My 445nm 2D Maglite Build

troop231 said:

I guess it boils down to if the 3 element lens will be able to burn cardboard tubes. I plan to use it in the wind to start fires on trips.

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One other thing to consider, is that with anything over 1.5 Amps, you will want to use the 405-G-1 glass lens. (or G2, or stock 9mm lens)

The 445 diode makes a line instead of a dot, the AixiZ 3 element lens 'clips' the line a little shorter, giving a little better looking dot. But at the loss of about 15% output power vs the 405-G-1 glass lens.

So you will have about 15% of the power bouncing around inside your module.

Basically, with anything over 1.5 Amps, you will want to use the 405-G-1 glass lens.

Because it will be so much power that gets held inside the module with the AixiZ lens, and will degrade the life of the diode.

At the power of that build, you will not want 15% of the output bouncing back towards the diode and creating more heat as well...

I'm still not much of a a fan overall with G lenses on any of the 445nm builds. The beam specs are just too sad generally.

Heat on that build shouldn't be an issue XD

I wonder how much it actually does to the life of the diode if its properly heatsinked with a 3-element lens. Figuring the diode itself is in a can that has a rather small opening at the front I wouldn't expect all that much light to be reflected back down through the diode window not to mention how much of it would actually come back to hit the die since that's the part that would take damage anyway. I am no expert but to me it wouldn't seem like the light could do any noticeable degradation to the diode by reflecting around in the module.

I wonder if one was to matte black paint the back part of a module(before pressing in a diode) and the very edge of the inside part of a 3-element lens if the amount of reflecting light inside the module could be reduced to nearly nothing and instead it would become heat. In a very well heatsinked build such as this a design like that would be ideal. One may even be able to get away with only matte painting the edges of the lens since that's the part that gets hit anyway.

Ordered my 445nm 9mm diode/module from DTR yesterday with the stock lens and lens holder This is going to be great!

I got my driver adhered to my heatsink now, and soldered everything up and tested without the lens on. It works great (see last pic)!

I'm just waiting for the alcohol to soften up the glue on the lens right now before final assembly.

Yep after two the three days of the lens soaking it will come out of the metal holder pretty easy and you can just scrape the glue off the sides with your fingernails. Clean it up a bit with alcohol or distilled water and a streak free cloth or paper towel and mount it up in your lens holder. I like to blow them out with a little compressed air to get any particles from the towel off and fire it up. If you left some streaks just repeat the cleaning till you get it looking nice.:beer:

troop231 said:

Ordered my 445nm 9mm diode/module from DTR yesterday with the stock lens and lens holder This is going to be great!

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Great looking build so far!

It looks like the "Big brother" to the one I just finished. I used the same diode/module from DTR.

Just wait till you get that Bad Boy focused!!

BowtieGuy said:

Great looking build so far!

It looks like the "Big brother" to the one I just finished. I used the same diode/module from DTR.

Just wait till you get that Bad Boy focused!!

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Thanks man! I should have it finished tomorrow

I'm just scared about removing the lens from the metal cage and damaging it.

It's done!

Nice job ! :beer:
Nobody is ever going to get that laser out of your case !
Now, what everybody is going to ask for.... some nice beam shots :yh:

A +1 for you. Good work !

BowtieGuy said:

Nice job ! :beer:
Nobody is ever going to get that laser out of your case !
Now, what everybody is going to ask for.... some nice beam shots :yh:

A +1 for you. Good work !

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Unless they have bolt cutters lol

Thanks man your build thread looks good too. That Chevy in your garage is sweet!

Didn't have a chance to get beam shots.

Thanks for the compliment !

Yes, I agree, the chevy is pretty sweet.
It's a 67 nova SS, one of my other "inexpensive" hobbies ! :crackup: