Attention multi-line argon, krypton, or mixed-gas owners!

• Oct 29, 2009

• #1

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ElektroFreak

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These are top-notch optics from Coherent. I bought one for my argon, and the quality is extremely good. Separates everything very nicely, and each individual line is VERY clean (pics later).. You won't be able to find a grating this good at a price anywhere near this elsewhere..

DEOS Silicon Diffraction Grating Mirror CO2 - eBay (item 390016805648 end time Nov-07-09 17:29:04 PST)

The seller was very responsive, shipped fast and everything was in perfect order..

 

Last edited: Oct 29, 2009

• Oct 29, 2009

• #2

GooeyGus

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pictures!!!

Does it split it just into the individual lines or do you get a whole bunch of lines out of it?

I want a grating that has a 'prism' effect, but that spreads the lines a bit wider from each other than a prism

 

• Oct 29, 2009

• #3

diachi

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GooeyGus said:

pictures!!!

Does it split it just into the individual lines or do you get a whole bunch of lines out of it?

I want a grating that has a 'prism' effect, but that spreads the lines a bit wider from each other than a prism

Click to expand...

Would passing the split lines through a second prism do that? Or am I talking mince?

@EF: thanks for the pointer, I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy these

 

• Oct 29, 2009

• #4

Hemlock_Mike

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I'm with Diachi here. I've tried all sorts of optics but can't get a good spread on my ML ArIon untill 10'
This might be nice. Please post pix.

HMike

 

• Oct 29, 2009

• #5

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OK.. so here's pics:

This first photo is the main beam after one bounce (R) and the first-order diffraction (L) projected on a wall at about 10' from the source.

Number 2 is a closeup of the spread from about 3' away from the wall.

3 is a picture of the beam exiting the laser and hitting the mirror, where you can see there is 1 main beam and 2 orders of diffraction.

4 is from about 4' away and about 3" above the beams.

I don't know for sure if the spread is improved over other gratings, it seems the same as the rest of mine, but the cleanliness of each beam is pristine, especially if you clean it before you use it (which I did not in the pics)..

 

Last edited: Oct 30, 2009

• Oct 30, 2009

• #6

Cyparagon

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Wow that's pricey... and only 9mm. If you want more spread, you need more "lines per inch." For reference, my cheap 1000 lines/" films give about the same deflection angle as a CD. So what do these have that the cheap films don't besides the lower optical losses? Because I see plenty of them elsewhere for as little as 25 cents.

If glass is your thing, dragon lasers sells four gratings for $38+S. They include two "matrix" spreads (one reflection, one transmission) and two "beam fan" spreads (again, one reflection and one transmission). However, the beam "fan" is likely very low angle to it.

 

Last edited: Oct 30, 2009

• Oct 30, 2009

• #7

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It's the improved beam shape and optical cleanliness.. that's what a high-quality grating is all about. It's up to you if you want to spend the money, but I can flat out guarantee you it's a very good deal compared to what it would cost you to get one from the manufacturer (if it were even possible..)

The dragon lasers offerings are good quality, no doubt, but I just wanted to share a source for reasonably-priced top tier grating. Whether it's too much $$ is up to the individual.

 

Last edited: Oct 30, 2009

• Nov 1, 2009

• #8

GooeyGus

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I guess I just want something to really split the beam up. Prisms are great but the line hardly spreads out.

Whenever I use a diffraction grating on my 168 the diffracted lines are so weak because 90% of the power is still making it through in the main beam. I want something that completely diffracts the beam, no more main beam left at all! :beer:

 

• Nov 2, 2009

• #9

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Does such an optic exist?

 

• Nov 2, 2009

• #10

Cyparagon

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uh, nope. If there is, it wouldn't be a diffraction grating by definition.

 

• Nov 3, 2009

• #11

Hemlock_Mike

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I got mine today. It is a reflective grating just a little better than an old CD disk. About 2x better on spot size :-(

A $35 ho hum purchase for me.

HMike

 

• Nov 3, 2009

• #12

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^Sorry to hear that Mike.. Mine seems pretty decent. Best I've seen, anyway.. I have yet to find a fan-type grating that gives a good, perfectly round spot..

Didn't mean to steer you wrong.

 

• Nov 3, 2009

• #13

Hemlock_Mike

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Not steered wrong. I need to make a mounting for this to also hold a FS mirror. then see what I can do. I was hoping for something more like a prisim but this is better than an old CD -- a step up.

HMike

 

• Nov 3, 2009

• #14

GooeyGus

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CD's are pretty decent, they just cant handle big power.

Maybe I'll get myself one of these