FS: Hi-Power AR Lens Assy- 25-30% Inc. vs. Aixiz

Traveller;

I'm glad you liked the brass assembly.

It should make focusing more precise.

Since you have a power meter, I would like to know how the power compares on a Red OC...
between the Hi-Power brass assembly and the "other" lens.

The "open lens aperture" captures more power from Red OC's.

Thanks, and enjoy the burn;

LarryDFW

P.S. Milos, our resident lens tester, is on vacation somewhere in Europe

Got the lens today.
I tried it on a LCC and PHR as my 6X isn't finished yet... I'm just waiting on a flex drive and a host from misterwilling.

I tested both on a Laserbee...

LCC with Aixiz glass: 282mW
LCC with Larry's lens: 322mW

PHR with Aixiz acrylic: 120mW
PHR with Larry's lens: 158mW

First of all, the threads are smooth and fit very well. I like this lens a lot.
The power increase is great, but I am having a slight problem with the lens...
It seems that the lens does not get close enough to the diode or something because I cannot focus to infinity (on the PHR only). The best I can get is a focal point at about 2cm from the aperture.
It may be the setup I am using that does not allow the lens to get close enough but I am not sure. I will try to make it work.

One thing I noticed was that the lens arrived with a little "gunk" on the "flat" side. I cleaned it off, so it's no big deal. There are also some artifacts that confuse me- they do not seem to really affect the beam quality or power but when I get the chance I will do a proper review of this lens (probably some time after I get back from vacation in a couple weeks). Edit: Upon closer inspection... I think the strange artifacts are from the adhesive. Only a small part of the fast axis on one side is affected.
I still like the lens. Thanks Larry!

LarryDFW said:

...It should make focusing more precise ... I would like to know how the power compares on a Red OC...

Click to expand...

Well I finally got around to doing some tests and well, there's good news & then some not-so-good news, Larry.

The good news is the lens makes a nice, precise spot, just as "clean" as JayRob's 405-G-1, so I'm happy about that

On the other hand, focusing is still tricky. That is to say that although your threading does have better tolerances than the AixiZ assemblies, it's still not as "accurate" as an AixiZ + spring. Said tolerance also changes ever so slightly so that it fits better in one AixiZ module and less so in the next.

As for your red LOC question, the output increase is exactly the same as JayRob's, no better, no worse (around 9%, no where near as exciting as the very high 20s you get with BRs).

Last but certainly not least, your assembly is slightly longer than JayRob's and I did have trouble with one of my lasers. In all honesty, this one laser has a brass module, so clearly not a typical AixiZ module. But with this module, I was unable to focus to infinity (same as RA_pierce above). That module is used in LikeitBright's Romisen red LOC laser(s). I reviewed it and you can see pics of his module in my review if you're interested.

Attachments: Pics of my two BRs and two lenses, swapping them to see what belongs to the lens & what belongs to the diode...

I dont understand how many lens types are there out there. I thought the advertised increase in power was 30 percent for blu-ray and 25 percent for a red loc from a standard aixiz acrylic lens. Why would you get a lens that only gets a 9 percent increase instead of the high 20's you get with a BR. What is a BR lens. How may lens types come standard on a Aixiz assembly? Many questions.

Regards
sbdwag

sbdwag said:

...and 25 percent for a red loc from a standard aixiz acrylic lens.

Click to expand...

There may indeed be an admirable increase for a red from acrylic to "hi power" lenses but who's going to make / sell a red with acrylic when you can get a glass AixiZ for $5?

So that 9% increase was from my red's AixiZ glass to hipo lenses (both Larry's and JayRob's 405nm-coated lenses offering the same increases).

Although I don't have one myself, I'm guessing the meredith glass is the way to go for reds...

RA & Traveler;

Thanks for the detailed reviews & all the comparison photos.

I tested the machined brass assemblies in ~15 different Aixiz assemblies to insure focusing beyond infinity in all of them.
I did notice that thread tolerances vary in the Aixiz module housings.

I am concerned about the focusing range of the Hi-Power lens assembly, in modules other than Aixiz.

The lens assembly has continuous threading, so it should be able to reach the infinity focus point & slightly beyond. If it is bottoming in the module threads, the threads are not deep enough.

If the focus ring is stopping the travel into the module,
it can be backed off to allow further entry into the module.

Let me know if you are not able to resolve the focus point.

RA - your PHR achieved a very nice 31.6% increase (highest increase reported)...
the Red achieved a 14.2% over the Aixiz glass lens (which has ~8% inc. over Aixiz plastic)

LarryDFW

P.S. The cut spring will scrape particles off of the housing,
and eventually require cleaning from the lens & diode window.

Larry

Pm sent

LarryDFW said:

...If it is bottoming in the module threads, the threads are not deep enough. Let me know if you are not able to resolve the focus point.

Click to expand...

Yes, bottoming out, as it were. Pic of the module below. So while I'm not going to be able to "resolve" that specific combo of module & lens, I do have three other modules to use your lens with. Thus I don't consider this a problem but you may want to "warn" your buyers in your first post that "ymmv" when it comes to other modules...

LarryDFW said:

P.S. The cut spring will scrape particles off of the housing,
and eventually require cleaning from the lens & diode window.

Click to expand...

I'd also rather live without springs but I was being rather diplomatic when I said it was "tricky"... My third lens (still in route) is configured with teflon so let's see if that's the way to go.


Images:
Romisen w/LOC & brass module (L), DJR w/LCC & std AixiZ module (R)
Romisen w/LOC & brass module

Hmm

If you are having a problem focusing your blu-ray to infinity, I have two suggestions. Try cleaning the threads on your assembly and the piece it screws in to. The threads are very close tolerance and dirt and grit may cause the threads to lock up before being screwed in all the way. If that doesn't work try focusing to infinity using the brass assembly without the aixiz focus ring. PM me with the results. I should be able to help you get that glitch fixed. Theses brass assemblies were specifically designed for and aixiz; and I tested the ability to focus red and blu-ray to infinity. I did not have any other assemblies to test it with.

MISTERWILLING said:

These brass assemblies were specifically designed for an aixiz;

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what module RA_Pierce is using, but as my pics above show, mine seems to be a custom-made module. The "no-thread" can be focused to infinty in all my standard AixiZ modules and thus works as advertised.

Tolerences are very good, much better than the normal AixiZ assembly to be sure, but unfortunately still not "tight" enough to use w/o a spring (imo). In defense of everyone involved, I don't even think it's possible to achieve a tight-enough fit w/o risking some minute stripping and creating micro-shavings, etc...

Traveller said:

I'm not sure what module RA_Pierce is using, but as my pics above show, mine seems to be a custom-made module. The "no-thread" can be focused to infinty in all my standard AixiZ modules and thus works as advertised.

Tolerences are very good, much better than the normal AixiZ assembly to be sure, but unfortunately still not "tight" enough to use w/o a spring (imo). In defense of everyone involved, I don't even think it's possible to achieve a tight-enough fit w/o risking some minute stripping and creating micro-shavings, etc...

Click to expand...

I am using an Aixiz for both.
I managed to get the PHR threaded in more- there was a little grit in the threading of the Aixiz that "locked" the threads.
I still need to test it with the 6X, because for some reason the newer Aixiz module this diode is pressed into is different than the others... I think there is a thread about this somewhere in the general section.

I agree with traveller on the spring issue. The threads are much better than Aixiz, but I will still use some teflon tape to make it a little more secure.

I'm not sure if this is normal, but with the PHR diode, the beam with this lens is much more flat and elongated than with the LCC.

That is Normal

Yeah the Blu-Ray beams are smaller than the red diode beams, Just by eye-balling i would say my LOC red is close to twice the beam size of the blu-ray

RA;

Did you try the Hi-Power lens on your 808nm diode ?

Is has the largest aperture possible in an Aixiz lens assembly,
which is a factor with IR bar diodes.

LarryDFW

Larry I am so pleased with that Glass AR lens, and can't thank you enough! My 325mW red LPC has the tightest/skinniest and most powerful beam. It just looks awesome at infinity in the night sky! As Igor says some diodes are freaks. I'm thinking I got one, because it runs fine at 470ma. ;-) Thanks again!

I'm using the LPC/325mW to light firework fuses from 6 feet. I know there are more powerful lasers out there, but this is the first time that I have been able to enjoy doing it. It's a great Open Can, and I doubt it could do that without Larrys AR glass lens. Some neighbors at my brother-in-laws where we were doing it, couldn't believe their eyes. I had to set the laser up on a ridgid table to get the beam to stay on target. Took about 6 seconds to ignite. The 4th is going to be a winner this year! ;-) Edit: they were instructed not to stare at the spot where the fuse was being lit. It's not particularly annoying to look at when the spot is about .5mm at 6 feet without protective eyewear, but safety is still important to me.

millirad;

I'm glad the Hi-Power lens is enabling your activities.

6 feet is a good safety margin for lighting fireworks.

That sounds like a good application.

Just be careful of direct reflections.

LarryDFW