Re: Feeler: 3 Diode 6W+ Host Kits! Updated Pictures Added!
You should only need 2 PBS cubes. The first two modules are perpendicular to each other, and once combined, that beam will be perpendicular to the third module.
That wont work. A PBS cube takes two beams of opposite polarization and knits them into one. You can use a PBS cube only once when combining beams because once the beams pass through one cube the polarization wont be opposite of the next diode.
That's why I said this earlier
No mirrors? :thinking: How will that work? If combining 3 diodes of the same wavelength you have to knife edge at some point.
Hmm... well maybe I missed something then. Wouldn't that mean it's not even possible to combine more than 2 beam though? I know people have though.
You can combine them by knife edging, stacking them next to each other with mirrors. The downside is it makes the beam bigger, that's why I used a PBS.
Knife Edging
For different wavelengths you can combine them with dichroic mirrors which reflect one wavelength and allow another wavelength to pass through.
To be honest I think 3 diodes in a handheld is pushing it, the cost would be really high with more optics and another diode, the alignment would be a lot harder with knife edging 3 diodes together in a small area and I think 3 diodes is out of a lot of peoples comfort zone, especially for a 400$ host.
This does seem like a great idea for a RGB build though, dichros would be much more forgiving with alignment.
I think there would be more demand for a dual diode host, easier to assemble with a PBS or people can knife edge if they choose, less cost and there are JLSE's build and my build for people to use as reference.
Edit:
True. Well, couldn't you knife edge the one, and combine the first two?
Yup, that would work.
