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Rick Trent 520nm 1W-1.4W

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Hi everyone,

Complete and total noob here with a quick review of a recent purchase. I finally decided on ordering one of Rick Trent's 1W-1.4W 520nm green laser kits with the copper heatsink. Communication from Rick was outstanding. I received my package 6 days from the time I placed the order packed adequately as to avoid transit damage. The package included a complete MX900 flashlight, safety glasses, heatsink/diode/lens assembly, (cheap) 2 bay battery charger, and instructions. Assembly of the laser was somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 minutes. Now my opinion..............

This thing is absolutely AMAZING!! From a new guy that isn't concerned with precise LPM measurements and specifics on how different drivers/diodes/lenses are better than others, I definitely feel as if I've gotten my money's worth. The instructions supplied has the laser @ 1.41W. I honestly have no clue how accurate that is, but I can tell you it's as bright as I'll ever need and I'm inclined to believe it. I was looking for a few things in my first high power laser purchase and this one meets or exceeds them all. It's is aesthetically pleasing to look at, it's bright, it is very sturdy and in no way has that "cheap" feel to it, the cost was well below almost all lasers in this power range, and most of all it functions as it should. My only complaint is the focus adjustment is a little too easy to adjust. There is a spring beneath it to help hold it in place and the adjustment doesn't move unless touched, but it doesn't take much of a touch. All in all, I think anyone looking for a quality, extremely bright, green laser would be very satisfied.

The picture was taken during daylight, just as the sun dropped below the tree line. I'm pointing at a tree approx 70 yards away.

Thanks for reading,
Vator
 

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You can add an exterior spring around the outside of the threaded lens barrel, I make mine by cutting down larger springs, but you can buy them here.

External Lens Spring 5-Pack

52215d1466694380-rick-trent-520nm-1w-1-4w-sany0203.jpg

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Thanks RedCowboy!
I plan on purchasing one of his 3.5W 445nm blue lasers as well. The five pack of springs will come in handy. Appreciate the info.
 

Cel

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Nice laser!

I use teflon tape (aka thread seal tape) instead of any springs.
 
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hi,
Those full CU sinks trent sells are great i have 2 of them. I would buy more but they went from 40.00 to 80.00 no way ill pay that much. I think the price went up because of the high-power diodes that came about. Or his supplier raised the cost . 40.00 bucks was ok if they were still that price i would buy 2 or 3 more

Rich:)
 
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You can add an exterior spring around the outside of the threaded lens barrel, I make mine by cutting down larger springs, but you can buy them here.

External Lens Spring 5-Pack

:lasergun:

That's way too much money for a few springs. I'm sure home depot or any common hardware store has the same size for a metric sh*t ton cheaper, and you could even get one with a longer length and cut it into multiples as you said.
 
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The Teflon tape is doing the job for now on the lens. Thanks for the suggestion. I had thought about that already, but I can see reapplying is going to be necessary pretty often. I had plans on checking home depot for some springs I could possibly modify to make it more of a permanent solution. We have some other bolt and nut specialty shops I was going to check as well. If no luck, I'll probably sacrifice the $20 for the five pack. I agree completely though, $20 is a little pricey.

Quick question if you guys don't mind.....is the green "splatter" typical at night? I'm not sure of what lens I have in this thing. The splatter isn't what I would think of as excessive, but it is there and was just curious. Thanks ahead of time.
 
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most all lasers in this power range, and most of all it functions as it should. My only complaint is the focus adjustment is a little too easy to adjust. There is a spring beneath it to help hold it in place and the adjustment doesn't move unless touched, but it doesn't take much of a touch...

RedCowboy said:
Originally Posted by RedCowboy View Post
You can add an exterior spring around the outside of the threaded lens barrel, I make mine by cutting down larger springs, but you can buy them here.

External Lens Spring 5-Pack

That's how I always do it - the interior + exterior spring c-c-c-combo breaker..

You could also double up the inside spring or wrap the lens barrel with some teflon..

(Found this just now, care of Blord from our forum, I'm sure he won't mind my use of his image for educational purposes..)

half_threaded_lens.jpg


Also, if you don't care much for the adjustment knobs for a clean simplistic look, especially for the 520nm, I like to use half-threaded 2EGL lenses because I love how the O-ring feels - so sturdy.

%24_57+%284%29.JPG



oops.. looks like I was a little late on that teflon thing.. still.. ditto
 
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Pman

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That pic shows a really poor application of Teflon tape and someone else alluded to having to redo it at times. This is the reason why I don't use it. Any tape fragments get loose and you can easily ruin the diode window or lens from the tape burning. Teflon tape is meant to go on one direction and not for lens movement in and out. I would highly recommend either finding springs with more tention or doubling springs especially if you change the focus of a laser a lot. If you really want to use the tape then keep it away from the lens ends and keep an eye on it to see make sure it isn't fragmenting.
Teflon tape does work but every single laser I've ever purchased from someone that had used it on the lens that came with the units the tape was coming apart or it was wrapped so that at least one end was coming apart or lipped over the lens edge. The issue is normal width tape is wider than a lens so you either need to cut the width down or fold it. Anyways, I'm not a fan. It's not meant to be used in the opposite direction.
 

BowtieGuy

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^^^ I couldn't agree more, Pete. ^^^
If tape is used, it should be kept well away from the first few threads on the "diode" side of the lens to reduce the possibility of it getting on the diode window.
IMO, if you've taken the time and money to build a beautiful laser, why put white tape, that in no time looks shredded and raggedy on it?
 

Pman

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Thanks Jeff. My above comment on the tape isn't meant to upset anyone. Just please be really careful with it if you are going to use it. My intention is just to look out for all our members. I just hate to hear about bad things happening to anyone's builds.
I don't know why those springs are so expensive from SL but I also have no idea where you can buy them either. To be fair though he is trying to make money and I don't know anyone that isn't happy with those outside lens springs. Don't own any myself although I have been tempted to buy a set. I have a ton of springs though from Harbor Freight but haven't tried messing with tightening or loosening them at all.
 
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I have to agree with PMan and Jeff,
I don't want my lasers to look like plumbing fixtures and don't want to chance something burning into my diode window. I have strong springs that came in a 10 pak of 5.6mm modules from existotem. Pic below, strong spring on right, the focus stays right where ya want it
 

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HiVV,
Those modules from Existotem are they CU or brass under the Chrome finish??

Rich:)
 
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Pete sent me some springs in a bag of parts, two or so years ago and one of them is 8.37mm and works great as an interior spring. So Harbor Freight spring sets do have one that is much stronger than the ones you get with a module. Just have to cut it down. In my last build I cut 3 coils off it and it fits perfect.
Thanks again Pete.
Ed
 
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That pic shows a really poor application of Teflon tape and someone else alluded to having to redo it at times. This is the reason why I don't use it. Any tape fragments get loose and you can easily ruin the diode window or lens from the tape burning. Teflon tape is meant to go on one direction and not for lens movement in and out. I would highly recommend either finding springs with more tention or doubling springs especially if you change the focus of a laser a lot. If you really want to use the tape then keep it away from the lens ends and keep an eye on it to see make sure it isn't fragmenting.
Teflon tape does work but every single laser I've ever purchased from someone that had used it on the lens that came with the units the tape was coming apart or it was wrapped so that at least one end was coming apart or lipped over the lens edge. The issue is normal width tape is wider than a lens so you either need to cut the width down or fold it. Anyways, I'm not a fan. It's not meant to be used in the opposite direction.


That's a very good point, I never thought of that.. it's because I never do it, haha.. I just had a customer mention that he had done it and loved the results, but he doesn't tweak his lasers quite as much as we do.

My favorite method is a single internal (larger diameter - you may have noticed some springs have a smaller diameter than others, depending on who supplied em) and single external spring - I like how the externals work and I don't use G2s or other low EFL lenses anymore so I don't run into issues with bottoming out.. usually. Larger diameter springs are important because I want to be very sure that I don't get an accidental short from a compressed spring hitting the anode or cathode in an open can diode - not that it has happened, I just get paranoid.

What I like to do on production units, especially laser hosts which have an adjustable lens holder which is part of the host design, is put a small dab of electrical silicone because it's not permanent but holds the lens barrel in place very well while being easily removable when the customer decides to change a lens our or something.

What do you guys think of COLORED external springs with higher spring rates??
 




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