjust green module but didn't have any tools.
These tips will help in future.

Man JayRob I've been coming back to this thread every few days for the past month or so just to look at the pictures haha. I'm still amazed at how nice and clean a build it is. I'm just starting to modify a laser sight for my uncle (Laser sight rebuild) but as soon as I finish that and get it shipped back to PA to my uncle, I plan to TRY to tackle the 7 color, but I also plan to make a few simple modifications . I would love to have something that nice and well built so I'm gonna take my time haha.

But yeah I really admire the work that took. Very nice.

Thanks! I appreciate the complement...

Because it took a lot of time and effort to get it perfect. You would not believe how awesome the 358mW white beam looks! But having all of the other colors too is so cool.

Thanks to rog8811 for showing us how, and to sightfx for the great adjustable mounting kit!

Oh yeah I dont doubt that took a hell of a long time to get tweaked perfectly. As soon as i can get some shop time I've got a couple different projects lined up haha not only lasers but other random things. I bet it feels awesome to show poeple that thing and be like "yeah, I made it" lol.