- Joined
- Nov 1, 2006
- Messages
- 549
- Points
- 43
10mW Blue-Violet Laser Pen, retail $8.99 (www.amazon.com...)
Manufactured by: (Unknown)
Last updated 02-08-11
Manufactured by: (Unknown)
Last updated 02-08-11
The 10mW Blue-Violet Laser Pen is a violet-emitting, directly-injected laser. That is, it produces violet laser radiation directly, without the need for messy, fragile nonlinear crystals like those green laser pointers and the amberish-yellow and blue ones as well. It uses two AAA cells -- the same power source used in most other "pen-style" laser pointers and laser modules.
It is advertised to output 10mW of laser radiation at ~405nm.
It actually measures 75.50mW (the wavelength is "close enough for goverment work" anyway)!!!
It comes in a handsome brass body with a black finish and chrome colored bezel, tailcap, and pocket clip.
To get the laser to turn on, first be certain that there are a pair of AAA cells installed. If there aren't, then install them (see directly below), and THEN you can go irradiate something.
Aim the laser well-away from your face first.
To change the batteries in this violet laser, unscrew the laser near the center, and set the front portion aside.
Tip the two used AAA cells out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of, recycle, or recharge them as you see fit.
Insert two new AAA cells into the barrel, nipple-end (+) positive first. This is the opposite of how batteries are installed in most flashlights, so please pay attention to polarity here.
Screw the front portion of the tube back on, and be done with it.
Unable to measure current use due to how this laser was constructed.
This is a self-contained laser , and not a flashlight meant to be carried around, thrashed, trashed, and abused - so I won't try to break it in the name of science.
This is a directly-injected laser though, who's active components are the inverter circuit, the laser diode, and the collimating lens. So it should withstand accidents better than a DPSS (diode pumped solid state) laser - the type of laser assembly found in yellow (593.5nm), green (532nm) and blue (473nm) laser pointers. These lasers have several additional components (crystals, filters, etc.) in the optical train, and you can knock them out of alignment by doing little more than looking at them the wrong way. And if any of these components are knocked out of whack, you'll no longer get your yellow, green, or blue laser beam.
Though you still do not want to intentionally drop your violet-emitting laser because it's a precision optical instrument.
The label indicates it has a maximum output of 10mW, but measures over 75mW!!! This (not having the proper labelling) is rather expected of a product of non-US origin; sometimes known as the "Hoo Phlung Pu" brand.
From somebody who knows their {vulgar slang term for caca; rhymes with "pit"} about lasers, comes this information:
More on 50-60 mW violet lasers:
The spot is not safe to stare into from close distances. At 60 mW,
assuming a perfectly diffuse-reflecting white wall and fully dilated
pupil, the spot is at borderline between Class I and Class II at a little
over 7 feet. This wavelength also has the extra ill effects of blue and
a bit of the ill effects of UV.
Usually a yellowish dye that naturally exists in the lens of the eye
significantly attenuates deep violet wavelengths. However, this is not
completely reliable. You probably do not want to stare at the violet spot
for more than a couple seconds from distances within a couple feet.
If the spot or your eyes keep moving, then things are OK.
Does this evaluation look an awful lot like the one I made for this laser?
Thought you'd say so.
That's because they're functionally, electrically, and physically identical, so I was able to use its web page as a template for this one.
Beam photograph of this laser on the test target at 12".
Beam image bloomed ***SIGNIFICANTLY***.
I deliberately photographed this in somewhat low daylight to help reduce image blooming!!!
That white & blue color does not really exist; the spot appears to be a very deep royal purple to the eye.
Digital cameras have a tough time at these wavelengths.
And yes, I know that the colors purple and violet are two different critters, but the phrase "royal
violet" would not make very much sense; however, most everybody knows what "royal purple" looks like.
Purple is a mixture of red & blue; violet is a spectral color, encompassing wavelengths of ~390nm to ~410nm.
Measures a ***VERY*** hefty 75.50mW on a Sper Scientific Pocket Laser Power Meter # 840011; using the "heavy duty" AAA cells that were furnished with it.
Beam photograph on a wall at ~10'.
Again, that white & blue color does not really exist.
Those colored graphics that you see toward the left are my "Viva Piñata" posters, and that clock on the right that looks like a gigantic wristwatch is my Infinity Optics Clock.
You may also be able to see two of my SpongeBob SquarePants plush (Squidward Tentacles & Patrick Star) and a Digimon plush (Greymon).
Spectrographic analysis of the Blu-ray laser diode in this product.
Wavelength appears to be ~405nm, which is within specification for the type of laser diode used in this laser.
Same as above; but spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 400nm and 410nm.
This shows that the wavelength is 405.70nm.
Spectrographic analysis of the fluorescence of a uranated* glass marble when irradiated with this laser.
*"Uranated" - infused with an oxide anion of uranium, *NOT* piddled (peed) on.
Commonly referred to as "Vaseline glass" because it has
a distinct pale yellow-green color when not being irradiated.
Note spelling: "urAnated", not "urEnated","urInated",
"urOnated", "urUnated", or sometimes "urYnated".
USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.
Beam cross-sectional analysis with beam widened (x-axis).
Beam cross-sectional analysis with beam widened (y-axis).
These charts show the somewhat ovoid beam profile;
this is consistent with directly-injected diode lasers.
Images made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.
Video clip on YourTube showing what an airline pilot or copilot might see if you attempted to hose down the approaching aircraft with a laser pointer from a mile or two out.
Taken with a Canon Powershot G3 Digital Camera.
Three laser wavelengths were used here:
532nm green.
440nm royal blue.
405nm violet
(the person being irradiated would see this as a deep violet color; not bluish as this video indicates. This is because digital cameras have a tough go of it at wavelengths this short).
This clip is approximately 6.777566392340 megabytes (6,983,706 bytes) in length; dial-up users please be aware.
It will take no less than thirty three minutes to load at 48.0Kbps.
This clip is approximately 10.000084561256 megabytes (10,167,992 bytes) in length; dial-up users please be aware.
It will take no less than fifty minutes to load at 48.0Kbps.
Same thing as above; shot with the Polaroid x530 Digital Camera this time.
Test unit was purchased on Amazon.com on 02-04-11 (or "04 Feb 2011" or even "Feb 04 Twenty Double Sticks if you prefer), and was received at 4:01pm PST on 02-07-11 (or "07 Feb 2011" or even "Feb 07, Twenty Double Sticks" if you prefer).
I have decided to rate this wonderful little laser four stars!!!
The only real reason that it did not receive five stars is because the claimed power output and the measured power output vary so greatly (claimed at <10mW, measured at 75.50mW) -- a rather severe no-no!!!
UPDATE 00-00-00:
PROS:
Color is very radiant & unusual for a handheld laser
Uses inexpensive and readily available batteries
The price is right!
CONS:
Just the usual suspects for laser modules/pointers - nothing that affects rating...actually, there is one little thing: it is advertised as a 10mW laser, but outputs over 75mW of laser radiation.
That's what lopped that last star off.
MANUFACTURER: Unknown
PRODUCT TYPE: Violet-emitting laser
LAMP TYPE: Sony Blu-ray laser diode
No. OF LAMPS: 1
BEAM TYPE: Very narrow spot
SWITCH TYPE: Momentary on/off button on barrel
CASE MATERIAL: Brass
BEZEL: Metal; laser & lens recessed into its end
BATTERY: 2x AAA cells
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
WATER- AND URANATION-RESISTANT: Light splatter-resistant at maximum
SUBMERSIBLE: FOR CHRIST SAKES NOOOOO!!!
ACCESSORIES: Batteries, hard-sided storage/presentation case
SIZE: 154mm L x 14mm D (not incl. switch button)
WEIGHT: Not equipped to weigh
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China
WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated
PRODUCT RATING:
Last edited:
