Review of the Osram 445nm Blue Kaleidoscopic Portable Laser

The Osram 445nm Blue Kaleidoscopic Portable Laser (hereinafter, probably just called a "blue portable laser" or even just a "blue laser") is a royal blue-emitting, directly-injected diode laser. That is, it produces deep blue laser radiation directly, without the need for messy, fragile nonlinear crystals like those green laser pointers and the amberish-yellow and slightly greenish-blue ones as well. It uses a pair of AAA cells to feed its laser diode with.

It also features a removeable "starfield" projector head that projects hundreds of 'stars' in hundreds of different patterns that you can select by rotating the head.

This laser has a measured power output of 171mW at 448nm in the blue part of the spectrum.

This is the reason I call it a "portable laser" on my website instead of a "pointer". Lasers designated as "pointers" must -- by US law anyway -- have a power output that does not exceed 5mW.

It comes in a handsome aluminum body with a black matte finish and brushed chrome-colored accents.


SIZE



To get the laser to turn on, first load it with two AAA cells (see directly below), and THEN you can go project some stars.

Aim the laser well-away from your face first. Press & hold the chrome-colored button on the barrel to turn the laser on; release the button to neutralise it (deactivate it).

To project a starfield, first be certain that the starfield projection head is screwed onto the laser's "business end". Activate and deactivate the laser as described directly above.

To change the displayed stars, simply use your hand to rotate the star projection head clockwise (as though tightening it); the projection that you last used will remain even when you put the laser away and then go to use it again thanks to its fairly stiff action.


To change the batteries in your blue laser, unscrew the laser at the halfway point and set the front portion aside.

Tip the used AAA cells out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Insert a pair of new AAA cells into the lower half of 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 two halves back together, and be done with it.


Unable to measure current (amperage) due to the way this laser was constructed.

This is a directly-injected laser (which by their very nature are more rugged than DPSS lasers!), 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 deep red (671nm), yellow (593.5nm), green (532nm), and light 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 deep red, yellow, green, or blue laser beam.
Though you still do not want to intentionally drop your blue-emitting portable laser because it's a precision optical instrument.

The biggest downside to this laser is the fact that while this is clearly a CDRH Class IIIb laser (making it somewhat dangerous!!!), there are no safety features at all that are normally required in Class IIIb lasers; e.g., there is no "emissions" indicator, no startup delay, no interlock of ANY type, and no mechanical beam shutter. This laser behaves like a Class IIIa laser pointer in this regard, which I believe is a rather severe no-no!!!


TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased from Laserlands via an Ebay listing on 04-09-13 (or "2013 09 Apr." if you prefer) and was received at 3:51pm on 04-19-13.


UPDATE: 00-00-00


PROS:
Color is very radiant & unusual for a pen-style handheld laser
The price is right!
Has kaleidoscopic starfield projector
Uses batteries that are common and relatively inexpen$ive
Color is very radiant an unu...o wait, I said that already!!!


CONS:
No laser warning labelling of any type -- that's what nocked ½ star off its rating
No safety features required of a CDRH Class IIIb laser -- this is what lopped another ½ star off



MANUFACTURER: Osram
PRODUCT TYPE: Blue-emitting diode laser + laser star projector
LAMP TYPE: Osram blue (450nm) laser diode
No. OF LAMPS: 1
BEAM TYPE: Very narrow spot (w/out diffraction head)
SWITCH TYPE: Momentary pushbutton on/off button on barrel
CASE MATERIAL: Aluminum
BEZEL: Metal; laser & lens recessed into a hosel for them
BATTERY: 2x AAA cells
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
WATER-RESISTANT: Light splatter-resistant at maximum
SUBMERSIBLE: No!
ACCESSORIES: Kaleidoscopic head, hard-sided cardboard storage case
SIZE: 178mm L x 13mm D
WEIGHT: 75.90g (2.680 oz) incl. batteries
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: Not stated; but very likely China
WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

PRODUCT RATING:




Update 04-22-13: Added a photograph; changed the vid. for one with no zax.

Another great review, thank you.

i thought the Osram's were SM?

Nice! +1 FOR YOU! I am planning on geting one for my birthday

ped said:

Another great review, thank you.

i thought the Osram's were SM?

Click to expand...

You're more than welcome!!!
What's "SM" if I might ask?

Single Mode...