OMG! First labby possibly?

NightExplorer96 · Jul 26, 2015

It seems Dragon Lasers is selling 100mW 655 Labby for only $280! I was considering selling my PGL's & picking it up.

Hec, I think it will finally be good to move on to more powerful lasers. I do have a few questions though:

1)Will this unit run 100% duty cycle?
2)Since it's a labby, customs shouldn't be a problem correct?

Ah, so excited!

-Alex

GR3EN · Jul 26, 2015

I would assume 100% duty cycle but better someone else answer that. Dragon lasers guarantees delivery of everything so labby or not shouldn't worry. Also not sure if you noticed but the 200mw version is the same price

NightExplorer96 · Jul 26, 2015

GR3EN said:
I would assume 100% duty cycle but better someone else answer that. Dragon lasers guarantees delivery of everything so labby or not shouldn't worry. Also not sure if you noticed but the 200mw version is the same price

I did yeah!

This is a good price for a labby no? Man, just the thought of owning such a thing!!!!! :drool:

-Alex

Gabe · Jul 26, 2015

Alex, beware

Labbys are a whole new world when compared to handhelds, they were the only thing I've ever experienced until I picked up that 50mW 473 labby from Misanthrop. I'm by no means saying it's worse, I'm just saying it's different. You can't really take it anywhere you go, you gotta make sure there's an outlet. However, the 100% duty cycle is an amazing blessing. They're great for photography and long exposure shots, as well as just admiring the beam. Also, it makes me feel very professional, what with the plugging it in, doing a systems check, flipping the switch and hearing the fans whir, then waiting for three seconds until that beam flicks into existence. Definitely worth it imho :beer:

NightExplorer96 · Jul 26, 2015

Gabe said:
Alex, beware
Labbys are a whole new world when compared to handhelds, they were the only thing I've ever experienced until I picked up that 50mW 473 labby from Misanthrop. I'm by no means saying it's worse, I'm just saying it's different. You can't really take it anywhere you go, you gotta make sure there's an outlet. However, the 100% duty cycle is an amazing blessing. They're great for photography and long exposure shots, as well as just admiring the beam. Also, it makes me feel very professional, what with the plugging it in, doing a systems check, flipping the switch and hearing the fans whir, then waiting for three seconds until that beam flicks into existence. Definitely worth it imho :beer:

Thanks for the heads up Gabe!

The main reason I want a labby is for their unlimited duty cycles. I've owned handhelds, pointers etc... in the past & became frustrated needing to make sure I didn't exceed their duty cycle. Having a labby means I can enjoy the beams to my hearts desire haha

-Alex

Gabe · Jul 26, 2015

Yeah when I was taking a long exposure shot of both the 473 and 593.5 to get a sort of rare wavelength get together, I forgot that the GLP had a super short duty cycle compared to that of my labby's.
Scheiße.
Poor little guy was actually ridiculously hot, I ended up running my hands in cold water and clasping the golden beauty in an attempt to cool the inferno. Luckily she's fine, and made for quite the pic :crackup:

NightExplorer96 · Jul 26, 2015

Gabe said:
Yeah when I was taking a long exposure shot of both the 473 and 593.5 to get a sort of rare wavelength get together, I forgot that the GLP had a super short duty cycle compared to that of my labby's.
Scheiße.
Poor little guy was actually ridiculously hot, I ended up running my hands in cold water and clasping the golden beauty in an attempt to cool the inferno. Luckily she's fine, and made for quite the pic :crackup:

Oh wow lol, be careful man

-Alex

Pi R Squared · Jul 26, 2015

That was a close call, I let one of my lasers get way too hot once but have been more careful since then. I remember a YouTube video, it was a long time ago I can't find it now, but this guy just got a new 445nm laser or had just built it, I don't remember but it was a nice one. He sets it on a table and turns it on and is showing how well it burns, he lights matches, burns plastic, paper, wood and whatever, and after about 3 minutes into the video I am thinking hasn't that been on for too long? You could tell what was going to happen and then it turns off by itself and wouldn't turn on again.:crackup:

Alan

Gabe · Jul 26, 2015

Yeah, I would've been distraught if I lost her. Anyways, if you really feel like it, gopher that labby. It's a bigger commitment than a handheld, though. Like raising a baby.

GR3EN · Jul 26, 2015

Gabe said:
Yeah, I would've been distraught if I lost her. Anyways, if you really feel like it, gopher that labby. It's a bigger commitment than a handheld, though. Like raising a baby.

Eh I would say getting into argons is a bit more like raising a baby lol, but yea anything not portable is just plain different. No duty cycle is nice though.

BowtieGuy · Jul 26, 2015

Alex, it sounds like you're excited about getting this labby, but personally I'd hold off on selling your PGL's.
If you think that 100mW 655nm D/L labby is what you really want, go ahead and get it, or if you have to, save up and then buy it.
Then if you find out the labby's are right for you, you can head in that direction. You do gain unlimited duty cycles, but you'll lose the portability of your handhelds.

You could always step up to somewhat higher powers like that of the100mW 655nm, but built into a large host. You would still have portability, quite long duty cycles, and a higher power laser!

Laser Chick · Jul 26, 2015

Some really good advice given above. Bottom line it is your call of course but I would try to get your next step laser(labby or stronger handheld) before you sell anything else to see if it is really what you want if you can make it fit in your budget. Good luck

trussmonkey25 · Jul 26, 2015

LeHap said:
It seems Dragon Lasers is selling 100mW 655 Labby for only $280! I was considering selling my PGL's & picking it up.

Hec, I think it will finally be good to move on to more powerful lasers. I do have a few questions though:

1)Will this unit run 100% duty cycle?
2)Since it's a labby, customs shouldn't be a problem correct?

Ah, so excited!

-Alex

What are your lasers? I have labbie I could swap.

Atomicrox · Jul 26, 2015

I only have one labby, bought it thinking it would be cool but turns out I never use it because it's just too much work to set it up compared to a pointer.

I don't really plan on getting other labbies, unless it's a rare wavelength which would be impossible or too expensive to get in a handheld.

Hell, I even built my HeNe into a pointer to be able to use it more often

As far as duty cycle goes, you could get one of these with driver for $68 plus a medium-big size host. It would be cheaper and would have 100% (or at least very long) duty cycle. Not to mention the 638nm wavelength is brighter.

My 2 cents.

DashApple · Jul 26, 2015

Labbys still need a heatsink depending on power , with such a low power of 100mW and being direct diode the heat output would be rather low ,

The two 1W 532nm I had needed a heatsink otherwise they got rather warm

NightExplorer96 · Jul 26, 2015

Thank guys for the advice!

I think I'll hold off on selling the PGL's in case I like them in the end.

About setting up a labby. Don't you just plus the driver into an outlet, then the head into the driver & boom, done?

-Alex

OMG! First labby possibly?

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