The question is not how small can the laser be?
The real question is: How big are your hands?
*it would be a lot easier to just make 2 handheld lasers @ 1W and shine them at the same spot :crackup:
Im Canadian my friend, hailing from a long bloodline of lumberjacks :crackup:
The actual area needed in that labby for 2 LD's is 40mm L x 31mm W.
Thats with the mirrors and the two collimated output beams.
Actual length of it is 75mm, leaving tons of room for additional optics (done intentionally)
I would agree on your second point, that 2 lasers pointed into
1 spot is 'easier', but hardly comes with any bragging rights :na:
That labby was 1 of 3 prototypes. I left extra room to add improvement
after initial testing.
If I wanted to shrink a 2LD module further, I can do the same layout
in a 25mm wide x 30mm long enclosed mount
Thats about the same dimensions of 2 aixiz modules layed in a + shape cubed.
In my world its go small or try again
For visual reference, in my avatar, the fan cooling its driver is 1.5x1.5in (39mmx39mm)
Its how you mount your mirrors that make all the difference in space needed. :shhh: