CLOSED: 4.5W 638nm Laser Diode

[IsaacT]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

A thought for everyone in here. I also put up a thread about a similar idea. Anybody think it would be possible to cool these extensively with a TEC for a 4W 620nm build? If we can get a lot of blue shift it would be fantastic!

 

[rhd]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

If your source is interested in selling these then convince him to send you one or two and test them. If they are really good you will get A LOT of interest. If not, that will save everyone some wasted time. If they refuse, well...

That's a great plan in theory, but the reality is that they WILL refuse. Diode samples, in my experience, are rare if not non-existent.

The attraction to this diode, in my mind, is the 15nm lower advertised wavelength, vs the diode DTR had.

However, something you said peaked my curiosity. Did you actually measure DTR's wavelength? I just assumed that was a datasheet / manufacturer-supplied wavelength, implying that 638 vs 650 was an apples to apples comparison.

But if you actually tested DTR's at 650, then it could very wall be the same wavelength as one of these, advertised at 638, would actually hit when run at fill power. In other words, maybe this is essentially one of DTR's diodes, but without a FAC.

In which case, go buy DTR's diodes

EDIT: I realize now that they're out of stock, my bad.

 

[dubious speculation]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

However, something you said peaked my curiosity. Did you actually measure DTR's wavelength? [Slight correction, these where actually Lazeerer's diodes, DTR only stocked the diodes but Lazeerer sourced them.]

Member planters has measured the wavelength at ~2 amps and found it to have a wavelength of 661nm, which is significantly more than the advertised 650nm. Although it is almost within +-10nm. Here's the video where he demonstrated this.

4W 650nm c-mount diode

maybe this is essentially one of DTR's diodes, but without a FAC.

That was my initial thoughts when this was first posted, but hopefully not.

 

[rhd]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Okay, then given the above, I'm actually up for buying + testing one of these. If the OP can pm me the source, I think I'll buy one (as long as everything passes the sniff test). The wavelength difference potential is worth it.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Lightning,
I'm one of those "projector" people. I was asked a few months ago to test the 5W C-mount that DTR was selling in a similar price range and which also came with a warning that the current had to be ramped up slowly. That diode had a FAC lens installed as a stock component and produced a peak wavelength @ 650nm. Despite my efforts with various cylinders and prisms, the divergence in the "Y" remained poor although the divergence in the "X" was remarkably good. It would have made a good source for a line scan projector. I strongly suspect that that diode's power came from a series of parallel emitters mounted on the same copper base. I am suspicious of this one as well.

If your source is interested in selling these then convince him to send you one or two and test them. If they are really good you will get A LOT of interest. If not, that will save everyone some wasted time. If they refuse, well...

I don't believe these have a FAC, so they're a completely different diode, and have every right to be
suspicious. Originally, I was thinking the same thing about doing a group test information/giveaway, but
almost everyone wanted to do a plain old group buy. They may be waiting for the price to come down a
little more. I'm going to e-Mail the supplier again today to see if they will give a better volume discount. If
not, we may need to revisit the original information/giveaway idea.

 

[Jmillerdoc]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Count me in, I'm good for one at this price.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

I put you down on the list, Jmillerdoc. The supplier has also given us a lower price. The OP has been
updated again to reflect all this.

 

[rhd]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Okay, then given the above, I'm actually up for buying + testing one of these. If the OP can pm me the source, I think I'll buy one (as long as everything passes the sniff test). The wavelength difference potential is worth it.

Sorry guys, I'm out.

OP refused to put me in touch with the diode supplier so that I could order one of these and test it ahead of the potential GB. He wasn't "comfortable" giving me "that kind of information". To his credit, the OP did offer to sell me one at his cost.

I understand being protective of sources if you're a seller, or even if you're just concerned about people on the forum suddenly approaching a source unprofessionally. I'm not in either of those categories. I don't sell stuff, and I've got as much and likely more experience dealing with suppliers, professionally, than the OP. No idea what the OP's concern is, but it's his prerogative to say no and refuse to put me in touch with the supposed supplier.

My prerogative is to jump off-board when something doesn't pass my "sniff test", and that's what I'm doing

 

[ZRaffleticket]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Damn, I was looking forward to seeing this thing in action. Your point does make a lot of sense though.

If I weren't broke, I wouldve jumped on this...

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Well, the GB is still open. I hope there are no hard feelings or bruised egos, certainly not on my part.

All the buyers will still get their diodes if they still want them. Let me know what you guys want to do. I'm
not going to let this die. We're going to test this diode one way or another!

:anyone:

 

[Jstr]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Can we test one before the GB? Then we can all order together and lower the cost. I want one, but I don't like going in blind on something this expensive. And I'm sure more people would join and thus lower the cost if the diode performs well in the tests.

So is anyone willing to pay full price for one and test the diode's capabilities? I know rhd offered, but now he backed out. Maybe we can try to get him back on board?
Or lightning, would you buy yours first?

I am also curious about the source. I am not asking you to divulge your source, but how do you know it is trustworthy? Is it a company/manufacturer or some chinese dude you met online? Any other information you can provide would be reassuring. Of course the best way to prove the source, so to speak, would be to test a diode.

Basically I am just concerned about the reliability of the source and their product (which is why we should test it before everyone buys theirs).

Thanks for doing this lightning!

 

[IsaacT]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

For me a large part of not joining in the reindeer games is the lack of knowledge we have about the diode. No data sheet, no prior tests, etc. If it turns out to be a dud, that is not something all of us(read: me/I) can recover from.

 

[rhd]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

For me a large part of not joining in the reindeer games is the lack of knowledge we have about the diode. No data sheet, no prior tests, etc. If it turns out to be a dud, that is not something all of us(read: me/I) can recover from.

This ^ is exactly the reason I wanted to deal directly with the source if I was going to pay for a diode upfront to test for the forum.

The fact that the OP inexplicably wouldn't allow this, is the deal killer.

EDIT: lol - in repping you, I just kicked you in front of me

 

[IsaacT]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

This ^ is exactly the reason I wanted to deal directly with the source if I was going to pay for a diode upfront to test for the forum.

The fact that the OP inexplicably wouldn't allow this, is the deal killer.

EDIT: lol - in repping you, I just kicked you in front of me

We'll leap frog our way to 600 then, shall we? I'll rep you again as soon as I spread some first

PS - I know 600 is a long way away, but I like to aim high

PPS - I dig your new signature. I have thought about doing it that way many times. But I like listing them out, maybe when I get more of each wavelength I will simplify.

 

[jnhowett]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

I would prefer we test this diode first. I want a diode that will make a decent handheld.

 

[Atomicrox]

Re: OPEN: 4.5W 638nm C-mount Diode Group Buy

Agreed that the diode should be tested first. At the very least we need to verify it isn't as "killable" as the other red c-mount and what the divergence is like.
I wouldn't mind a murder fund, as long as it's to the death.