What's your Dream LASER Diode - IF it were affordable? *Grand Purchase Plan*

Leodahsan said:

Thats really, up to you. Try asking your manufacturer for the divergence when focused to infinity. We may get some interesting results. Gotta sleep, bb.

Click to expand...

I was thinking about this, over the last few days, and wondered ...

besides trying to change the shape of the beam, ... with a lens,
are you also trying to change the physical angle or divergence it emitts, back to being on true center?

'cause for that, I suggest making some michanical micro-adjusting "gizmo",
to allow you to actually move the module, slightly, left-right-up-down, and rotate, within the host.

wouldn't this take care of divergence adjustments? ... sort-of, like a gun site adjustment.

Then you can concentrate on shaping the beam with the lens system you choose.


BTW-they did say the measurement was taken from the bare window of the diode.
I'm asking them again, if the wide difference in minimum and maximum values are,
production run changes, or higher current inputs changing divergence values.

I think, however, being it's a medical device laser, it's meant to use within 1 meter.

Think about it... ... you gunna shoot da lazor to da patient 'cross da room?

sorry, just being silly again... but really now .. you're wanting to make the diode go to infinity,
or shape a certain way, any diode will need some amount of tweaking,
plus, if you actually expect to have a production run diode be perfect,
it's going to cost plenty, at least, at first, when it's newly released, and
not requested in million quantity by some consumer product manufacturer, later on.

Grix said:

I voted for it because it was the best out of the ones in the poll. But I doubt I have any use for it when I can't collaminate it.

btw: Both diodes may be multimode but the 170mW is much better in terms of the beam. A 150mW also exists, and it's even better. Here are the collamination and divergence results:
ML520G72 diode properties

As you can see it can be used with a single lense, the 300mW can not.

Click to expand...

I've placed a side-by-side look at both divergence numbers,
on the image site, the 300mW "my" manufacturer has seems to win, with lower
divergence parallel angle, and around the same perpendicular angle,
so please explain what's better about the diode shown in that thread, and
attached here in the PDF?

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1800/thetwosidebyside.jpg

Triple post! u a real spammer.
I'm waiting for more news. I'm working on a different project so I'll be off some days, but I'll be reading. gl

GreenBeam said:

I've placed a side-by-side look at both divergence numbers,
on the image site, the 300mW "my" manufacturer has seems to win, with lower
divergence parallel angle, and around the same perpendicular angle,
so please explain what's better about the diode shown in that thread, and
attached here in the PDF?

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1800/thetwosidebyside.jpg

Click to expand...

That's not the diode I reccommended.. That's the 500mW version. That has even worse divergence than your diode, yes.

I meant the 150mW version.. Here is the spec sheet:
http://www.photonic-products.com/products/laserdiodes_visible/opnext/hl6385dg.pdf

It has much rounder beam and is easier to control; therefore they have much better divergence with usual lenses.

Grix said:

That's not the diode I reccommended.. That's the 500mW version. That has even worse divergence than your diode, yes.

I meant the 150mW version.. Here is the spec sheet:
http://www.photonic-products.com/products/laserdiodes_visible/opnext/hl6385dg.pdf

It has much rounder beam and is easier to control; therefore they have much better divergence with usual lenses.

Click to expand...

"yours is 642nm typical, ... "mine" is at least 638nm typical.
More of the color you're paying for, as a premium, for the "635nm" wavelength.

Can I ask what you're going to use it for , where you need a "rounder" beam?

I'm not trying to make light of this ...
I really don't know why standard lens combo's can't "adjust" one axis, more than another,
are you trying to use as few lenses as possible, or, just one if possible?

I guess I need to get a LENS Simulation Engineering Program to really see it. :bday::beer::san:

so smaller perpendicular numbers and slightly larger parallel numbers makes
the beam a rounder shape? .. rather than more rectangular? (if so, OK)

If that's true, I agree, if the beam is "rounder" and not rectangle-ish it will
be easier to compensate any shape error, but isn't this one available from
Dr.Lava already?:thinking:
.
.
.
.
anyway, so I don't double or tripple post for a while :banned::tinfoil:
let me attach the special handling and heatsink/hosts the C-mounts and TO3 cases need.

along with some pictures of some Pro-sinks / Hosts so all can see some
examples of how it's done, Pro style.

For those who've always wanted to have a High-Power C-mount or TO3 Laser,
but didn't fully know what's needed, look at the attachments, to get a good idea.

There's even a thread on this site with someone else asking the samething
some may want to know.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/c-mount-laser-help-42247.html#post553634

... If they follow the instructions for building it, from the PDF's
they'll be able to make a very good, even TEC cooled, host, if they want.

GreenBeam said:

"yours is 642nm typical, ... "mine" is at least 638nm typical.
More of the color you're paying for, as a premium, for the "635nm" wavelength.

Can I ask what you're going to use it for , where you need a "rounder" beam?

I'm not trying to make light of this ...
I really don't know why standard lens combo's can't "adjust" one axis, more than another,
are you trying to use as few lenses as possible, or, just one if possible?

I guess I need to get a LENS Simulation Engineering Program to really see it. :bday::beer::san:

so smaller perpendicular numbers and slightly larger parallel numbers makes
the beam a rounder shape? .. rather than more rectangular? (if so, OK)

If that's true, I agree, if the beam is "rounder" and not rectangle-ish it will
be easier to compensate any shape error, but isn't this one available from
Dr.Lava already?:thinking:

Click to expand...

I tried drawing it, as you can see, diodes with not round beams need multiple lenses that makes them impossible to use in handheld pointers, and hard to use elsewhere.

Grix said:

I tried drawing it, as you can see, diodes with not round beams need multiple lenses that makes them impossible to use in handheld pointers, and hard to use elsewhere.


View attachment 31303

Click to expand...

OK Grix, You've convinced me... I've put this manufacturer on hold for a while. I told them I needed to take care of my mom and had to have several weeks more to consider their quote, and they said OK.

It's not a lie though, I'll still need to take care of her, but so far she's OK too, for now, so I have a chance to ask several more manufacturers what's up with their parts.

I did find a company with C-mount diodes 808nm with a beam divergence of 8/8 ... so far that's the BEST I've seen for C-mount diodes, but they're more expensive than the other manufacturers, ... if this is more along the lines of what you all need, beam-wise, then I'm willing to get from other sources.

I would still like the 635nm 300mW TO18.

Actually it would be nice to have the 650nm at 300mW TO18 as well.

@Grix
I think it is not that easy to get a TEM00 from a diode with two different axis..

@GreenBeam
hosts for c-mounts are generally very expensive..

My dream diode would be a yellow diode with around 2 watts. That may not seem possible currently, but thats what we said about 445s just last year

Grix said:

I tried drawing it, as you can see, diodes with not round beams need multiple lenses that makes them impossible to use in handheld pointers, and hard to use elsewhere.


View attachment 31303

Click to expand...

Then how do you explain single lens 445 diodes in handheld lasers?

Aaron said:

Then how do you explain single lens 445 diodes in handheld lasers?

Click to expand...

While 445nm indeed is multimode, it is much easier to control than these 635nm diodes, and a decent beam can be had with only one lense.

Professional 445nm builds still use multiple lenses though.

Is this really going to happen after all?
I really want a 635nm 300mw to18 diode
As for the collimation, we could use some experimentation with lenses, we're used to just get an assembled lens for a diode and call it a day, IMO dealing with such specific diodes could be a good opportunity to get further experience in optics.

Tonga said:

I would still like the 635nm 300mW TO18.

Click to expand...

the to18 will have to be to5, 9mm, ... but I'm still looking to get the largest in a to18

it seems the delay, requested by mr.grix, made the original manufacturer change the conditions, as I said could happen, because of my requesting additional time... even though they agreed to wait, they didn't say all would stay the same.

so now, no smaller quantities of others at the 1000 piece price, and no fast shipping, free, as was before, but, to top it off, they want payment in full wired by western union, and no more Letter-of-Credit payment method.
needless to say- this manufacturer is no longer being considered by me...

I have found most of what I have on the poll from other sources, the pricing won't be as low, but still a good deal, IF I can deal with manufacturers ONLY and not distributors.

All of the major companies already have distributors setup everywhere, so
they say to call them... OH well ... I DID FIND Grix's prize diode though!!!

Grix - It's a discontinued item, but I found a distributor with it ... I'm sure
you'll want several now, right? :yh:

Thing is ... it's from a distributor, not the main manufacturer - they don't
have it any longer (i'm sure you knew that when you sent me on this quest)

I have to purchase a minimum dollar amount or they also add
a handling charge to the small order.... and their quote -
is good for 10 days only... from now.

I'll get them, but you'll have to take at least ONE, if not more!
Let me see you put your student money - where your mouth is ;

... 250US$ in single quantity, but
225US$ EACH for 2 -
if you can get 3 to 9 it's 205US$ EACH,
and 10 to 99 are 198US$ EACH.

shipping + taxes if any, is extra, you choose the carrier and extra services.

shall I inquire on quantities of 100 to 999 pricing for you, too? :na:

Tonga said:

Actually it would be nice to have the 650nm at 300mW TO18 as well.

Click to expand...

As stated, all the others should also be available from other sources.
China is in holiday, new years until Feb 7 or some companies Feb 12th

we just have to wait for the quotes to come in again.

Leodahsan said:

@Grix
I think it is not that easy to get a TEM00 from a diode with two different axis..

Click to expand...

I know you sent this to Grix, but I've seen one company offer a FAC lens (Fast Axis Collimation) that really "shrinks" the Fast Axis, I've attached some beam samples below.

Leodahsan said:

@GreenBeam
hosts for c-mounts are generally very expensive..

Click to expand...

Not if the wizards on this site build them for us... a quick-and-dirty
heatsink can be made using a standard thick heatsink or even block of
copper or other metal, from scratch. There are two machine-shop people on
this site, off hand, JayRob, and FlaminPyro, If I spell their names correctly.

Aaron said:

My dream diode would be a yellow diode with around 2 watts. That may not seem possible currently, but thats what we said about 445s just last year

Click to expand...

YES, .. :evil:.. well ... it could be sooner, One contact I have is producing
their new direct color diodes for blue 450nm, and already has green

This company is a good source for future play toys, but could also be costly when new.

ix551 said:

Is this really going to happen after all?
I really want a 635nm 300mw to18 diode
As for the collimation, we could use some experimentation with lenses, we're used to just get an assembled lens for a diode and call it a day, IMO dealing with such specific diodes could be a good opportunity to get further experience in optics.

Click to expand...

Look at the attached beam samples with, and without a FAC lens,
it looks interesting, there are C-mount diodes with one already attached.

ix551 said:

Is this really going to happen after all?

Click to expand...

YES it will, but from different sources, and at slightly higher costs,
thanks to Grix.

Lets see if he actually wanted that round beam laser diode, and buys one.:knight:

great, GreenBeam. I think to5 (9mm, O-like sells modules for these diodes.. look further) would be more appealing if it is more power/price, something like $160 per diode @ 1 pcs, and cheaper @ 100 pcs.

>>BUT<<
O-like don't have a module specialized for fast axiz correction lenses. that is hard to find and IF some member like jayrob / pyro would be machining them, they would cost a lot: the total laser cost could be $400: for 300mW of 'red'. Some people could find it not that appealing.

I would like to see his beam after full collimation if some beam is visible