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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Which one of these performs better?

Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Messages
169
Points
18
I was considering getting a 445nm laser that I'm mainly going to use to burn stuff. I can't decide between these two options.

Option 1: buying a complete product. Advantages: no hassle in putting it together, ready to use. Disadvantages: higher price than an equivalent laser built from components.

Option 2: putting the laser together from a diode, a driver and a host. Advantages: cheaper than a ready-made product and it can be customized (e.g. by adding heat sinks and/or a fan). Disadvantages: putting the components together increases the riss of breaking them.

I was wondering if there are other differences that could help me decide which option is better. For example, what are the focussing capabilities of the first one, compared to the second one? What batteries should I use for the second one, and how long would a single charge last, compared to the first one? Does the first one have anything that could reduce the power of the beam, compared to the second one (e.g waterproof lens, underdriven diode)?
 





Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Messages
169
Points
18
That's really upto you.. Why do you even ask!
Because I don't know if the two options are actually equivalent. The advantages and disadvantages I listed are those that I know will be present, but I also want to know if the two solutions have differences I don't know about. For example, if one of them has plastic lenses and/or an additional lens to make it waterproof, the actual power output will be less than expected. Also, I want to know one of them can focus better than the other (more range? Smaller dot?)
 

sinner

0
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Messages
2,565
Points
83
It's a whole another ballpark, how good are you at soldering, do you understand esd protection. Do you think you have the required skillset to design you own laser..
What i think is you'll be better off with a SurvivalLaser 1.4W "No Soldering Required" kit..
 




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