CLOSED! Now Distributing ROUND 2!: THE "Skylaser" (laserBtB) groupbuy!

I have just a couple thoughts/impressions that I'd like to share. I think it's awesome that the description on the package said "Portable Laser," and that Skylaser's FDA accession number was included on the customs paperwork. It makes it feel, you know, legal. I also enjoy the remote interlock tailcaps. I stole the one from my HL460 and put it on my HL405 to make the violet one longer; I love it. The stub plugs are a nice thing to have, too. My HL532 has all Class IIIb/IV safety features, which I feel is exactly what I wanted. I thought my HL405 would come with these, but it did not. The HL532 has an interlock, a remote interlock, an aperture shutter, an LED indicator (armed/emitting), and it even has an output delay! I wasn't expecting the delay, as it sounded like the 532nm's from the last groupbuy didn't have it, but this one takes about two seconds to begin lasing, which makes me thoroughly satisfied. I'll be sure to LPM it as soon as my LaserBee A gets here from Canada.

The other thing I noticed is that my HL460 has a distinctly different hue than my 445nm Lazerer RIFLE. It looks so much more blue. Either my Lazerer is a freak, or my HL460 is a freak, but either way, I like the color that the HL460 produces. The beam is quite visible with the lights on, which is something that I didn't expect. I love the divergence on it, but when I unfocus the beam, I see the familiar bar shape with many horizontal, inference-like patterns throughout. I'll take and post a picture of it unfocussed next to my RIFLE to illustrate their similarity.

I also noticed the potentiometers when I removed the FDA and danger stickers, but I wouldn't dare touch them without some better experience. I almost want to turn down the power on my HL460, because it's much brighter than I wanted/expected it to be (maybe if I had a data sheet with the thresholds for this diode). Using a multimeter and an LPM, I could get it to my desired power without undersupplying it. Any thoughts on this, guys?

Blord said:

For those who got the free 450nm penlaser, the HL diffraction caps can be screwed on. The penlaser has the same threads as the HL host for the caps.

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They work for the red gift pens too I will be a repeat customer.

Here is my review of my HL460.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/skylaser-laserbtb-hl460-100-a-80015.html#post1149874

Very nice, aw. I'm second guessing my decision to not get one now....lol

I'm excited, my first batch is on its way! Can't wait to see that 520nm.

The more I think about this, the more I really wish it were available... it would be nice if the HL host's battery compartment could be extended to accomodate a larger cell. 18650's are too wide, but I imagine a 16650 would work.

If you've seen the "Laser 301" handhelds, you may know what I'm getting at... see the image below. These lasers have an extension tube which screws into the battery end of the host, then you screw the tail cap into the extension. It lets the laser take either a 16340 or an 18650.

If Skylasers offered that for their lasers, I would buy it. I buy the HL versions because I prefer that host style over the PL hosts.

Edit: I wonder, I do know that some here are handy at machining things... hmmm.

DJNY said:

Guys, please get your 520nm's onto spectros. Wanna see the actual wavelength
Shouldn't be a problem to ask at a nearby univercity!

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Spectro's aren't cheap. I have decent Spectroradiometer, use it my business, around $10k. The Spectruino looks very promising though.

wbp said:

Spectro's aren't cheap. I have decent Spectroradiometer, use it my business, around $10k. The Spectruino looks very promising though.

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I looked up the Spectruino. It looks pretty cool, and it's a reasonable price. However, the specifications state that it has a 9nm optical resolution. It wouldn't really be able to find freak diodes or accurately determine the difference between 520nm and 515nm (or even 450nm and 460nm) like we want. It's still an interesting little device, though!

Hey everyone, my laser got delivered yesterday

I wasn't expecting it to come this soon so I forgot to charge my IMRs I really love that deep purple colour

It seems to me though that it's underspec, I don't want to scream fire / murder immediately as it could just be my batteries and I didn't really LPM it. I was just expecting it to be able to burn the white cardboard cover that the laser came in That was only possible after focussing to very close by and then making sure the material is EXACTLY in the focal point. Even then it took a few seconds and it was very, very lightly marked.

More testing tonight, I just hope it's not underspec

Oh! And I didn't have to pay any taxes

Actually, the 301 extension will screw into the HL. The issue is that they didn't bore the HL out quite enough to fit the width of the 18650
So, who's gonna be the first to bore theirs out? Doesn't need much

The PL can take 18350 cells

I ended up trimming out all of the front stickers as all the ones I had gotten so far (especially the PL) cover the hole slightly. Doesn't change output as others have said though. Obviously will need to trim my PL650 when it comes

The first part of my order came. 3/4 are underspec.

HL405 500 mW peaks at 562 mW (stays above 550 mW)
HL460 100 mW peaks at 86 mW (stable at 86 mW, dot is rectangular)
HL532 300 mW peaks at 163 mW (drops to 80 mW at 1:30)
HL650 300 mW peaks at 237 mW (relatively stable, misalignment from diode to aperture)

Removing the aperture sticker from the HL650 increased output 20%.

I put an IR pass filter (50% at 720 nm) in front of the HL532 (at an angle), and output dropped to 1 mW, so asking for the IR blocking filter did work. Out of 12 tests, letting the entire laser cool to room temperature and using freshly charged IMR batteries, the HL532 did peak above 300 mW twice.

Are you absolutely certain your LPM is in calibration?

There must be some orders being shipped again soon....

I will say that it seems surprising to me that the little power button feels so cheep on these units. They should have at least used a better fitting metal one so it would feel more substantial. I have cheap pen lasers that fit/feel/actuate better. They don't really go well with these hosts.

Have to take another vacation day Tuesday as they have allready scheduled another/different exploratory procedure for my wife.

Seems there are a lot more underspec lasers this time

Hey guys! I expected to get more tracking numbers today however i think kevin waits to get ALL reamainig tracking numbers and send them at once.

@ kadath i will foreward your videos to kevin no problem. This is the first time multiple lasers in one order were underspec really strange..


Greetings,,

Kadath what lpm are you using?

Hope he doesn't wait too long though. I usually have to leave a note on the door and I believe you need to have the tracking number for Fedex on it like you do for DHL. Has anyone in the states asked Fedex to do it this way from this GB yet?

@ kadath

Do you have a laser you've lpm'd before that you can lpm again? It would resolve the questions about your lpm being out of calibration if it came in about the same power as before. (assumes all testing parameters are the same both times)

this --> HL532 300 mW peaks at 163 mW makes me