Feeler: 10x Melles Griot Beam Expanders

[Unpairedelectron01]

Hi all!
I recently came across a listing of second hand beam expanders for a good price on a Chinese ebay-like site. They are used but are in good condition; no scratches on the lenses and only minor cosmetic damage to the anodizing. The seller is offering ten or so for sale, and so I purchased one for my holography interferometer setup and was wondering if anyone else on the forum is interested in buying one. If so I could buy a couple more and sell them for ~$90 each, which is a pretty good price for this specific beam expander and just a 10x beam expander in general. Please reply if anyone is interested.

The specific model number is Melles Griot 09LBX003, details as follows:

​ Melles Griot Laser Beam Expander Model 09LBX003 Ideal for applications of helium-neon and other visible lasers that require the beam to be expanded for uniform illumination of a large area. Produces 1 lambda or less of peak-to-peak wavefront distortion. - Cost-effective and ideal for illuminating a large area - Designed for broadband applications from 450 to 750 nm - Expansion ratio of 10X with 1 lambda (peak-to-peak) or less of wavefront distortion - Far-field focusing adjustable from 3 m to infinity. - Melles Griot adaptor ring product number 09 LAR 001 included Specifications: Wavelength range: 450-750 nm Recommended maximum 1/e2 beam diameter: 1.0 mm Input aperture: 2.5 mm dia. Wavefront distortion: < 1 lambda (p-p) at 633 nm Transmission: > 95% Coating: HEBBAR/078 Housing material: Black anodized aluminum Mounting: 1-inch-32-tpi

Below I have included pictures of the specific one I received.


Note in the last image the silver line is not damaged anodizing but rather a silver sharpie line used to line up the focusing ring to a specific focus in the previous application.

 

[trinh hong phuoc]

You can get 10x from jet laser with that price, super new, high quality .If you want to create a buying group, ask a reputable person here, like RedCowboy, Alaskan or CDbeam777,that will create the sympathy and trust of other members

 

[Unpairedelectron01]

You can get 10x from jet laser with that price, super new, high quality .If you want to create a buying group, ask a reputable person here, like RedCowboy, Alaskan or CDbeam777,that will create the sympathy and trust of other members

The ones made by jetlasers are Chinese-made, and although I don't doubt their build quality they will obviously be cheaper than Japan or USA made Melles Griot expanders.

 

[RedCowboy]

It looks nice but 2.5mm input dia. is too small for all but dpss type lasers

Recommended maximum 1/e2 beam diameter: 1.0 mm
Input aperture: 2.5 mm dia

 

[Unpairedelectron01]

It looks nice but 2.5mm input dia. is too small for all but dpss type lasers

Recommended maximum 1/e2 beam diameter: 1.0 mm
Input aperture: 2.5 mm dia

I tested just now with my Sanwu 488, 505, and 520nm diode lasers and they it seemed to work fine. Same with my cheap set of red, green, violet laser pens. It also expanded the beam of my helium neon laser and both of my argon lasers without any issue.

Is there a specific reason why it only works on DPSS laser? Is it a physical size limitation or does it have to do with the beam characteristics of the light? Again, I'm still new to optics and it seems like I'm learn something new every day.

 

[RedCowboy]

I was referring to beam dia. and the input dia. so for my use it's too small ( I have a 7mm wide beam ) although it can work some argon, HeNe, 532nm dpss but your 488, 505, 520 are likely getting clipped by some amount although it still work with what gets through which would be the center bulk, also you could use a short focal length primary ( G2 ) to get past the input bottleneck at a cost to optimal far field performance.

So in my statement I left out argon and HeNe if under 2.5mm wide and if you want to allow some clipping you can use it with some directs and/or sacrifice a long FL primary for a short, but it's far from optimal with a 2.5mm input for our directs in my opinion.

---edit---

Is the opening where you see the input lens glass really 2.5mm wide as the specs said ?

 

[paul1598419]

Who is unpairedelectron01? Is that the seller of these BEs? These should work well with any HeNe and other gas lasers under 300 mW. Most of the argons fall into this category.

 

[Unpairedelectron01]

I was referring to beam dia. and the input dia. so for my use it's too small ( I have a 7mm wide beam ) although it can work some argon, HeNe, 532nm dpss but your 488, 505, 520 are likely getting clipped by some amount although it still work with what gets through which would be the center bulk, also you could use a short focal length primary ( G2 ) to get past the input bottleneck at a cost to optimal far field performance.

So in my statement I left out argon and HeNe if under 2.5mm wide and if you want to allow some clipping you can use it with some directs and/or sacrifice a long FL primary for a short, but it's far from optimal with a 2.5mm input for our directs in my opinion.

---edit---

Is the opening where you see the input lens glass really 2.5mm wide as the specs said ?

View attachment 64011

I just did some measuring with a pair of calipers, and I got a diameter of about 3mm, which leads me to believe the input lens is indeed 2.5mm.

Who is unpairedelectron01? Is that the seller of these BEs? These should work well with any HeNe and other gas lasers under 300 mW. Most of the argons fall into this category.

Unpairedelectron01 is me, I wanted to include it in the photos to show that the photos are of the real product and not ripped off from an online source.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

I have a 20x version. These are very high quality, far beyond typical hobby parts. these are over a thousand dollars new iirc. they're not cheap. and yes they are made to expand gas lasers fro interferometry and long distance sighting and so on. they're not made for cheap diode lasers generally speaking. although if you really wanted to use them on a diode laser you could just use some simple optics to shrink the beam and then re-expand it. These are made to go on the end of hene and argon laser heads and that type of thing. I use one on the end of my SP-127 sometimes.

 

[hakzaw1]

I have a 20x version. These are very high quality, far beyond typical hobby parts. these are over a thousand dollars new iirc. they're not cheap. and yes they are made to expand gas lasers fro interferometry and long distance sighting and so on. they're not made for cheap diode lasers generally speaking. although if you really wanted to use them on a diode laser you could just use some simple optics to shrink the beam and then re-expand it. These are made to go on the end of hene and argon laser heads and that type of thing. I use one on the end of my SP-127 sometimes.

THANKS uk for the input.
I have seen a few bulk at the 99$ price of the JL BE10X--saying others are cheaper?? ..thats BS. (IF NEW)
Some will say anything to get a lower price BUT there are NO NEW BEs of the JL quality anywhere near 99$--Sanwu is close & I doubt they mark these up very much...
Since we are 'hobby' the J:L IMHO is a great deal at$99-- being made in China no longer sounds so bad.. they are getting better all the time JL makes no profit on these.. I see way too many here who think that the fine details are worth the extra$$$-- most at LPF are NOT PROS.
and only WE will know the diff...
No 'regular' person will go to a lasershow and say "that white is a bit off.. needs more red'' OR 'wow the beams are too big' etc


Most polly think that 'white' is not a even laser... sometimes paying a lot more is good.. other times ..not so much.

The JL 10X is available in Black as well as 'Silver' they are threaded to fit great on JL PL-E Pros (only) for thePl-E Pro Mini JL offers a nice one and IIRC its a few $$ cheaper.

'Whatev' price the MGs will go for---keep in mind that they are very likely NOT 'plug n play' they will require some 'machining.' (adaptor)

FREE if you can do that--not free if another does this work for you..

THANKS to the OP for sharing this.. super deal!!
hak

 

[ultimatekaiser]

yeah. I concur. most people here wouldn't have an adapter to mount these to, but for the price, they're amazing at anything less than a few hundred dollars if they're in good shape. I know they used to use them on the S series lasers for use in the aerospace industry for precision alignment, but I'm sure they've been used for all sorts of things. The jetlasers stuff is perfectly fine like the CNI/laserglow ones for casual stuff and far cheaper. but from a precision standpoint, these are far superior, and probably pass far more of the light without any aberrations etc if they're clean. better for something like an ion laser with multiple wavelengths for example. or precision machining and alignment or something of that nature. If you can get one for cheap, then they're not bad, but for most folks, it's probably a bit excessive. as with anything, you get what you pay for, but you also need to pick the tool for the job.

 

[hakzaw1]

yeah. I concur. most people here wouldn't have an adapter to mount these to, but for the price, they're amazing at anything less than a few hundred dollars if they're in good shape. I know they used to use them on the S series lasers for use in the aerospace industry for precision alignment, but I'm sure they've been used for all sorts of things. The jetlasers stuff is perfectly fine like the CNI/laserglow ones for casual stuff and far cheaper. but from a precision standpoint, these are far superior, and probably pass far more of the light without any aberrations etc if they're clean. better for something like an ion laser with multiple wavelengths for example. or precision machining and alignment or something of that nature. If you can get one for cheap, then they're not bad, but for most folks, it's probably a bit excessive. as with anything, you get what you pay for, but you also need to pick the tool for the job.

'.....YEah. I concur. most people here wouldn't have an adapter to mount these to, '

wowzers!!!
I got an 'I concur'...!!!

FROM Matt--

IMHO that is pretttty Kewl!!
He is a huge asset to LPF.
I read whatever he posts.. good stuff!!!

TY UK
will measure the Jl 10X I bet it is not all that much bigger (if any).
brb

 

[hakzaw1]

bumpage
IDT this kind of deal happens very often... I sell BE for JL-- super hobby grade--but MG... never cheap. always top notch .
I have been watching closely for BEs like these a long time and-- only now.

AND I feel 10 buyers will want--- what is holding them back is myb they are unsure they can attach to THEIR lasers... that a bit of machining may be needed to mount these-- OUTSIDE LPF just getting ONE adapter custom adapter made would cost a ton $$. More would get cheaper there (Basic machine shop usa) AND if a member was ,making them for us. We would get them lower as well (AFAIK)

We are blessed.

We would still be getting highest quality optics BUT get them at ~a Sanwu/JL price.
MYB an offer from LPF to make bids on this job would help keep the numbers low- The specs are post.. I do know that some machinists need the item itself- drawings apparently are not always enough.
BUT the adapters , at least most of them may be the same thus cheaper.
Having to make 10 different adapters -- they would likely cost more.
I will be right back with some links.. hak....

~27 LISTINGS for MG BEs
I see some near the bottom of the listing that cover all the visible lasers we use.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...s+Griot+09LBX003+LASER+BEAM+EXPANDER&_sacat=0


SYS is messing with me--ATM I cannot load pics..will try a new post--sry about the double.

additional info can be found at ebay on this one and many others-- NONE cheaper BTW

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...s+Griot+09LBX003+LASER+BEAM+EXPANDER&_sacat=0
specs etc for the JL BE at
jetlasers.org/Beam Expander

so
not the exact perfect BE for some we use.. 1mm beam is small. and I assume the diff in lasers is or is like AR coating.the JL has broadband.

By MG using a specific nm that may be where the higher quality comes in --or some is lost w/ Broadband coating..I am just guessing atm.

iirc lowest price at uckbay is $175 when you add shipping etc
BUT comes in a nifty wood box.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

I think it wouldnt be too haard to have someone who can do machining or 3d printing to make them. they're not hard t o make.

 

[hakzaw1]

Making one that matches Pl-E Pros (and except for 405) they 'should' work and sell .
AND a second one that matches the Mini PL-E BE (also 10X afaik & ~$99 usd shipped CONUS DHL).

Just now looked and the first optic is ~3mm
Its also in the specs at JL.org

 

[ultimatekaiser]

That would make sense for those lasers. Those Melles griot ones are mainly made for alot of their lab lasers and HeNes. almost every MG laser i've ever had has about a 1mm output or slightly smaller. so the 2.5mm opening is very good. the one that I have is a 20x and it is very nice. perfect for my slm henes and my 127. would likely work great for holography.