daguin
0
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2008
- Messages
- 15,989
- Points
- 113
UPDATE 9/20/09 -- With me heading out on vacation and starting the new semester, it has taken a bit to get this straightened out. The delay was mostly from my lack of attention to the matter. However, I have finally received the new o-ring for the module. I installed it last night. The new module has completely dealt with the "looseness" of the module. The module operates smoothly and "tight."
Thanks for all your help, Will
**NOTICE THE EDIT BELOW IN THE "CONS" SECTION**
After a mention in another thread, I picked up one of these modules for the violet laser from "Lasers4U" on eBay
405nm Laser Module Housing with Glass Lens Knurl adjust - eBay (item 120452292619 end time Jul-26-09 07:18:36 PDT)
I left my camera at a friend's house so no pictures, but this will be pretty short anyway.
The module arrived in a small plastic bag inside a padded envelope. Shipping was fast.
The module is 10.5mm in diameter and 19mm long. The lens is set very deeply in the lens holder. It has to be in order for this short focal length lens to be close to the diode. The lens holder has an O-ring near the top that "seals" the lens nicely. The lens was clean and free of visual flaws. The diode seat is smooth, but "deep."
Pro's = This does appear to be the same lens that is being used by LarryDFW and Jayrob. I did not do a "switch" comparison because of the difficulty changing diodes and the lens holder is NOT compatible with the aiXiz module.
However, I built two 6X's and set both drivers to 200mA. The 6X with the acrylic lens puts out 175mW. The 6X with this module puts out 220mW. This is not quite the 26% increase, but they are not the same diodes. The beam profiles are visually identical to the other lenses.
Con's = The module is only 10.5mm in diameter. It is to thin to fit the heat sinks that are already being made by members here for the aiXiz. It does fit snugly INSIDE an aiXiz module. It required a bit of effort and the use of some channel locks, so it is a nice tight fit. This is how I installed it. I soldered leads onto the diode pins and snaked them through the hole in the back of the aiXiz rear portion. I left the "knurled" focus ring portion of the module sticking out.
The diode seat is very deep. I did not measure it before I set the diode. However, the diode is set so deep that there is about a 2mm recess left. This makes soldering to the diode pins difficult. Directly soldering the driver to the diode is impossible. I would also recommend that the leads be soldered BEFORE setting the diode.
**EDIT** I've discovered that the "loose" lens holder issue was simply that the O-ring on my particular module was damaged in assembly. JayRob's does not have this issue. I am obtaining a new O-ring. Based on discussion with JayRob, I believe that this will no longer be an issue.
Lasers4U is sending me another o-ring. Will is very pleasant to communicate with.
Bottom Line = Although it is a high transmission lens for less money the module appears to be too much trouble for the average user. After they are installed they are great. However, getting them installed requires "customization." Unless you are capable of making your own heat sinks and are competent with some low level "fabrication", I would recommend against getting these modules.
Peace,
dave
Thanks for all your help, Will
**NOTICE THE EDIT BELOW IN THE "CONS" SECTION**
After a mention in another thread, I picked up one of these modules for the violet laser from "Lasers4U" on eBay
405nm Laser Module Housing with Glass Lens Knurl adjust - eBay (item 120452292619 end time Jul-26-09 07:18:36 PDT)
I left my camera at a friend's house so no pictures, but this will be pretty short anyway.
The module arrived in a small plastic bag inside a padded envelope. Shipping was fast.
The module is 10.5mm in diameter and 19mm long. The lens is set very deeply in the lens holder. It has to be in order for this short focal length lens to be close to the diode. The lens holder has an O-ring near the top that "seals" the lens nicely. The lens was clean and free of visual flaws. The diode seat is smooth, but "deep."
Pro's = This does appear to be the same lens that is being used by LarryDFW and Jayrob. I did not do a "switch" comparison because of the difficulty changing diodes and the lens holder is NOT compatible with the aiXiz module.
However, I built two 6X's and set both drivers to 200mA. The 6X with the acrylic lens puts out 175mW. The 6X with this module puts out 220mW. This is not quite the 26% increase, but they are not the same diodes. The beam profiles are visually identical to the other lenses.
Con's = The module is only 10.5mm in diameter. It is to thin to fit the heat sinks that are already being made by members here for the aiXiz. It does fit snugly INSIDE an aiXiz module. It required a bit of effort and the use of some channel locks, so it is a nice tight fit. This is how I installed it. I soldered leads onto the diode pins and snaked them through the hole in the back of the aiXiz rear portion. I left the "knurled" focus ring portion of the module sticking out.
The diode seat is very deep. I did not measure it before I set the diode. However, the diode is set so deep that there is about a 2mm recess left. This makes soldering to the diode pins difficult. Directly soldering the driver to the diode is impossible. I would also recommend that the leads be soldered BEFORE setting the diode.
**EDIT** I've discovered that the "loose" lens holder issue was simply that the O-ring on my particular module was damaged in assembly. JayRob's does not have this issue. I am obtaining a new O-ring. Based on discussion with JayRob, I believe that this will no longer be an issue.
Lasers4U is sending me another o-ring. Will is very pleasant to communicate with.
Bottom Line = Although it is a high transmission lens for less money the module appears to be too much trouble for the average user. After they are installed they are great. However, getting them installed requires "customization." Unless you are capable of making your own heat sinks and are competent with some low level "fabrication", I would recommend against getting these modules.
Peace,
dave
Last edited:
