For red: Check out my 650-G-1 glass lens mod fit for AixiZ! See here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs...ase-46332.html



The 405-G-1 glass lens is the most power for blu-ray or 445...

Many people will choose the AixiZ 445 glass lens for a 445 build. Because the multimode 445 diode makes a line instead of a dot. And the AixiZ 3 elment lens will 'clip' the line shorter, giving a better looking dot. (at about 15% less output power vs the 405-G-1) See lens comparisons for 445nm here:
445nm Lens Comparisons!




The G2 from DTR is a few bucks cheaper than my G1 assembly, but it is not mounted the same...

That said, it's still a good set up for the price.


I spend quite a bit of extra time for the mounting of my set up, and thus, some extra cost...

I test compared the G2 vs G1 long ago before anybody knew about it, and if I had found that the G2 optic was any better in even the slightest way, then I would have switched over long ago. I was the one that tested the G2 for Will (lasers4u/laser66), and compared it with the G1. (see testing below)

Since I found no difference, I kept the same optic.

As the pictures below show, the difference is in the way the optic is mounted. Here are the main reasons that I go through the extra work for my mount:

* Able to enlarge the entry aperture and allow more light from the diode into the lens
* Able to set the lens 'lower' in the nut, so that it can get closer to the diode if needed
* The lens is perfectly centered in the nut (if just mounting it in the retaining ring end of the nut, there is a possibility that it can get off center)

As you can imagine, there is a lot more work involved with the way I mount the lens.

* Machine the lens nut to fit the diameter of the lens
* Enlarge the entry aperture
* Make the custom sleeve/retainer tube that is shown in my pictures below...





Cleaning:

One of the nice things about my assembly, is that it can be taken *apart for cleaning if ever necessary.

Here's a video that one of my customers made showing the cleaning process:





See picture below for the order of assembly and the lens orientation for re-assembly:






For max power, people will choose the 405-G-1...

In the case of a 12X build, just about every body uses the 405-G-1 as can be seen here in this list of 12X builds showing all components of the builds:
12x BR DIODES






These glass lenses for blu-ray are not cheap, but if you want the most increase in power vs AixiZ acrylic, this glass lens is the ticket! And worth every penny! (IMO)

It gives a 31% increase in power for blu-ray vs AixiZ acrylic. (new) Which means a 26% increase in power vs AixiZ acrylic - back opened.
Power comparisons using several different lenses for red and blu-ray shown here

This 405-G-1 glass lens is an Aspheric lens, with AR coating on both sides.

I'm not making a lot on the machine work for the modification and custom spacer. The parts are the expense.

Note: I would like to share why I chose this mounting method over other methods...

The lens will fit 'sloppy' in the AixiZ glass nut, unless it is drilled to the precise size needed for the lens. If the lens is just sitting in the retaining ring area, the remaining 'smaller diameter' of the lens nut that the top of the lens will sit against. is not fit properly, and could even chip the glass.

Not that it will happen, but it could. I am talking from experience. Yes, I chipped a lens trying it this way. This, among other reasons, is why I chose the modification that I came up with.

Even though it requires:

* Enlarging the aperture with one drill size.
* Drilling out the nut to fit the 405-G-1 glass lens sitting on a tiny 'lip'.
* Making a custom spacer to retain the lens. (my custom spacer/retainer sits on the 'rim' of the lens that is made for mounting it)

And... Not only is the barrel of the AixiZ glass lens nut too small in diameter for this mounting method, but the threaded area is too large in diameter for the O.D. of the lens. This is what I mean by fitting 'sloppy'. I guess if it was glued in place, and perfectly aligned, then it would work out. But not a good way to mount the lens. (IMHO)

On the other hand, my method also leaves room for the 'finger grip' focus ring to be installed 'all the way on', and still allow focus!

Review: A very detailed review with comparisons from Miloš shown here: Jayrob VS. LarryFDFW AR lens VS. Aixiz standards - Laser Pointer Forums - Discuss Lasers & Laser Pointers

NO GLUE in my lens assembly! You won't have to worry about if it is glued in straight, or if the glue will begin to dry out or chip with heat. My lens assembly will last a lifetime. And you just may want to take it apart and clean the lens once a year!

Below are the pictures of the lens modification and results...



I am mounting the 'flat' side of the lens on the drilled out 'lip' on my assembly.
The crown side of my lens sits inside my custom spacer/retainer that is only touching the outer mounting 'rim' of the lens that is made for mounting the lens.








(Data sheet for this 405-G-1 glass lens)


I did a comparison on my Pocket Mini 6X which is set at 181mA's...
* AixiZ acrylic (back opened) - 171mW's
* 405-G-1 glass lens - 215mW's!

That is a 26% increase in power! The focused dot is very nice, as you can see in the picture. It want's to burn everything it touches...

I measured 28% more power in my 'Micro Chrome' build shown here: (vs AixiZ acrylic - back opened)
FS: Micro Chrome Build Kit! FlexDrive 'Hot' option - Laser Pointer Forums - Discuss Lasers & Laser Pointers

And Dave Guin got 28% more with his 8X build! (vs AixiZ acrylic - back opened)
Pioneer 8X Blu-Ray-- BDR-203 - Page 5 - Laser Pointer Forums - Discuss Lasers & Laser Pointers



$55 dollars plus $3 dollars shipping. This modification includes the 405-G-1 glass lens complete assembly, with the 'finger grip' focus ring... (ready to install into your AixiZ module) You must use your existing spring, which will need to be shortened a tad. (using the spring is optional, I recommend 1 1/2 wraps of Teflon tape)

If you just want the bare lenses, I will sell them for $28 dollars plus $2 dollars shipping...

* Please read my shipping policy here!





There is a new lens in the neighborhood... (G2)

I made this thread just so there would not be any confusion with another lens being available. These are my honest findings with the power comparisons. (as everything else I share) I have two of these that I bought. They are the same price. I would gladly sell them at a couple of dollars less to anyone who also wanted to do some comparison testing!

It is the exact same optical design as the 405-G-1, but it is just from a different supplier, and has a slightly different AR coating. Same focal length, same side splash, same specs exactly...

Will (lasers4u) is calling it the 405-G-2 only because of the slightly different AR coating. (and different supplier)

He was my supplier for the 405-G-1 bare optics, and I can get these new lenses from him as well.

But I went ahead and got my latest supply of the 405-G-1 lenses direct from the manufacture because I wanted to stick with what I have had all along.

However, the new 405-G-2 is basically the same output for blu-ray. (very close)

Same pricing on the 405-G-2 as well...






New Lens Testing:

I did testing with three different lasers... (two different power blu-ray's, and a red)

GGW 6X @ 188mA's:

* 405-G-1: 234mW's
* 405-G-2: 231mW's

BDR-205 12X @ 350mA's:

* 405-G-1: 480mW's
* 405-G-2: 478mW's

LOC red @ 431mA's

* 405-G-1: 292mW's
* 405-G-2: 279mW's
* 650-G-1: 305mW's

So although it is not as good for red, it is pretty much the same for blu-ray. (within a couple of mW's)

For red, my 650-G-1 is about 5% better than the 405-G-1...

Best for red: I have this same modification using a different lens specifically for red. My 650-G-1 glass lens mod fit for AixiZ! See here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs...ase-46332.html





Note: These are fit for AixiZ modules. If you need it to fit a Sure module, just let me know when you order. Sometimes the Sure modules are not threaded all the way down on the inside where the lens threads in. So I would machine a few of the front threads smooth, so that it fits the Sure module.

Also, the threading on Sure modules are tighter, and I need to run the lens nut through my 9mm X .5 die to take the black finish off of the lens nut for it to fit.








P.S. Just some information about Meredith... They are no longer offering their 'optimized for red' glass lens. But I have my 650-G-1 glass lens mod for red linked above! (same power increase for red as Meredith 'optimized for red') Their new 405 coated lens is a broad band coating that is decent for both red and blu-ray. But not as good as the 405-G-1 glass lens for blu-ray, and not as good as my 650-G-1 glass lens mod.






Update:
The 'side splash' is similar to the Meredith glass lenses. But the dot is very intense and wants to burn everything it touches!

(Beam shot comparison with smoke)


Here are some beam shot comparisons with 6X vs 8X. Both using my 405-G-1 glass lens modification...

(Beam shot comparisons with smoke)



SCHWEET!







Video:

This flash paper is a MUST SEE! I posted his video elsewhere, but since Chuck is using my 405-G-1 glass lens mod, I wanted to post it here... (I asked him first)

Chuck bought a 405-G-1 glass lens from me and built it into a PHR Phaser style build. This video shows his PHR instantly burning white 'flash' paper! The flash paper is really cool stuff! I bought some and it is awesome, just like this video:



Flash paper: Flash Paper Fire Magic

I bought the 2" X 3" sheets, and all you need is to tear a very small piece (like a 1" X 1" square), and roll it into a ball. If your dot is focused properly, it will 'flash' instantly, like in the video!

For more information on his build, here's Chuck's thread: New member, new build, *videos - Laser Pointer Forums - Discuss Lasers & Laser Pointers

I'll take 2. PM sent.

thanks Jayrob, I've waited forever for these things to be available (wanted to be in Igor's GB, I'm guessing that died out?)

-Kendall

There are a few in front of you, but it should only be a couple of days...

More AixiZ lenses on the way for the modification.

You will not be disappointed with these!
Jay

I see you too have the "blueblocker" sunglasses. I love those things. I wear them all the time. They make it look nice out even when it is gloomy.

They work great for checking focus and blu-ray eye protection too!

Probably not recommended for a direct shot or anything, but they are pretty good protection...
Jay

Where do you get them?

The glasses? Just Google blublocker sunglasses...
Jay

Dont tell the Chimp that :

Dont tell the Chimp that *:
[/quote]

I left myself an out!
Jay

VERY impressive increase in output!

My Kryton build with a 6x diode running 200mA was putting out 200mW with an Aixiz acrylic lens... stuck this baby in and got 265mW (32.5% increase)! * *

Also tried it with a PHR running 100mA, measured at 69mW with an Aixiz acrylic and 88mW with this lens (28% increase).

Lastly, I tried my open can red at 430mA, measured at 250mW with an Aixiz glass lens, with the new lens 275mW (10% increase).

When focused down to a pinpoint, this thing burned just about anything... it was making my finger smoke as I tried to adjust the focus, haha. (NOTE: *you should probably not be adjusting focus while the laser diode is powered)

It also made the beam on the blu-ray diodes very noticeably thinner. *But, the only drawback (if you care, anyway) is that because of the large beam input aperture on the lens (NA, which also helps increase output power) there are much more beam artifacts surrounding the collimated beam. *But, they're not very noticeable unless it is shone on something that fluoresces or probably if you're in a dark environment.

Some comparative pics of the beam profile from my 6x diode with the acrylic lens and the new lens, shown on a glow-in-the-dark surface (to accentuate the visibility).

The beam artifacts surrounding the collimated beam is very visible :-?
++

Over 30%!

Nice Ryan! Thanks for the great informative post on beam spec. Looking forward to your pictures.

About the 'side splash', that never bothered me much. I notice this with AixiZ acrylic as well, it's just different. (wider) In the dark, you will see two large spots way out wide using an AixiZ acrylic. If you rotate the laser, then it is really noticeable.

Most of this is because of the flat beam on a blu-ray...
Jay

Yeah, the splash isn't a big deal to me, but it was just FYI. *In my opinion, this minor difference is much outweighed by the increase in power and decrease in beam diameter!

Oh, and the unusually high increase in power may be due to the acrylic lens having unusually high loss. I've been using it on the 6x diode for a few weeks now, and it is quite possible that it has some slight degradation with time. Also, as IgorT has pointed out in the past, the acrylic lenses have a pretty sharp cutoff on transmission around 405nm, so a slightly higher wavelength diode will actually have better transmittance than a lower wavelength diode. That would mean that if mine was a slightly lower wavelength than most, it would also have a higher percentage increase in difference between the lenses.

Good point...

Your acrylic lens probably did have some degradation at 200mW's. Now with the glass lens mod, you don't have to worry about that anymore!
Jay

Hey Ryan, those pictures are very good...

I would just like to point out for everybody though, that as Ryan mentioned, he took these pictures with the dot on a glow in the dark surface.

In other words. The dot is very tight and intense for burning, but there is some 'side splash'. If you have it out of focus, you will notice it more.

I am used to some 'splash', because I have been using the Meredith glass lenses for over a year, and they give a similar side effect.

The close up picture of the AixiZ acrylic dot, does not show the 'wide spots' that are way out of view in that close up...
Jay

Yeah, really, not a concern for me. *I LOVE the thinner beam and now having an extra 65mW from nothing (well, aside from the cost of the lens) *;D

Now, if only I could recreate Dave's findings... [goes to contemplate spending $200 on an 8x drive to get himself 1/2W of 405nm] [smiley=evil.gif]

Nice!
I would get one if it weren't for Igor's GB...

I thought about that too, but here's my decision; I'll take one for my Daguin Dorcy Jr. 6x and I'll wait on Igor's for his Romisen 6x and my future Daguin 8x... *:P

I'd like a pre-cut spring, though (because I want to keep the one I have for comparisons etc). Surely it can't be that big of a deal to cut one up (for a Dorcy Jr.) & ship it along for me, Jay... (pleeeeeeease)?

Hot off the press!

Check this out! It may be the 8X in another sled...
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/fo...m=1237590110/0
Jay

thats the sled i have 8-) they are not cheap

I thought about that too, but here's my decision; I'll take one for my Daguin Dorcy Jr. 6x and I'll wait on Igor's for his Romisen 6x and my future Daguin 8x... *:P

I'd like a pre-cut spring, though (because I want to keep the one I have for comparisons etc). Surely it can't be that big of a deal to cut one up (for a Dorcy Jr.) & ship it along for me, Jay... (pleeeeeeease)?
[/quote]

Each AixiZ module comes with a spring, so you will end up with an extra spring, and of course I will be short one, but I will do it for you!

I just had to mention that, because obviously I don't want to do this on every lens mod, otherwise I won't have springs for my AixiZ modules...
Jay

Also, these springs are not proprietary. *They are just a spring. *Virtually any spring with the same dimensions will work.

In many of my Dorcy builds, I used the part of the battery contact spring that I cut off as the lens spring.

Peace,
dave

Hey Dave, I had one person tell me that they don't like the lens...

I personally don't mind the 'splash' because it is only noticeable to me if I am looking at the dot at close distance, or if it is out of focus...

What is your opinion?
Jay

That person has obviously never seen a Merideth lens

Tell him to PM me. *I'll buy it from him.

Peace,
dave

Thx a bunch, Jay, PM sent