445nm <1.5W Solarforce L2P by Jayrob

So finally I could put together my own 445. I chose Jayrob's L2P host: http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-solarforce-l2p-kit-18650-host-massive-heatsink-53746.html
Here are some more Jayrob's pictures of it:http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/solarforce-l2p-445-maxed-blue-blaster-54050.html

Here are my options:

* 'Hot' option
* Custom Focus Knob
* AixiZ 445 lens

It is not so pretty as Aurora, but the construction is simpler. The host itself is pretty good, all contact areas are coated with gold-looking metal, so no poor aluminum on aluminum contacts, the spring, the switch, all seems first class. It's not much big, just OK.

Jayrob's parts fits it well, I simply have nothing to say about it, there was just no problem at all. For construction details see Jayrob's post (link above).

I had it working in like 10 minutes, as I ordered hot option, I only had pressfit the diode and solder two wires. The stickers took me like half an hour though. But it just looked too ordinary without them.

I can't measure the output, it takes 2.3A on the battery. Jayrob marked it as 1.5A, which would make my A140 work just under 1500mW.

The burning capabilities are as expected, beam is nice, dot is deadly, though I must admit I haven't seen it on the white without glasses (and I don't plan to). For the pictures I used black metal sheet music holder, which lowers the dot brightness significantly.

So here are the pictures. I did not shoot the nasty insides, as Jayrob's post shows that in great detail and quality. That white thing is safety and dust cap (deodorant cap actually). On the last picture you can see it in action.

Re: Solarforce L2P by Jayrob

Glad you like the kit!

Hey if you got the custom focus knob, it is the same diameter as an AixiZ focus ring. And you can just use a silicone tail cap for the dust cap if you want!

Re: Solarforce L2P by Jayrob

Yes, I saw it on some of your pictures .. but this is just fine. It fits perfectly, it holds good, and it's big enough so I don't loose it.

Re: Solarforce L2P by Jayrob

Nice build! :beer: And it will smell good too!! :crackup:

Actually it does not smell at all .. I found the cap in the junk drawer, it's been some time since it was used.

I found that as for duty cycle, driver is the limiting factor. After minute or so it starts flashing. I dismantled it when it started doing this .. the heatsink itself was warm, optics and focus adapter a bit warmer .. but the driver heatsink was pretty hot. That flexdrive is really pushed at this current. Which made me thinking about rebuilding this to double flexdrive, as these seem to work rather well and there is even some room to expand.

I can't wait to see what the Flexdrive V6 can do. :tinfoil:

Me either bring it :wave:
You could just heatsink the driver rather than expensively add another flex, although it would give you more power options to add one. I like how the HS goes deep into the host, do you think it has as much mass as the MXDL? These builds are being cranked out so fast.

I believe this host has a bigger heatsink.

I can't really compare it. But this build has heatsink on driver (without it the flexdrive can't be pushed much above 1A, AFAIK).

Does having that dust cap on effect the diode, I thought dust caps and things of that nature weren't good to have attached while firing the laser because the diffuse reflection could somehow harm the diode.

I heard about direct reflection harming the laser .. simply by warming it up. But diffuse ? I did not test it for long time, just for few seconds, but sure I see no degradation.
I just don't like the idea of switch being involuntarily pressed, like in my pocket for example.

Ok, just making sure. I had a holster pouch type deal that I kept mine in and the button got pressed. It took me a while to find out what was burning

Today I measured divergence. I used 7m distance, at which the beam was nice line 15mm long. Which makes it 2.1mRad with aperture size ignored, 1.8mRad with aperture size 2mm (estimated).
This rectangular beam is a bit tricky. The longer axis at aperture is actually the shorter one at distance, because it has lower divergence, and vice versa. If you measure long axis at aperture and long axis at distance, you can obtain improbably low divergence.
Also at some distance (about 1m from aperture when focused at 7m) the beam profile is pretty nice regular square !
I will try some measurements later at much larger distance, which should eliminate effect of aperture size completely. Also I'd like to draw some profile per distance graph.

Btw. I use Aixis 445 glass lens.

I like that inset focus adapter .. but I will have to mod it somehow .. like this it is all too easy to burn your fingers while focusing. It does not burn much .. but it startles you .. and that is not good think when you hold such laser in your hands.

I had it working in like 10 minutes, as I ordered hot option, I only had pressfit the diode and solder two wires. The stickers took me like half an hour though. But it just looked too ordinary without them.

Click to expand...

Gotta spend time on the important parts Speaking of stickers, where did you get them?

Looks great!

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