So I have been around and I am getting tired of the quality of the acrylic lenses. The plastic threads are getting all screwed up. So where can I buy axiz housing that has glass optics, and the focus adjuster ring?
The one that is half threads and half smooth is the one jamilm9 linked to on ebay. But apparently, some one bought a lens from there and aixiz seems to be selling the other kind of lenses again.
Just to clarify here's a picture taken by Kenom. (left is the "smooth" glass lens which apparently aixiz isn't selling anymore, and the right one is the full threaded glass lens which aixiz appears to be selling now)
I will be carrying the glass lenses soon - Aixiz is notoriously SLOW to answer emails, and to replenish my stock, so I order well in advance of needing it <hopefully> Those smooth lenses look like the ones found in the SenTorches ! I will be carrying the full threaded ones, and they will be priced at $4.00 each - Air mail/ First Class Shipping included. I also carry the 12mmX30mm modules - price reductions coming soon Sorry for the commercial - I didn't set out to pollute the thread :-X
you can also purchase the glass lens for $3 straight from aixiz at http://www.aixiz.com
edit: and yeah aixiz is crazy slow for emails... ive been waiting like 3 weeks for an order of modules from them. they just emailed me a few days ago saying the modules are on backorder i bought some of the modules w/ the 5mw diodes in them and im going to take those out to build the lasers ive already sold. i can only hope those aren't on backorder too
edit2: also there's a pretty sweet woot off goin on now! http://www.woot.com i assume most of you already knew this though
I've found that the AixiZ module blanks you can buy, just the empty case w/focus lens, really suck. The threads gum up all the time cause the lens fits really loose, so turning jacks the threads. I've also found they provide 2 different springs too. One type seems to be the normal kind, the other is really smaller and makes a really loose fit (pressure) too.
I've found if you purchase the actual 5mW 12mm x 30mm AixiZ laser module for like 4 something $ then you get better quality every time. But you'll have to bump out the 5mW diode. You always get a tighter fit lens and a good normal spring. So they cost more than the "blanks", but you get what you pay for. Also, the modules don't come with a metal focus ring like the blanks do. It seems the generic "blanks" are probably made elsewhere than the module housings. You can see the quality even inside the housing where the diode goes, crappy drilling process.
Aixiz has really slipped up as of late with their "quality control" - I generally order 200 or so at a time, and in the last batch, there was one baggie of ten that had ZERO front ends in it ! I am constantly finding front ends that are drilled out too wide for the 5.6mm cans - currently I have over 20 of them to send back for replacement - that number does not include the numbers of back ends that were drilled completely out, or that had NO threads on them whatsoever. I really wish I could find a reliable source OTHER than snail-like DX for these blanks - and punching diodes out and reselling the blanks would be very time consuming I have checked Alibaba, but the shipping costs are almost twice what the modules are ! GAH ! Shipping with some of those companies overseas is nasty !