Search results

It looks like a usual press-fit mark to me. These diodes are a royal pain in the arse to mount in the Aixiz housing, so marks like that are expected. While the USPS is known for dropping packages, if the laser was properly secured, it shouldn't have caused an issue. The output still looks...

Those pictures are perfect there. They show exactly how well the driver is performing, and they confirm that you have the right settings for it. The downside is that if the laser is that dim with those current and voltage readings, it means that it probably is damaged. :( It's still functional...

Keep in mind, the RS lasers are bulk construction from and for a major retail corporation. For most products in a situation like this, the only QC is on physical, visible defects. They certainly don't get tested by the company from the time they enter the warehouse to the time they reach the...

Now, you're saying the diode gets very hot that fast? There's definitely something improper happening if this is the case. The SenKat group buy diodes usually take longer to heat up (roughly 30s at 200mA) if placed in one of the Aixiz modules with both the mount/lens and the back of the casing.

I'd say disconnect the power from the DDL driver, then disconnect the positive lead to the diode. Connect your ammeter between the driver and the diode (make sure it's set to read amps!) and reconnect the power. An ammeter by itself registers as a very, very minimal load.. so minimal that it's...

What source of power do you have going into the DDL circuit? Have you checked the current drop when the laser diode is hooked up? That looks like a very weak, likely under-driven laser diode.

DDL- If you end up with a bunch that have broken windows or pins, what would you want for 'em? I'm willing to try and salvage even the worst-looking of the buggers. :P

It's probably somewhere between 80-140mW of 780nm near-IR output. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're familiar with lasers at this end of the spectrum, but it is still a cheap laser. What little output you see is minimal as compared to what it is really pumping out, so be careful when you look...

That's likely going to push infrared output all right, but it's one heck of a nice rod! Grab a bunch of 808nm pump diodes (or even a flash tube), build up a good, reflective casing with more heat dissipation than you think you would ever need, and find out what this sucker can do. :D With a rod...

*holds fingers together a-la Montgomery Burns* Excellent. :D

It looks broken. That's probably where the probe connector had been before it was broken and/or removed.

RadioShack doesn't carry thermal epoxy. They have the ceramic and the silver thermal grease, but no epoxy. They also have thermal pads, but this is special order only, and they are labeled incorrectly. They are not adhesive pads.

Those are indeed the same. I bought a set and have already loaded 9 of them with diodes. The only reason the 10th isn't loaded yet is because it was cut too small, and the laser diode won't fit. :(

Here's a simple one. Build a capacitor-charge network with a buck converter whose output connects to the bell off of one of the simple, ultra-cheap telephones. I believe those bells need around 50-100V equivalent for the coil to push the striker far enough, but it needs to be a short duration to...

If you point a laser at a person or a pet, there is always risk of hurting them. There is no safe way to do so. If the beam is powerful enough to be seen outside at daytime, it will injure. The power level needed is high enough that it becomes a dangerous laser, guaranteed.

Meh. It's not much, but $10 will at least help to keep the forums going for a few more days. :) Thanks for all the hard work, and especially for putting up with this big bunch of bozos (myself included) who have the love of lasers in common! *grins*

I was out at the Shack earlier. Here's the one I've seen and looked over.

These RadioShack green lasers look almost exactly like the silver pen-style with black rubber grip on DX. Power output, optics and such are the same. I'd be willing to bet that if you cut one open, you'd see NewWish written on the driver board, too.

I triple that one. I had a hell of a time with repairing the pins on one of those Blu-ray lasers. Leaving the board on (but cutting and removing the trace copper) left it far more stable. Now, I have to finish up the somewhat more complex power supply for a TEC-cooled magenta laser. :D

It sounds like the crystal has broken loose. Unless you're very good with micro-mini repairs (less than 1mm^2 surface area) You're going to have a very difficult time of this at all. You might want to consider investing in a cheap, low-end DealExtreme greenie to replace it.