Hello, new here and need help

Hi All,
This is my first post, however, this is not the first time I have been on this site. I have been checking in for at least the last year, and I am impressed with the knowledge, experience and skills possessed by the regulars on here.

I have about 24 to 30 questions that I have not been able to find answers to on Google, don’t worry, I don’t plan on asking them all at once! By way of a little background, I have been working on a project that uses a green laser but I have not been happy with the DPSS modules I’ve tried so far. The problems I’ve encountered are with duty cycle, visibility of the beam and inconsistency of the modules. I have bought modules up to 50 mw and “pointers” of all types. When I started this project I bought a pointer that was advertized at 5 mw, it was great so I cannibalized the module. Then I bought ten more (they were cheap) and not one of them was half as good as the first one??

So, it appears that I will have to spend more money to get what I need but as the price goes up "trial and error" becomes much more expensive!!

Question number one: I need a recommendation for a module in the 532 or 520 nm range that has a duty cycle of two to four min, has a beam that is visible in the dark and preferably around 12mm in diameter.

Question number two: Is there a way to extend the duty cycle on these modules? There is a power transistor that gets really, really hot, will a heat-sink help with the duty cycle? I think it shuts down due to the heat.

Any help, suggestions, tips, information or donations that anyone is kind enough to offer will be very welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks
Marcos (elalto)

most of the modules you get will be hit or miss. As far as the duty cycle goes the only real way to extend it is proper heatsinking. I built a 635nm "labby" for my ghetto "spyrograph projector". I have been able to run it for over ten mins no problem. I took a massive heatsink and thermo compounded it to the driver. You can add a fan too if you need more active cooling.
fasttech and dealsxtreme both have decent priced 532 modules. 520nm modules you can get from DTR
https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes

elalto said:

I have about 24 to 30 questions that I have not been able to find answers to on Google, don’t worry, I don’t plan on asking them all at once!

Click to expand...

Just post all your question at once here. Don't need to ask a few at a time :beer:

Hi elalto, welcome to the forum :wave:
Sure there are modules like that. You can have long run times dependent mainly on your heat sinking/passive and if you take it up a level to active cooling. You can easily obtain a very visible beam also. For your project, does the laser have to be hand held/portable or is it going to be mounted on say, a machine?
Have you used the white search bar on the bottom of the page?

Thanks for the quick responses,

I will check with fasttech also, yes the laser is in an enclosure, powered by a pair of 16850's in parallel that are recharged via a solar panel. The device is out doors and intended to be unattended.

Question:Does an IR filter affect the beam or power in any way?
Question:What is the lowest power needed for a beam to be visible in the dark?
Question:Is there an inexpensive way to make the beam "fatter"?

Thanks for your help,
Marcos (elalto)

yes a heatsink will help out a lot. budget beams sells them

Question: Does an IR filter affect the beam or power in any way? = Yes. It will reduce the power output by a certain amount as it blocks IR leakage.

Question: What is the lowest power needed for a beam to be visible in the dark? = Around 5mW

Question: Is there an inexpensive way to make the beam "fatter"? = Yes, unfocus the lens to make the beam/dot wider or use a beam expander lens adapter.

Laser Chick said:

Question: Is there an inexpensive way to make the beam "fatter"? = Yes, unfocus the lens to make the beam/dot wider or use a beam expander lens adapter.

Click to expand...

Unfocusing the lens would give you more of a cone though, wouldn't it? Sure it's definitely cheap though.

Yes it will flare the beam rapidly and be cone shaped but it is a very basic application to obtain a rapidly wide beam.