Net finds thread, real or bogus specifications? Report the good or the bad here.

[Bob_Boyce]

Hi, Thats awesome GSS so the Sanwu LPM isn't bad at all for the price as an entry level LPM.
Crackula should be happy with the results IMO.
Good job GSS I would be pleased also with the readings.
A Ophire power head is way more pricy that the Sanwu but like I said not bad for a starter LPM.
Its not like were building high end space lasers
Rich

I tested using one of my Ophir head LPMs. I have the head heatsinked and always zeroed it prior to measurements. I built my LPMs myself.

 

[Bob_Boyce]

They seem to all be around that 1.3 to 1.5W threshold.
Is it holding up well?

Yes, it is very reliable.

 

[GSS]

I just re read one of your posts.
You swapped out the lens? Did you put a G2 in it?

 

[Lifetime17]

I tested using one of my Ophir head LPMs. I have the head heatsinked and always zeroed it prior to measurements. I built my LPMs myself.

Hi,,
Do you have any pics of your LPM's?? And if you do can we see it in operation measuring a wave length .
Rich

 

[Bob_Boyce]

I just re read one of your posts.
You swapped out the lens? Did you put a G2 in it?

I'm not sure now, it was bought from DTR.

 

[Bob_Boyce]

Hi,,
Do you have any pics of your LPM's?? And if you do can we see it in operation measuring a wave length .
Rich

I had posted pics of my LPM design on here many years ago. I had externally black powdercoated aluminum cases fabricated, and had sent boxloads of them to Kenom after sending him the majority of the Ophir heads that I had bought... He chose to use a different design that lacked the ADC resolution to fully support the higher resolution and maximum power capabilities of the factory pre-calibrated Ophir heads that I had purchased. I did not support that choice. So most of those Ophir heads that I had purchased and sent to Kenom were wasted on hobby grade LPMs that had to use firmware to interpret and average the readings rather than display actual raw readings from the head. I recently found the last box of those Ophir heads. I had refused to mail those out after losing so much $ on that whole deal. I was not repaid for my significant investment in buying a large number of those Ophir heads.

Bob

 

[Snecho]

I had posted pics of my LPM design on here many years ago. I had externally black powdercoated aluminum cases fabricated, and had sent boxloads of them to Kenom after sending him the majority of the Ophir heads that I had bought... He chose to use a different design that lacked the ADC resolution to fully support the higher resolution and maximum power capabilities of the factory pre-calibrated Ophir heads that I had purchased. I did not support that choice. So most of those Ophir heads that I had purchased and sent to Kenom were wasted on hobby grade LPMs that had to use firmware to interpret and average the readings rather than display actual raw readings from the head. I recently found the last box of those Ophir heads. I had refused to mail those out after losing so much $ on that whole deal. I was not repaid for my significant investment in buying a large number of those Ophir heads.

Bob

Maybe I misread something, but correct me if I'm wrong. You have a box of Ophir heads you don't use?

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi, Think he said he bought them years ago and I think from what I heard over the years is that basically he was ripped off by the buyer.
Some one may chime in im sure many vets remember .
Rich

 

[Bob_Boyce]

Maybe I misread something, but correct me if I'm wrong. You have a box of Ophir heads you don't use?

Correct. I built one LPM and sent the rest of those very nice LPM cases to Kenom so he could use them to build LPMs to sell so he could repay me. He ended up selling the plastic cased hobby LPMs instead and I was not repaid. Rather than send off the last of the heads to Kenom and lose even more $, I sold some off to members here, then put the rest away for safekeeping. While sorting through some boxes a couple of months ago, I found that last box of Ophir heads. I wish I had some of the aluminum cases to build them with. They used calibrated regulated +/- power supplies with matching output voltages to keep the head output truly linear, as designed. The aluminum case was the heatsink for the head so that it could measure higher powered lasers for longer duration without drift.

 

[Lifetime17]

Correct. I built one LPM and sent the rest of those very nice LPM cases to Kenom so he could use them to build LPMs to sell so he could repay me. He ended up selling the plastic cased hobby LPMs instead and I was not repaid. Rather than send off the last of the heads to Kenom and lose even more $, I sold some off to members here, then put the rest away for safekeeping. While sorting through some boxes a couple of months ago, I found that last box of Ophir heads. I wish I had some of the aluminum cases to build them with. They used calibrated regulated +/- power supplies with matching output voltages to keep the head output truly linear, as designed. The aluminum case was the heatsink for the head so that it could measure higher powered lasers for longer duration without drift.

Hi,
I heard a few stories pertaining to the buy and sell deal. Glad you clarified ...
Rich

 

[Alaskan]

Ebay seller listing Coherent Inc. Laser Assemblies and Diodes:​

svcstore svcstore​

Silicon Valley Compucycle​

AKA Auction BDI in Milpitas, Calif.​

This company had some listings on ebay for various Coherent laser assemblies, most recently a large number of new old stock working high power laser diodes. I have purchased working units from them but from what I can tell, they are really a recycle company selling Coherent Inc. (hazardous waste materials?) they either get for free or are likely paid to remove for proper hazmat disposal. ​

I also believe they are one of the most irresponsible surplus laser part sellers I've seen selling these devices without any warning or disclaimers regarding the need for proper eye protection when working with these high power laser diodes. From a legal standpoint, I believe this places Coherent Inc. in a position where they could potentially face a law suit due to allowing these materials to be sold to the general (often unqualified) public through a contracted recycling company without such warnings or oversight. ​

Being such a huge company with such deep pockets I am surprised they let this stuff go to a recycling company who would resell the parts on ebay, better they are sold to reputable individuals who are in the photonics profession, or offer them up to universities first. I am betting a jury would make a multi million dollar award if a young teen blinded themselves with an ebay FAP800 laser diode which can easily be run off of a 2 volt lead acid battery such as a Cyclon cell, which can also be cheaply purchased as rescued scrap material. Unverified, but I'm hearing this same company was already blacklisted once for reselling complete lasers Coherent Inc. had contracted with them to destroy or perhaps disassemble and process for scrap metal, yet they are back selling their stuff again. ​

All of that aside, they do have some good deals from time to time but beware of the way they block individuals who complain about their packing and don't buy delicate assemblies from them because as a company their packing is horrid, one of the last assemblies I purchased was the insides from an old Verdi laser, when received, the block was hanging out of the side of the box, with tape the post office added to keep it in. Many of the optics mounted on the solder mounts were broken off. When I asked to return it they only responded wait, wait, wait and eventually ignored my emails regarding this item, only able to settle by purchasing another item at a discount.

That was the only resolution I could get, by spending more money instead of the return I had asked for. I could of course forced the issue by reporting the problem to ebay, but I wanted them to work with me as a long time customer. The problem was they used the smallest cheapest air pillows possible inside the box, and the smallest flimsy tiny air cell bubble wrap you can buy for a 20 pound item and only lightly wrapped it, the shipping box was also thin walled cheap cardboard.

Their response to my complaining they are not packing items well enough was that I have to request specific packing.. Guess what? Like an idiot I ordered again and requested specific packing and what happened? Inadequate packing again. It was another Verdi laser system much like the last (complete, except outside of the box Coherent had it in) and it was Damaged TOO, more broken optics. I believe this stuff was probably damaged when they got it, likely selling some of this stuff as intact when it isn’t.

The poor packing:

The assembly had one sheet of thin bubble wrap and a couple of other thin sheets of plastic which were wholly inadequate to hold the item in place, much less protect the unit. When I picked it up from the post office I saw metal hanging out, pushing it back in. From the damage and size of the hole, the whole unit probably dropped out as a few thin sheets of tiny bubble wrap could never hold it in place or protect it for that matter.




I hear the owners are from the middle east and don't speak English well, but they sure knew how to tell me they would block me from buying if I dare give them negative ebay feedback about their packing (which I did not do until they blocked me due to complaining about their packing). These items are precious, outrageously expensive optics I have no other way of affording and they treat them this bad after I pay good money for them, not as much as they originally cost by a factor of hundreds I assume, but still my hard earned money none the less.

 

[paul1598419]

That's good to know, Chris. I'll keep them in mind. Thanks.

 

[paul1598419]

Yep, that looks like a clusterf*ck. Sorry you had that experience, Chris.

 

[Alaskan]

This ebay seller is listing diodes from a NUGM04 block as 1.5 watt output diodes, is that the true max current output rating? I cannot find a way to confirm the claim.

My assumption is the specified output power is (or should be) the rated output power, and not the over current output which would shorten the life of the diode. Is this the true rated output, a fake number, or a real rated output?

525nm 1W TO-5 φ9mm Green Laser Diode with FAC Fiber, Square Spot | eBay

Protect your yourself from the laser when you operate on it. We will try our best to solve your problem as soon as possible. We cherish your suggestions very much. We are always ready and will try our best to help you!

www.ebay.com

 

[Unown (WILD)]

This one too. I've been wanting to get it for awhile now...

525nm 1.5W TO-5 9mm Fast Axis Corrected (FAC) Green Laser Diode, Linear Spot | eBay

Protect your yourself from the laser when you operate on it. We will try our best to solve your problem as soon as possible. We cherish your suggestions very much. We are always ready and will try our best to help you!

www.ebay.com

 

[Alaskan]

I keep asking this seller for specifications, perhaps they cannot be provided, but she damn well knows I am trying to determine if their claim is the true rated output and she refuses to say yes or no, just keeps giving me links back to some of her listings which do not give that info.