3.8 & 5.6 Copper Modules coming- heads-up

PONTIACG5 and AixiZ have worked out a deal to have AixiZ carry the copper modules.

Pricing should be very close that the one pontiacg5 had depending upon whether you want the entire module (the rest will be stock AixiZ brass module) and your choice of lens. Once in stock these will ship from Houston. Initial order for 100 pieces of each has been placed. There may also later be some 9mm copper modules made for AixiZ.
Watch this thread for more details. thanks--hak:wave:

Can't wait !
I hope the prices are friendly

Jim

Me too. AixiZ always tries to make stuff for the newbies affordable. IIRC Pontiacg5 was asking around 12$ for the diode holder part only. AixiZ will certainly ask no more than that. And for a little more you can order the entire AixiZ copper module with choice of lens(stock or Glass) The order just went in so it will be at LEAST a week or two before they will appear at AixiZ.com <--This is the place to order ANY AixiZ items NOT fleaBay or amazon, PLEASE. AixiZ now has everything in place to take all major credit cards. I would personally appreciate that you mention my name when ordering. happy to help in any way-just PM me.

hak

Any idea how much these are going to be offered for?

Oooh. I'm so happy that Aixiz is going to start stocking 3.8 mm modules.

Well, I cannot speak for AixiZ but I would think it would be no more than Derrick was getting before he sold all he had in stock.. IIRC his price was 10-12$$ each with free shipping to CONUS. Only the part where you press the die will be made from Copper the rest willl be stock AixiZ parts.
I will suggest to AixiZ that they list them as seperate or complete modules with or without glass lenses. And also lot of 3 or so at a discount over ordering just one.

Pontacg5 tells me that he is now too busy to deal with small orders so I would expect that he will just send you to AixiZ if you contact him--AFAIK.

Pontiac's modules are awesome. I used one of his copper 3.8s in my first 510nm build, and it is phenomenal. I also have one in a single-mode 445 build, running at 150mW (3x datasheet), and it's doing a great job!

They're actually better looking (precision wise) than regular Aixiz modules.

saw them on eBay

Copper 3.8mm diode mount for 12 X 30mm laser module blank | eBay

$12.75 USD a pop 5.6mm and 3.8mm

or $52.56 for 5 which is $10.5 a pop

On the other hand Survival Lasers are selling the 5.6mm versions at $9 a pop which is 30% cheaper if your buying singles and and 14% cheaper if your buying multiples

Also if buying 3.8mm modules you can get 10x aluminum short modules from RHD for $2 cheaper than the 5x copper modules from Aixiz!

My 2 cents.

Rant: Guys, are we not seeing the forest through the trees here? If you're going to manufacture copper laser modules, you should abandon this lame Aixiz module design. They're really meant for low-powered 5mW lasers, not higher powered lasers. The modules are supposed to be used alone, not pressed into other heatsinks. The only things that make the Aixiz module even usable are the lens holder and the diode press area. Other than that, it's a pretty poor design to base laser modules on.

Look at that copper head design: why is there still threading in the back? To screw on the brass module back on there? Most of the copper is there to make a nice looking lens holder. Sure, there is some conduction there, but again, why is the back threaded to attach to a non-copper back? Without the back, the threads sit in air, insulating the module--the area closest to the heat-producing diode itself.

I will not be buying these copper modules. Aixiz modules are what I used years ago when I was a noob and burned out diodes because I didn't know better, and possibly because I was using Aixiz modules in the first place. They, and their imitators, are a waste of money to me. I like those 18mm diode mounts because they have so much more thermal mass, fins, and an overall better diode holder that doesn't even need a press.


You're going to be selling these on Aixiz's site, so you have the opportunity to produce modules that can become the new standard for laser modules for high power. Why not invest the time making these things into a better overall design suited for our specific needs, rather than just shoehorning better materials into a flawed design meant for 5mW laser pointers?

That and I never understood why that little piece of metal costs so much...

I understand it's machined, but it's aluminum/brass... neither of those are very costly, and I understand you need to make a profit but really?

I'm with Bionic Badger on this one, because I think I'm going to use the bigger 18 mm diode mounts with the fins. Plus they're sexier.

The only downside to using the 18 mm mounts is not being able to use the heatsinks that EVERYONE makes for them... but I don't know if heatsinks are even required since you're using a bigger module. I can't make my own, as I don't have access to any machining equipment.

Bionic-Badger said:

Rant

Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying.
However, it makes sense to me that before we design a better "lens holder" we need a better lens. Otherwise... what is the point?

But... that is what the 405-G-1 and 650-G-1 lenses are for. Better lenses that can be easily installed into the existing standard for diode laser "lens holders."

So if there exists a better lens that is compatible with the lens holder we have, then we don't need a better lens holder.

If a more specialized lens holder is needed, that is what our community machinists are here for.

Lol well no one forces you to buy them or anything. I also think they have plenty flaws, and i believe aixiz never even thought they would have a niche for high powered lasers with their modules. IMO They should have made a copper module years ago.

RA_pierce said:

I understand what you are saying.

Click to expand...

No, I don't think you do. I'm not talking about the screw in lens that goes into the copper module, I'm talking about the module itself that was never meant to be abused in the manner it is today. The use of copper for an "Aixiz module" is simply a waste, and all that effort should be applied towards far more usable heatsinks not just modules we end up plugging into other heatsinks because they're unusable on their own.

Also, those lenses work in many other dedicated heatsinks that actually have a useful purpose besides stuffing into another heatsinks.

What gets me most about that copper Aixiz module is that other heatsinks accept the 12mm Aixiz module simply because it is quite a bit of work to make a completely dedicated heatsink that fits both the diode and the lens. However, that copper Aixiz module does all of that work, but for some reason that effort is being wasted on creating another Aixiz module. We don't need Aixiz modules. They're crappy stop-gaps that we use because people haven't made anything better. Now we have an opportunity to abandon those Aixiz modules, but instead we make more only with different materials (and mostly just surrounding the lens), achieving nothing.

Bionic-Badger said:

I'm talking about the module itself that was never meant to be abused in the manner it is today.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I got that.

Personally I think aluminum is a better choice (lower weight, corrosion resistance, easier to machine, and cheaper) and I agree that putting threads on the back of the module is silly but other than that I don't see a problem with copper Aixiz modules. If someone wants to replace their brass module with a copper one for a marginal increase in thermal conductivity then that is ok with me.

The so-called "direct-press" heat sinks have been offered by several machinists on this forum for a long time now. But they are really just a beefy version of the Aixiz module. Why? Because it's practical. One hole for the diode. Another for the lens.
Any other variation of a "lens & diode holder" is bound to be essentially the same, perhaps with different dimensions or a different thread size for a different lens mount.

How many different ways are there to stick a diode and a lens in a piece of metal?

Also, don't forget that some like to build pen lasers (I do). The typical pen host is made for a ~12mm module. When I build a laser in a pen host that is when I notice the difference a better material can make. Since a pen host can't afford a 50kg heat sink with TEC and a fan, replacing brass with copper or aluminum makes a noticeable difference. Even using the regular Aixiz module with the back screwed on helps (for mechanical stability and a little more mass).

Don't get me wrong... I support innovation and new ideas. However, I just don't think its practical to reinvent the wheel to gain... a little more thermal conductivity at best.

It seems you are trying to say we should do away with the silly Aixiz modules and instead manufacture the direct-press heat sinks mentioned above. Is that what you mean?

Bionic-Badger said:

Rant:

Click to expand...

along with the copper heads, i believe Pontiacg5 is also working on a new back, which is why he kept the threads.

Have you seen this pic?



gives a good boost in surface area touching the diode.

Problems I forsee with that design...what if your laser diode's leads aren't as long as they show in the picture? You can't use it then!