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445nm Lens Comparisons!

jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Yep...

As you probably have come to realize though, mounting a lens is more than meets the eye...

The lens position inside the nut, must be in the correct position. (depth wise) Otherwise, it may not be able to get close enough to the diode to focus the beam.

And of course, it must also be centered perfectly, and set evenly and 'in-line'...
 





jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Update:

Although my first order of 70 AixiZ 445 lenses were all good. I just sent my next order of 60 lenses back yesterday...

They were a mixed bag. Some were acceptable. (but still about 4% less power than the first batch of 70)

But most were a completely different focal length. The longer focal length lenses were 30% less power.

Also, some had loose optics. I called AixiZ, as well as wrote a letter describing the different issues.

They asked me to just send them all back because they need them to compare and show their suppliers.

I asked that they get me my replacement lenses from the same source that the order of 70 lenses that I got a couple of weeks ago came from.

They did not say whether they were from a different source. This is just what I am assuming. Because of the huge difference in consistency and quality control.

I explained to them that I need:

1. Consistent power output...
2. Same focal length!

Because I machine custom focusing adapters that fit onto the lenses.

Very frustrated that I did not get the same quality as my first 70...

This means that many who are waiting on their orders with me, will be disappointed in a longer wait.

Contact me via PM if you want to cancel the lens part of your order, and still get the kit. (or what ever changes you would like to do)

Thanks for being so patient...
 
Joined
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
another reason why the delay was unnecessary... Tell me, was the entire first batch OK? I'll have no way to tell if my lens works properly, I don't own an LPM.
 

jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Well I did not check all 70 lenses...

I just tested 3 or 4, and they were all the same. Plus, they were all packaged in bundles of 25, so I could tell that they were from the same source.

So I just assumed that they were all the same...

But when I started checking this last order of 60, I immediately noticed some huge differences...
 
Joined
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Well, sh*t. I thought aixiz had to test each lens individually... I guess not.
 

jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

I don't know if they test them or what...

I just know what I find. So I can only guess that they did not test them. Because my last batch that I sent back had many issues with various lenses. And 30% power differences!

Different focal lengths too. Can't have that...
 
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Indeed.... Are there any visible differences in beam shape to allow me to tell if my lens is working OK or not?
 

jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Indeed.... Are there any visible differences in beam shape to allow me to tell if my lens is working OK or not?


I didn't get to that...

I was not happy with what I found it output power, focal length, loose optics, etc...

The dots on a wall at 7' all looked good. But I did not do any testing for what the clipped diode line looked like at distance...

I have to say, I am very frustrated. I know Chuck is a nice guy. And hopefully all will be taken care of. But it's very obvious to me that there are different sources of lenses.

This is not something that AixiZ has said. It's just an observation and opinion of mine...

Lenses are precision. They should be exactly the same focal length, and nearly the exact same output power with in reason...

I would say that maybe a 10mW difference in a class 4 laser would be acceptable. (IMO) But not 100mW differences...
 
Last edited:
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

I absolutely agree with that... the one thing that really NEEDS to be the same across the board is the lens.
 
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Well Crap-- I hope all that I sent out are OK- and I have 20 held back-- and I really dont want to take my lens from my ehgimus and check them all- guess If I hear bad newz from the 40 I just sent out I will deal with that then--they mostly should be delivered by now--and like Jay the mark-up on these is certainly not enough to make up for the problems--gonna dread checking my PMs on Sunday.
 
Joined
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

OKay- I just unwrapped all 20- from the front they all 'look' the same- gold in color-same color and as far as I can tell by looking with a magifier - no splotches, uneven coating- etc-- when I turn them all over 12 look indentical to each other--4 are showing a little more exposed thread(deeper set) and 4 just the opposite- a slight less thread showing( not set as deep) but only one thread or less between each group.

Next I removed my lens from my Ehgimus Black Stallion-It has a heatsink that takes the lens directly-- no aixiz module used-- and tried three from the group of 12 and two from the ones showing the most thread and one from the other four- no noticable scatter- artifacts etc from any-all showing about 640 mWs + or - a few mWs --the only apparent diff. is how far in the lens goes to achieve the best focus- that is of course because the closest element in going to be closer to the diode or further. If I had gotten any of these for my laser I would have no complaints- Now I am keeping my fingers crossed that those who have received them from me will be happy too.

And one last comment-- these do not give you a 15-20 % increase over any aixiz lens except the $5 glass lens- not the old 405 and NOT the acrylic as already noted by Jayrob severlal times. They WILL not melt, smoke or degrade in time but the acrylic WILL. Use the plastic lens at your own risk. Each time it is used afaik- it can darken a little which makes it absorb heat more which will darken it more and so on until you 'smoke' it. Any errors in the above info will be pointed out by those who know a lot more about lenses than I ever will.

good luck to all-----hak

EDIT- the 'sweet spot' ie 'the best focus' can be a bit hard to find- it goes from a big 'bar' to a large dot to a fine dot to a large dot and back to a 'bar' in just a few movments. And depending upon what you are putting this lens into you may have to shorten the spring or elimainate it alltogether- In my host I use no spring-- I do have a tiny bit of teflon tape on my lens to keep it where I want it. Take care to not burn your fingertips too.
 
Last edited:
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May 28, 2008
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Jay, can you describe the splash a little better? Mine came from your first batch of the new ones, and there are faint wings on either side of the dot. It's pretty bad, at about six feet they extend about three feet on either side of the dot. When I rotate the lens the wings stay in the same place, but the pattern changes, which tells me that it's a reflection. I thought it was reflecting off the bare metal inside the aperture on my EZ Focus adapter and I was going to try some matte black paint on it, but I took the adapter off and it was worse with just the lens. The reflection is coming from inside the lens assembly itself. Do they all do this because of the fast axis, or is there something wrong?
 

jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Jay, can you describe the splash a little better? Mine came from your first batch of the new ones, and there are faint wings on either side of the dot. It's pretty bad, at about six feet they extend about three feet on either side of the dot. When I rotate the lens the wings stay in the same place, but the pattern changes, which tells me that it's a reflection. I thought it was reflecting off the bare metal inside the aperture on my EZ Focus adapter and I was going to try some matte black paint on it, but I took the adapter off and it was worse with just the lens. The reflection is coming from inside the lens assembly itself. Do they all do this because of the fast axis, or is there something wrong?

It's hard to say if what you are seeing is any worse than what I see. But I have those two 'slight wings'. Not even as bad as AixiZ acrylic is why I say 'slight'.

You will see this same thing even with a blu-ray and an Aixiz acrylic lens in the dark...
 
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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

Or with a casio lens... maybe aixiz is just sticking casio lenses in metal nuts :crackup:
 

jayrob

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Re: 445nm A130 Lens Comparisons!

hakzaw1, thanks for the extra work and reporting back...

Sounds like they are all acceptable...
 




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