Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Do You Own JetLaser Beam Expander? Problem With Fit (picture)

Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
57
Points
0
I have emailed Gray over at JetLasers but am posting here with this question too because it sometimes takes a few days to hear back from him. I did a search on the forum but could not find an answer to my question.

This is a picture that I made and sent to Gray to better explain my situation to him. I blurred out the model numbers of my lasers as that info is not important here (I requested a copy of the power graph charts which I thought would have been included with my package and he asked for my serial numbers). The problem I am having is the beam expander will not attach to my laser. Is there anyone here who owns a PL-E Pro laser and the Beam Expander who has run into this problem? I am wondering if I am missing a piece or if I am just misunderstanding how to attach everything. It seems as though the Adapter (A) is supposed to attach to the laser (B) where the lens cover would normally fit. The adapter would also be connected to the beam expander. (A) connects to (C) perfectly. The diameter of the adapter (A) is smaller than the diameter on the laser (C). As you can see, the adapter diameter is 14mm and the area on the laser where you would screw it in is 18mm. Maybe they sent me the wrong size. I will hear back from Gray soon enough and will update you all when I do.

PS: My unboxing picture set is almost complete and I will be sharing it with you all soon.

 





Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
898
Points
0
Don't own one of those but from the looks of it they sent the wrong adapter. I own several beam expanders of another brand and have multiple adapters to fit different lasers and they resemble those closely.
 
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
12,031
Points
113
I can't see anything wrong with your adapter, here's a photo of mine assembled.

eb01cbf6-a476-4354-834d-9e2d58ba472b_zps011e2bf3.jpg
 
Last edited:
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
57
Points
0
I can't see anything wrong with your adapter, here's a photo of mine assembled.

Does yours screw right into where the lens cover screws in? If so, that is the problem with mine. I can't screw it in there because the diameter of the adapter is smaller than the ring around the lens.
 
Last edited:

BowtieGuy

0
LPF Site Supporter
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
6,090
Points
113
Hey PhillyAnt, you could try sending hakzaw1 a PM, he very well may be able to help you; he's worked with J/L and Gray for a long time. :)
 
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
12,031
Points
113
Yes, it screws in where the lens cover normally resides, I tried to get my adapter out, but it is stuck, without the right tools to grab that threaded piece and twist on it hard, I'll mar the aluminum now to take measurements.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
57
Points
0
Yes, it screws in where the lens cover normally resides, I tried to get my adapter out, but it is stuck, without the right tools to grab that threaded piece and twist on it hard, I'll mar the aluminum now to take measurements.

Hey Alaskan,

I was going to quote and respond to your second post, but it looks like you deleted it. You mentioned that it looked like I might not be pushing the adapter all the way in. Unfortunately that isn't the case. You can see from my picture that there just isn't anywhere else for me to push it. The gap going from the lens to the top thread (blue line) is 5mm. The threaded area on the adapter that would screw into it (purple) is only about 2mm. It is also only 14mm wide, where the area on the laser is 18mm wide. I am either missing a piece or they shipped me the wrong adapter. I know Gray will work it out but it kinda stinks not being able to try it out. I am going to dig through all of my packaging again to make sure I didn't miss anything.


 
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
12,031
Points
113
Yea, I deleted it because I could see the mismatch in size in the photo, I finally was able to remove my ring and it is indeed 18mm wide, so there was no change on the hosts interface, just gave you the wrong adapter as starlight reported.

Here's the correct adapter:

7564b74c-8194-47c6-a9e1-1fa7cf099c77_zpsef11a2de.jpg
 
Last edited:
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
57
Points
0
Yea, I deleted it because I could see the mismatch in size in the photo, I finally was able to remove my ring and it is indeed 18mm wide, so there was no change on the hosts interface, just gave you the wrong adapter as starlight reported.

Here's the correct adapter:

7564b74c-8194-47c6-a9e1-1fa7cf099c77_zpsef11a2de.jpg

Thank you for taking the time to confirm this for me! +rep
 
Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Messages
1,541
Points
83
the problem is this:

philly ant, your adapter is missing a piece. the adapter is actually two pieces. well, four pieces technically. threading screwed into wider threading. the old model pros had shallower threading in the crown. the adapters, threaded more like yours is now philly ant, did not go in deep enough and they kept breaking off. JL fixed the problem by making the threads deeper on the host, but I think to make the threads longer on the adapters they just added a small threaded piece, which yours lacks. that larger threading on alaskans? just a wider piece of threaded tube over an adapter that is identical to yours

see how the pic alaskan posted is different than yours?

never over tighten the adapter into the host head. I did once. barely got it out without damaging the head. if you overtighten it, the small threaded piece gets stuck and if you get it out at all, it will look like your current adapter, and the dust cap will no longer fit in the crown

I have an extra adapter I could send for really cheap or maybe free

Oh yeah, the best way to use the BE:

focus the pro to the smallest focal point possible, with largest dot at distance, then add the expander. the raw infinity beam is too wide to completely fit into the BE's in apeture. a focused beam is narrow enough. this way, max power makes it through, and you will have a smaller beam coming out of the expander, making it possible to perfectly center it in the BE's large lens (use safety glasses while doing this). the expander itself is focusable, so you can then use it to focus to infinity
 
Last edited:
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
57
Points
0
the problem is this:

philly ant, your adapter is missing a piece. the adapter is actually two pieces. well, four pieces technically. threading screwed into wider threading. the old model pros had shallower threading in the crown. the adapters, threaded more like yours is now philly ant, did not go in deep enough and they kept breaking off. JL fixed the problem by making the threads deeper on the host, but I think to make the threads longer on the adapters they just added a small threaded piece, which yours lacks. that larger threading on alaskans? just a wider piece of threaded tube over an adapter that is identical to yours

see how the pic alaskan posted is different than yours?

never over tighten the adapter into the host head. I did once. barely got it out without damaging the head. if you overtighten it, the small threaded piece gets stuck and if you get it out at all, it will look like your current adapter, and the dust cap will no longer fit in the crown

I have an extra adapter I could send for really cheap or maybe free

Oh yeah, the best way to use the BE:

focus the pro to the smallest focal point possible, with largest dot at distance, then add the expander. the raw infinity beam is too wide to completely fit into the BE's in apeture. a focused beam is narrow enough. this way, max power makes it through, and you will have a smaller beam coming out of the expander, making it possible to perfectly center it in the BE's large lens (use safety glasses while doing this). the expander itself is focusable, so you can then use it to focus to infinity

Hey Shakenawake! Thanks for all the useful info on using the BE! I can't wait to try it out.

I am still waiting to hear back from Gray. I will let you know about the adapter. I might take you up on that. Mine is actually 3 separate pieces. I took it apart and snapped a pic. It looks like it was the adapter used for the older models.

 
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
12,031
Points
113
My adapter is three pieces total, as in your photo but with the 18mm wide threaded interface.

Once you get your expander mounted, through protection goggles, you will see this pattern:

188dc690-708a-49e2-a687-399f49bf2c8c_zps83c5a319.jpg


When using it outside at night, the beam is more ribbon-like than a round beam, but still very bright and with a long travel at reduced divergence. I found it difficult to center the expander properly for max output, even outside at night. To get the beam centered correctly through the expander, since it is designed to slide around a bit on the head to find the center, before tightening, I'd use some goggles and shoot it at a wall to make sure the beam is in the middle of the lens, it can easily be cut in half if not centered properly and you really can't tell outside or without goggles to attenuate the brightness. In this photo, you can see a faint outline of the lens it shoots through.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
10,662
Points
113
As soon as I got the first of those for Pro-PLEs I posted that the connection was too 'weak' and & unless we would be extremely careful stripped threads would result.

So I think Gray had them make a better/heftier connection and you got the wrong one.-- same goes for tripod hole--WAY to 'shallow' and moving them about would need to be done with TWO HANDS- & VERY carefully HOWEVER that is all they have to work with, so no way I can see for JL to improve that...

NOt sure ATM whats up wih Gray and JL- been kinda 'off the radar' lately.. so take up Shaken on his offer & I will see that he gets a replacement asap. For what its worth the newer JL BEs ARE a BIG improvement from the first BEs that JL offered. Threaded IMO is the best of all ways..
 
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
57
Points
0
When using it outside at night, the beam is more ribbon-like than a round beam, but still very bright and with a long travel at reduced divergence. I found it difficult to center the expander properly for max output, even outside at night. To get the beam centered correctly through the expander, since it is designed to slide around a bit on the head to find the center, before tightening, I'd use some goggles and shoot it at a wall to make sure the beam is in the middle of the lens, it can easily be cut in half if not centered properly and you really can't tell outside or without goggles to attenuate the brightness. In this photo, you can see a faint outline of the lens it shoots through.

Thanks for the useful info!

same goes for tripod hole--WAY to 'shallow'

NOt sure ATM whats up wih Gray and JL- been kinda 'off the radar' lately.. so take up Shaken on his offer & I will see that he gets a replacement asap. For what its worth the newer JL BEs ARE a BIG improvement from the first BEs that JL offered. Threaded IMO is the best of all ways..

Totally agree with you on the tripod hole. It is way too shallow for its purpose. These are heavy pieces. A sturdier attachment would ease my heart a little. I might end up using a clamp instead. I have a portable miniature vice grip that seems perfect for the job. I will include pics when I complete my review. I am just waiting for the adapter to arrive.

are you going to want my extra adapter?

Shakenawake, I apologize. I haven't been on the forums for a few days. Thank you for being so kind as to offer your adapter to me. Gray got back to me on the 10th and said he will be sending me out a new adapter. I have a tracking number now. I'm just waiting for it to show up on the DHL tracking list on their website. I am hoping to receive it this week.

To comment back on what hakzaw1 said about Gray being off the radar lately, yes I feel that Gray is a little slow at getting back to me. He is a very kind person, but faster replies would just bring my rating of his service to the top tier. Maybe my expectations are too high? I just feel that solid fast communication goes a long way.
 




Top