lol, okay. thanks. so all the nanometers mean is just the original color? i dont get why they just say "red IR filtered laser." lol, thanks guys
Some lasers, called DPSS, use an IR diode to make the color. Because of this the lasers output can be mixed with the IR. IR is invisible, so you wont see it.
The problems of IR mixing with the colors are
1. It can give false power readings. If you buy a 200mW DPSS laser, and 150mW comes from IR, then you are not getting the full 200mW of color.
2. Because IR is invisible, if you caught a stray beam it will damage your eyes because you cant see it. Also if it did not have a filter, you would need goggles to protect you from the IR, along with goggles to protect you from the original color.
This is how companies produce cheap lasers. As stated above, a 200mW laser that is only producing 50mW of color is garbage. The better lasers have an IR filter, and produce a much higher color power. So the beams are brighter, and can burn more stuff.
The good thing is that IR filters are cheap, and somewhat easy to install. The bad part is if you have a cheap laser, it will cut the power in half in most cases. You want to buy from a company a laser that gives you a power reading
with the filter.
The IR diode is referred as a pump diode in the diagram.
