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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Wicked Lasers Spyder III arctic beam pattern?

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Found a laser at the pawn shop the other day so new to the forum. It's a Wicked Lasers Arctic Spyder III. I wanted to confirm if this is what the beam shape should be as I was expecting more of a dot or at least whatever shape it is wouldn't diverge this much.

The beam is generally rectangle shape with a little noise in the center. The reflection on the wall is somewhere around 35 feet away, and the pattern has diverged to 2+ feet. Is that on par for this laser? I can't find much of anything online with my searches. Thanks for any comments/suggestions.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with it that doesn't risk anybody's eyesight or putting me in jail.

 





diachi

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Found a laser at the pawn shop the other day so new to the forum. It's a Wicked Lasers Arctic Spyder III. I wanted to confirm if this is what the beam shape should be as I was expecting more of a dot or at least whatever shape it is wouldn't diverge this much.

The beam is generally rectangle shape with a little noise in the center. The reflection on the wall is somewhere around 35 feet away, and the pattern has diverged to 2+ feet. Is that on par for this laser? I can't find much of anything online with my searches. Thanks for any comments/suggestions.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with it that doesn't risk anybody's eyesight or putting me in jail.



The beam from these is normally rectangular - however - it looks like the divergence on this one is through the roof!

I'm not completely familiar with that model - perhaps it has a removable lens on the end to increase the divergence - someone else that has one of these may know.

Could you give us a couple more pictures of the dot? Perhaps with some ambient lighting present.

Use common sense (i.e. don't point it at people/vehicles/planes etc) and you'll avoid jail and eye damage! Really you should have safety glasses on for something so powerful though - wouldn't be terribly concerned if you're using it outdoors.
 
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Hi tom93r1 :wave:

Welcome to the forum.
Did you already buy it because if you did, you got ripped off. You state you found it so hopefully you are still just checking it out. At 35 feet away it should only be at most about 50mm across which is around 2 inches, not 2 feet+ LOL :D
The rectangular shape is the natural shape for that diode. Check and see if both lenses are good and clean.

For a perfect brand new mint condition Arctic or other lasers go here for sure!!! http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/s...-445nm-blue-laser-free-accessories-96200.html
 
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Beam/dot shape is normal, but it looks like there is a problem with the lens. It should not be diverging that much at 35 feet, and the center should not look like that imo.

These are not focusable, but the arctics did come with many attachments, so check if the tip can be taken off, maybe it's an effects cap.

In general, unless you want it as collector's piece, the arctics aren't good lasers, in terms of what you get for the price.
 
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Here is a low power setting closer up view of the pattern.
No additional lens, the one on it is just a clear pass through with a blueish coating like what a camera lens has.

Guess if it's a bad unit at least it was a cheap pawn shop buy.


 

diachi

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Here is a low power setting closer up view of the pattern.
No additional lens, the one on it is just a clear pass through with a blueish coating like what a camera lens has.

Guess if it's a bad unit at least it was a cheap pawn shop buy.



Looks like the lens or the diode window may be damaged or dirty - you should be able to adjust the focus to some extent to improve the divergence, don't know how much the beam profile will improve though - looks rather messy.
 
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Cleaned it the best I could and don't see anyting on the fixed lens, maybe I need better lighting to see down in there though. It isn't exactly good lighting in my office where I was working on it.

I suppose adjusting focus involves breaking the glue on the fixed lens and turning it? Will look into that more, but don't really have anything to lose if I damage it. Anybody have a link on focus adjustments?

Thanks for all the help so far!
 
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It's still not perfect but I was able to adjust the focus of the lens assembly. The divergence is improved to about 1/2 (or even better maybe) what it was but lots of room for improvement. I think I'm on the right track though.

Attempted to take aapproximately the same picture as previous. Same camera settings and the pool didn't light up nearly as much so the light wasn't scattering like before. Beam reflection on wall is approximately 1 brick in size, before there are about 8 bricks covered by it.

 
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After some more fiddling around I disassembled the fixed lens and found that one of the 3 elements is actually fairly damaged.

I did re-assemble and was able to get a really good tight rectangle beam pattern of just a couple inches from across my yard, but the damaged lens means there is lots of light scattered around it.

Anybody know where to get focus lenses? They seem to be about 7mm, maybe this?
10pc 7mm Collimating Focus Lens PMMA Fixed Optical Coated Blue for Laser Modules | eBay

Might have to give it a try to finish cleaning up my beam

 
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Found a replacement lens on ebay for about $5 shipped. Updating thread in case anybody needs one in the future.

Just search ebay for "Collimating Coated Glass Focusing Lens for 405nm Violet/Blue Laser Diode 3Layers"
It's fully assembled and has correct threads.

My beam is perfect and I can burn things now!
 

94Z28

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Nice find Tom93! I would like to find one sitting in a pawn shop for cheap just to check out what the hype is about... I would probably tear it apart and build it how I like lol.


Pretty nuts it is not focusable.. With some modifications maybe?
 
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Pretty nuts it is not focusable.. With some modifications maybe?

It actually was focusable, I found a chipped lens when I had the lenses apart so I was never able to get it very sharp. The beam was close but had a lot of scattered light.
 




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