Need Some Advice, Dropped A Laser

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 3, 2011

Hi Guys,

So here's the problem, I dropped a "50mw" 532nm. Cheap, nothing special, but still I wish I hadn't dropped it

Anyway, where as before the dot was fairly tight and had little spill/halo around it, now it has a pretty bit halo with artifacts in it.

Any advise? Did I crack the lens maybe? or did I damage the diode?

LaZeRz · Apr 3, 2011

Well i not really sure but either you cracked the lens or dirt got into the laser, would you be able to post a few pics of the lens and dot?

lazeerer · Apr 3, 2011

You could have knocked the crystal out of aliment or more likely knocked the lens out of aliment.

Is it a pen style or Host like.?

Got a picture of your laser.?

If the dot is still the same brightness then i dont think you damaged the diode.

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 3, 2011

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies. The laser I have looks exactly like this: http://www.gadgettown.com/gt_images/Green-Laser-Pointers/E0002787781.550x550.jpg

I bought it from some other website on sale for $15. Was actually a surprise when I got it since it took over a month for delivery.

I cleaned the lens with a microfiber cloth and, in terms of output it's about the same, maybe even a little brighter.

lazeerer · Apr 3, 2011

So did it fix your problem.?

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 3, 2011

Not really. I mean the dot is still not as sharp as it was before.

No big deal, but I'm very curious whether it's the lens or the crystals in the laser.. is there any simple way to tell?

lazeerer · Apr 3, 2011

If you shack the laser next to your ear you might be able to here if something is rattling.

Iam pretty sure its the out side lens.

Iam pretty sure that the lens assembly is similar if not the same to one of my green lasers.

The outer lens if i was to move it 1mm to the left or the right it will makes alot of artifacts around the dot. (this is if the outer lens is the glass type)

There is also another out lens type that looks like a long black tube with a plastic lens at the tip. Laser with this type lens does not seem to have that much of a sensitive at the glass one. But still if i turn it a few mm to the left or right it makes a some artifact around the dot.

You dont sound experience enough to open the the laser and inspected it better and see if you can find the problem.

So like i said above. Shack is next to your ear :"Not to Hard" and listen very carefully if you can here something rattling.

Check this video out here. This will show you what sound to look for. I honestly believe this could be your problem. I dont think its the crystal anymore as you say your still getting green out of it and its still as bright.

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 4, 2011

Hi Guys,

lazeerer thank you for the video, very interesting to know for the future.

So there is really no noise. But me being the curious person that I am, I did take apart the laser a little more. Attached the pictures, sorry about the quality, but my old camera broke, and instead of buying a new one I got a laser

I cleaned everything with a soft q-tip after first taking a little of the cotton off.

Unfortunately this didn't really do anything. Attached are some pictures of the laser parts and a beamshot.

In the beamshot, it used to be pretty focused, I mean it still had a halo, but didn't have that X shape and a lot less of it.

Any ideas on my next step?

lazeerer · Apr 4, 2011

That looks like there is something on the lens causing that. Could be a piece of hair or a hair line crack that is invisibly to the eye.

Even a little piece of dust could cause that.

DO you carry it in your pocket at all.?

Using Q-tips to clean the lenses can if not done properly leave a scratch on the lens witch could cause this issue.

It for sure is the lens. and I suspect its the outer one.

If cleaning it dint fix it then its probably cracked. Can you see any cracks on the outer lens.?

Also usually they glue that outer lens in play. See if any glue has chipped away from the impact.

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 4, 2011

:yh: It's not the diode.

Actually I've carried this one in my pocket a lot. This issue is new though.

Lens looks pretty clean, no cracks or scratches, although without a magnifying glass I can't be sure. Looking for my jeweler's loupe now.

So that kind of result, if there is no apparent drop in output is always an indicator of a problem with the focus lens?

Thank you for your replies.

lazeerer · Apr 4, 2011

Well what i was saying if you carry it in your pocket at all thier could have gotten some lint in there aperture from your pocket.

Your eye would not be able to see a difference in power unless its a good amount of drop. But i hope your wearing your goggles. So no it is not aways the case.

Let me know what you see with the loop.

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 4, 2011

Loupe didn't show me anything new unfortunately. I mean there were a couple of specs of dust that I got rid of with compressed air, but the X pattern is still there

As for noticing drops in power... Need an LPM badly, but radiant alpha's are never in stock, I want something that can at least go up to 1.5W. Laserbee from Jerry looks good, but too expensive for now, and professional setup are even more expensive than that.

On the bright side, loupe makes for a fantastic little burning aid. Was able to light a match with the 50mw laser

I do wear my goggles inside, always. Actually use the same ones in your reviews.. they are really good, just wish they fit over glasses a little better.

Interesting side note... Was playing with my red laser and wanted to see how much protection if any are offered by sunglasses, i had a pair of old clip ons lying around... Sunglasses didn't do a thing. I mean maybe a little bit of a difference when I reduced focus, more disturbingly, the clip ons are ruined, warped by melting.. and that was after 3 seconds max. (Of course I was wearing safety goggles while doing this

Mohrenberg · Apr 4, 2011

I can't believe nobody has offered this advise yet!

.....Stop dropping your lasers.

:crackup:

lazeerer · Apr 4, 2011

Glad you wear them. I like to ask >

I dont know what to tell you then. I still think it thats the outer lens that got damaged or knocked out of place. If that outer lens moves 1mm it will give you artifacts and a blurry dot.

Try moving the lens to the left or right 1mm.

GL. If you fix Dont forget to follow up.

InfinitusEquitas said:
Loupe didn't show me anything new unfortunately. I mean there were a couple of specs of dust that I got rid of with compressed air, but the X pattern is still there

As for noticing drops in power... Need an LPM badly, but radiant alpha's are never in stock, I want something that can at least go up to 1.5W. Laserbee from Jerry looks good, but too expensive for now, and professional setup are even more expensive than that.

On the bright side, loupe makes for a fantastic little burning aid. Was able to light a match with the 50mw laser

I do wear my goggles inside, always. Actually use the same ones in your reviews.. they are really good, just wish they fit over glasses a little better.

Interesting side note... Was playing with my red laser and wanted to see how much protection if any are offered by sunglasses, i had a pair of old clip ons lying around... Sunglasses didn't do a thing. I mean maybe a little bit of a difference when I reduced focus, more disturbingly, the clip ons are ruined, warped by melting.. and that was after 3 seconds max. (Of course I was wearing safety goggles while doing this

InfinitusEquitas · Apr 4, 2011

@lazeerer - Thanks for the advice. I'll keep you posted and definitely going to experiment some more with it. Makes me wonder if it's possible to make a durable, safe to pocket carry and drop laser... Some of my flashlights have been through hell and aside from cosmetic damage they are in perfect working order.

@Mohrenberg - Smart Ass, :na:

Need Some Advice, Dropped A Laser

InfinitusEquitas

0

LaZeRz

0

lazeerer

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

lazeerer

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

lazeerer

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

Attachments

lazeerer

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

lazeerer

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

Mohrenberg

0

lazeerer

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

Online statistics

Forum statistics

Share this page