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- Feb 10, 2013
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La Spada Verdi: 1st ever MS-SSW by Sinner w/ Osram PL520 Diode @ 115W
I've been a fan of Sinner's work for some time and when he asked if I wanted to do a build/review of his MS-SSW (Sinner's Secret Weapon), I jumped at the chance, and really wanted this host. And, I knew I wanted it for the PL520 direct green diode, despite the fact that Sinner designed this host specifically for the 9mm 445nm diode. The conversion was not difficult.
This is an amazing, hefty, and well designed host. I love the lines and look. It should be noted that this host is challenging for the beginner builder. Seek the build thread by Offroadfreak for help.
Let's get on with it...
The packing, as from Sinner's US broker:
The bits (semi-assembled):
The unit comes with (front to back): focus knob, heatsink head, pill, body tube, tail cap with switch, and the switch cap disk. All very nice, but I had to clean some polishing debris from the details. There were some blemishes on the finish, but I have to blame US Customs for those.
The tail cap with switch installed:
The pill with a pre-set 2.2A X-Drive installed by Sinner w/ a little heatsink. It's a shame that US customs got a hold of it and dislodged the sink completely:
The pill, body tube and tail cap with my warning sticker from Nick:
The pill with an X-Drive set @ 295mA:
I had to remove Sinner's original X-Drive and then soaked the pill in Isopropyl to soften it and remove it. I then epoxied the new driver in the pill and ran the wires through.
The pill threads in so deeply that it completely hides in the body. This is NOT how you want to do it! Leave yourself some room for your monster batteries. It was easy to thread it down tightly enough to get the batteries.
This host is a pressed-module design, meant to accept a 12mm dia. copper module for the 9mm diode. My 5.6mm module for some reason did not fit snugly. This turned out to be fortunate for me, as I was puzzled as to how to assemble the head without twisting the diode wires. This is where you have to be prepared. You will have to secure your wired diode pins, heavily, with thermal epoxy to protect them from any torque as the wires twist when you thread on the head. The lead wires are plenty long for this.
So, I just left loose fitting diode module hanging out as I threaded the diode heatsink to the host. I then just twisted gently and tucked the module in with the help of some Arctic Ceramic.
A note on the focus knob; Should you want to make a PL520 build and you go with the acrylic lens that DTR recommends (great divergence, better pass than 3 element), you will find that you wont be able to use it with Sinner's fine focus knob. You will need an extended lens barrel to be able to thread it in deeply into the knob and the module. I am using a G-2 currently, but wish I had an acrylic in a long lens barrel.
On to the diode!
This was almost the peak (115mw) that I got with DTR's original X-boost @ 300mA (~315ma as measured). I was very lucky to get such an efficient diode!
The stable reading @ 60sec (assembled):
It now runs a stable 98-102mW with the 295mA X-drive in it. I don't mind the slightly lower power...I'm happy to let this diode live a nice, long life.
And now, on to the gallery!
How about some good thunder and lightening?!
How do you like my new hand brake?
I'm going to need a bigger case....
The Sword fits nicely in the collection. The Krytons look like pencils next to it!
My complaint dept. at work...
:lasergun:
I'm terribly excited to have this in my collection. You can bet it's going to be a permanent part of it!
I'm using Hak's King Kong 26650 batteries to power this beautiful build. I could run this thing until the batteries ran out..it's so damned much laser and cooling for that little diode and driver...I am truly (euphemistically) in love with this laser.
I want to thank Sinner, DTR, Offroadfreak, Mohrenberg, Flaminpyro, Clif, and I'm sure others I'm forgetting. It's been a helluva ride.
I've been a fan of Sinner's work for some time and when he asked if I wanted to do a build/review of his MS-SSW (Sinner's Secret Weapon), I jumped at the chance, and really wanted this host. And, I knew I wanted it for the PL520 direct green diode, despite the fact that Sinner designed this host specifically for the 9mm 445nm diode. The conversion was not difficult.
This is an amazing, hefty, and well designed host. I love the lines and look. It should be noted that this host is challenging for the beginner builder. Seek the build thread by Offroadfreak for help.
Let's get on with it...
The packing, as from Sinner's US broker:
The bits (semi-assembled):
The unit comes with (front to back): focus knob, heatsink head, pill, body tube, tail cap with switch, and the switch cap disk. All very nice, but I had to clean some polishing debris from the details. There were some blemishes on the finish, but I have to blame US Customs for those.
The tail cap with switch installed:
The pill with a pre-set 2.2A X-Drive installed by Sinner w/ a little heatsink. It's a shame that US customs got a hold of it and dislodged the sink completely:
The pill, body tube and tail cap with my warning sticker from Nick:
The pill with an X-Drive set @ 295mA:
I had to remove Sinner's original X-Drive and then soaked the pill in Isopropyl to soften it and remove it. I then epoxied the new driver in the pill and ran the wires through.
The pill threads in so deeply that it completely hides in the body. This is NOT how you want to do it! Leave yourself some room for your monster batteries. It was easy to thread it down tightly enough to get the batteries.
This host is a pressed-module design, meant to accept a 12mm dia. copper module for the 9mm diode. My 5.6mm module for some reason did not fit snugly. This turned out to be fortunate for me, as I was puzzled as to how to assemble the head without twisting the diode wires. This is where you have to be prepared. You will have to secure your wired diode pins, heavily, with thermal epoxy to protect them from any torque as the wires twist when you thread on the head. The lead wires are plenty long for this.
So, I just left loose fitting diode module hanging out as I threaded the diode heatsink to the host. I then just twisted gently and tucked the module in with the help of some Arctic Ceramic.
A note on the focus knob; Should you want to make a PL520 build and you go with the acrylic lens that DTR recommends (great divergence, better pass than 3 element), you will find that you wont be able to use it with Sinner's fine focus knob. You will need an extended lens barrel to be able to thread it in deeply into the knob and the module. I am using a G-2 currently, but wish I had an acrylic in a long lens barrel.
On to the diode!
This was almost the peak (115mw) that I got with DTR's original X-boost @ 300mA (~315ma as measured). I was very lucky to get such an efficient diode!
The stable reading @ 60sec (assembled):
It now runs a stable 98-102mW with the 295mA X-drive in it. I don't mind the slightly lower power...I'm happy to let this diode live a nice, long life.
And now, on to the gallery!
How do you like my new hand brake?
I'm going to need a bigger case....
The Sword fits nicely in the collection. The Krytons look like pencils next to it!
My complaint dept. at work...
:lasergun:
I'm terribly excited to have this in my collection. You can bet it's going to be a permanent part of it!
I'm using Hak's King Kong 26650 batteries to power this beautiful build. I could run this thing until the batteries ran out..it's so damned much laser and cooling for that little diode and driver...I am truly (euphemistically) in love with this laser.
I want to thank Sinner, DTR, Offroadfreak, Mohrenberg, Flaminpyro, Clif, and I'm sure others I'm forgetting. It's been a helluva ride.
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I have to get one for myself. Do they have anodizaion options?
I go for the sleek builds....an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. By the way if you are ever in Austin hit me up! My LPM will be here today, and I am just itching to log some numbers. Also, nobody I know shares my passion for photonic enjoyment.