<5mW 635nm 2012 AtlasNova

[AMooMooCow]

I was surprised to see there wasn't a complete review of AtlasNova's laser pointer, as this is my favorite safe laser that I ever had. I got mine a little more than 2 years ago on Amazon for about $20 (US).

It fits well in any pocket. A nice thing about it is the pocket clip. On the rubberized Chinese lasers, if you try to use them, it just breaks off, but AtlasNova engineered a clip that actually works. If I had to wear a lab coat, this would be at work every day.

For some reason, there is an aperture jacket that you can screw off. This may be for ease of assembly by the factory, because it does not capture the stray beams from reflection within the laser module - you can see an example of what I mean in the final image. The battery tail cap is made of solid brass, giving the whole assembly perfect balance. It feels really expensive in the hand.

Like I said, it fits easily in any pocket. Diameter=12mm. That's just eyeballing it because I couldn't find my caliper.

When I first measured its power, I was surprised. 2.5mw? It's very bright nontheless, and when preforming presentations it makes a statement; I wonder if anyone else in the room is a laser geek and notices the color.

Here's a jagged power graph due to the Radiant X4's resolution of 100 microwatts. Red is on 1.5v AAAs, and green is on NiMH rechargeables. Sorry if you're red-green colorblind, the rechargeables gave it lower power, 0.4mW, which is still much brighter than the dimmest, cheapest 660nm pointer that you've ever seen.

Here is a 6mm 660nm laser module as in any store-bought laser pointer. At 4.5mw, it lives up to its name.

Though the 660nm is more powerful, the AtlasNova is brighter. According to the relative laser brightness calculator, in this case the AtlasNova is exactly twice as bright as the 660nm laser. Relative Perceived Brightness Calculator

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Nice review. I would have bought one
myself if I wasn't already planning a
5measlyWatt 635nm build. Higher quality
lasers like that make the avarice pen look
like junk.

 

[kilter]

Nice review!

 

[Cyparagon]

Beam diameter? Beam divergence? Drive current? Focal range? Measurements on current regulation? Measurable temperature rise?

 

[AMooMooCow]

At 3.0v, the driver pulls 0.05A. It doesn’t change in temperature significantly over 5 minutes.
Beam size at aperture was (4x3)mm. I don’t have a range finder, so this will be woefully inaccurate, but at approximately 27m, the beam size was (35x30)mm, giving a divergence of 1.1mRad via the equation θ=2〖tan〗^(-1) [(D_f-D_i)/2l].

 

[Pman]

Can't understand how you were able to light a match if that power is correct.
Always appreciate a nice pen

Reread it again and see you said "smoke" and not light. Still dont see how it was strong enough to smoke. Will have to try it myself if I have or can adjust one that low to try it

 

[paula109]

its look good, nice review

 

[Cyparagon]

Beam size at aperture was (4x3)mm. I don’t have a range finder, so this will be woefully inaccurate, but at approximately 27m, the beam size was (35x30)mm, giving a divergence of 1.1mRad via the equation θ=2〖tan〗^(-1) [(D_f-D_i)/2l].

FYI, there's an easier way using small angle approximation:
(35mm-4mm)/27m = 1.1mRad

 

[AMooMooCow]

FYI, there's an easier way using small angle approximation:
(35mm-4mm)/27m = 1.1mRad

Nice. Thanks for the maths

 

[AMooMooCow]

Still dont see how it was strong enough to smoke. Will have to try it myself if I have or can adjust one that low to try it

Now that I think about it, it was probably my 660nm 90mw ebay <5mw pointer

 

[paul1598419]

This thread is over 4 years old. It is considered necroposting to comment on one of these. Please refrain from doing this.