630NM laser

[Ilja]

Good day,
I was planning to build a laser (device) with a wavelength of around 630NM, and a defocused beam, with a beam width of approx. 15mm (at around 3-4 cm of the diode), with different power settings and a maximum energy level of roughly 250mW. I wanted to build a second infrared laser with the same parameters, and a wavelength of around 800-850NM.

However reading up on here bit, I quickly realised I certainly lack the extensive knowledge of most members here, and simply wouldn't be able to build such a laser myself. In addition I am under some time pressure. So I am wondering if anyone could perhaps point me in the direction of a trustworthy online store to buy such a laser device with reliable parameters. (I live in Europe).
Thus far I found the Konftec lasers, and their Klas-DX laser certainly comes pretty close to all the requirements I listed (albeit the energy level is a bit lower). In addition I like that the laser is pulsed. But the pricetage of roughly $3000 is definitely more than I can spend on this.
I realize I am a newbie here, but I would be very grateful for some help, where I could acquire a laser with the parameters I listed for a reasonable price.

(Perhaps I should mention I have used red and IR lasers before, albeit of a bit lower power setting, and am aware of the importance of practising caution, using proper eye protection etc).

Many thanks in advance for any input!

 

[WizardG]

Yeah, $3k is a little steep for a red laser303 with a few extra bells-n-whistles.

 

[bostjan]

You can buy 808 nm laser modules on eBay or even Amazon with power in that range for ~$20, but you'll need to add a heat sink and a power supply. If you can find a similar 630 nm laser (which should be easy, but I've personally had a tougher time finding those myself in that power range for cheap). I'm also not sure if any of those are available quickly to ship to Europe, and I'd be willing to bet European authorities would be much more likely to frown on commerce in such dangerous things than here in the USA.

Keep in mind that 808 nm is barely visible, so you'd potentially be frying your retinas long before you noticed you even powered on your laser. Can I ask why you need so much power at such a dangerous wavelength? What's your timeframe?

 

[Sowee7]

You can buy 808 nm laser modules on eBay or even Amazon with power in that range for ~$20, but you'll need to add a heat sink and a power supply. If you can find a similar 630 nm laser (which should be easy, but I've personally had a tougher time finding those myself in that power range for cheap). I'm also not sure if any of those are available quickly to ship to Europe, and I'd be willing to bet European authorities would be much more likely to frown on commerce in such dangerous things than here in the USA.

Keep in mind that 808 nm is barely visible, so you'd potentially be frying your retinas long before you noticed you even powered on your laser. Can I ask why you need so much power at such a dangerous wavelength? What's your timeframe?

where can i find 630nm, i want few of those diodes!

 

[Ilja]

You can buy 808 nm laser modules on eBay or even Amazon with power in that range for ~$20, but you'll need to add a heat sink and a power supply. If you can find a similar 630 nm laser (which should be easy, but I've personally had a tougher time finding those myself in that power range for cheap). I'm also not sure if any of those are available quickly to ship to Europe, and I'd be willing to bet European authorities would be much more likely to frown on commerce in such dangerous things than here in the USA.

Keep in mind that 808 nm is barely visible, so you'd potentially be frying your retinas long before you noticed you even powered on your laser. Can I ask why you need so much power at such a dangerous wavelength? What's your timeframe?

Thanks a lot Bostjan. The problem I see with buying diodes from eBay or Amazon, is that I wasn't sure whether the energy levels that the sellers advertise with are reliable. In other words: whether I would be buying what I hope to buy in terms of energy levels. And it is important to me that the energy levels are as advertised. But correct me if I'm wrong about this presumption about buying from eBay/Amazon.
Indeed, 808nm is in the infrared and hardly visible light range. I would of course be using proper eye protection. There are very interesting studies with regard to this specific wavelength, which is reason I am searching for especially this wavelength next to 660nm. Indeed, I was hoping to buy (or assemble) a laser with different power settings, with 250mW being the maximum setting. (NB: 250mW output at the diode, so in practise at the lens the power output should be lower than 250mW). Since the beam ought to be wider (15mm at the lens) of course the energy density in J/cm2 would also be lower. And this maximum setting may in practise never be used. But I want the laser to have sufficient power at least.

 

[bostjan]

where can i find 630nm, i want few of those diodes!

Oopsie lol 633/635 nm.

Thanks a lot Bostjan. The problem I see with buying diodes from eBay or Amazon, is that I wasn't sure whether the energy levels that the sellers advertise with are reliable. In other words: whether I would be buying what I hope to buy in terms of energy levels. And it is important to me that the energy levels are as advertised. But correct me if I'm wrong about this presumption about buying from eBay/Amazon.
Indeed, 808nm is in the infrared and hardly visible light range. I would of course be using proper eye protection. There are very interesting studies with regard to this specific wavelength, which is reason I am searching for especially this wavelength next to 660nm. Indeed, I was hoping to buy (or assemble) a laser with different power settings, with 250mW being the maximum setting. (NB: 250mW output at the diode, so in practise at the lens the power output should be lower than 250mW). Since the beam ought to be wider (15mm at the lens) of course the energy density in J/cm2 would also be lower. And this maximum setting may in practise never be used. But I want the laser to have sufficient power at least.

Hmm, those listings probably understate the power to avoid trouble from the administration of the sites.

As for an 808 nm module, I had purchased the lights88 brand last summer from Amazon, and the power was about 15% above the advertised 200 mW (I metered it at 233 mW) It runs off of a 5 VDC power supply (controller is built-in to the case, you'll want a heat-sink, though, if you plan to use it for more than a second or two per cycle - they are pretty ubiquitous for 12 mm cylindrical housings, though, so it shouldn't be a problem sourcing one). The "official" advertised specs on amazon are 5 mW at 650 nm, which is obviously false, but it concerns me, because 230ish mW of 808 nm sort of looks like a low power red, in spite of the destructive power. Make no mistake, though, that this particular module would roast your retinas very quickly. With it being IR, the blink reflex is not going to protect you, so even 5 mW is dangerous. And I think you know all of that, but in case someone else reads this, it'd be irresponsible of me not to reiterate that important point.

 

[liveforphysics]

where can i find 630nm, i want few of those diodes!

On that topic my friend, where can I find another of your 627nm 0.8mW diodes you've got? Is that an early laser diode?

 

[Sowee7]

On that topic my friend, where can I find another of your 627nm 0.8mW diodes you've got? Is that an early laser diode?

that was an engineering sample diode

 

[CurtisOliver]

Just cool and underdrive a 635nm diode for 630nm. 630nm is within normal operating range. You just need to reduce thermal shift to longer wavelengths.

 

[farbe2]

You could easily go way lower, for much lower a little work is needed.
See my 613nm cryo laser thread

 

[liveforphysics]

My thinking was, if my 633nm diode can be chilled and emmit longer wavelengths, a diode that natively did 627nm at room temperature should be able to use the same cooling to go significantly lower wavelength.

In a great housing like Farbe2 makes, it might do 608-610nm (I'm hoping, but I'm not an expert).

 

[Sowee7]

My thinking was, if my 633nm diode can be chilled and emmit longer wavelengths, a diode that natively did 627nm at room temperature should be able to use the same cooling to go significantly lower wavelength.

In a great housing like Farbe2 makes, it might do 608-610nm (I'm hoping, but I'm not an expert).

there are 622nm and 627nm room temp diodes avalible

 

[CurtisOliver]

622nm operates at 5°C and 627nm at 10°C. Where have you found room temperature 622's?

 

[liveforphysics]

there are 622nm and 627nm room temp diodes avalible

there are 622nm and 627nm room temp diodes avalible

I would love to buy some if you know of a way to obtain them. I'm interested in your 0.8mW 627nm diode if it's not something too precious to you. I have a new respect for how much power 1mW after looking into a 9uW beam experimentally.

 

[ZRaffleticket]

Curtis is right, they're the LDX diodes that operate at 5-10C. Not anyone's definition of room temperature i would hope...

 

[Sowee7]

Curtis is right, they're the LDX diodes that operate at 5-10C. Not anyone's definition of room temperature i would hope...

ive seen another set of 622 and 627 diodes that operate in room temp. i dont remember where i saw them thoguh