AixiZ Lens vs Meredith (acrylic)

[jayrob]

I thought I would share this because I have found that the AixiZ lens is better for burning and focussing than the acrylic Meredith lens. (at least at higher mA) The comparison I did was at 350mA using the AixiZ diode as well.

* The good news is that you can remove the AixiZ lens from the threaded black lens holder...and it fits right into the Meredith module! Just wanted to share this discovery...that the lenses are the same size, in case you want to put the AixiZ lens into the Meredith module...which is much nicer to focus. (better looking too) I went back and forth a couple of times, and at this power, (in my opinion) the AixiZ lens is definately better! Now I need to order the glass lens from Meredith to see how it compares...
Jay

 

[Cxrazy]

Re: AixiZ Module vs Meredith (acrylic)

Thats a sweet looking case.

How'd you make it? where'd you get it?

 

[jayrob]

Re: AixiZ Module vs Meredith (acrylic)

Thats a sweet looking case.

How'd you make it? where'd you get it?

Cxrazy, I'll send a link to the DigiKey part for the case when I get home later...

About the lenses, if anybody has compared these two, I am interested in your opinion. I thought for sure that the Meredith lens would be better because it is AR coated. It doesn't make sense to me. Please help me to understand this...
Jay

 

[SenKat]

The Aixiz lenses are AR coated as well - I think I am missing some part of the question ?? Also - do a cost comparison between the two modules....I think the Meredith are astronomically high when compared to the Aixiz are they not ?

 

[jayrob]

Hi Greg, yes the Meredith is $25 compared to around $5 bucks for the AixiZ. The brass Meredith is nicer for focussing and the ability to easily change the lenses...it looks better too. But, if the lens doesn't work better, then it is not worth the extra money. I can see a coating on the Meredith lens but not on the AixiZ...not visually anyways...I didn't know the AixiZ lens was coated. I'm still interested if anybody else has compared these lenses side by side...
Thanks,
Jay

 

[Gazoo]

My experience is different, I found the Meredith acrylic lens to be a bit better burner than the Aixiz lens. The Meredith glass lens is not as good of a burner..compare the beam specs between the two on the Meredith website. I have that one too so I can confirm it but who knows? Your experience might be different.

 

[jayrob]

Re: AixiZ Module vs Meredith (acrylic)

Thats a sweet looking case.

How'd you make it? where'd you get it?

OK Cxrazy, here's the information on the box:
This perfect size little box is here:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=HM841-ND
The battery holders are here:
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=BC2/3AE-ND
And the driver is made according to DDL's thread:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1185701612
The only difference is that I used a 2 ohm 1 W resistor at the LM317:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=PPC2.0W-1CT-ND
And a 10 ohm 1/2 W Pot:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=490-2853-ND
I did this change after asking DDL about a specific range of current that I was after. The current range for this set up is 104mA to 625mA...
Have fun making one!
Jay

 

[wooooooolazer]

Does that heatsink come with the housing :-? Or did you have to make it because if it came with the housing that would be like perfect.



....lazer....

 

[jayrob]

Does that heatsink come with the housing :-?  Or did you have to make it because if it came with the housing that would be like perfect.



....lazer....

Doesn't come with the box, but it is just a 3/4" round piece of aluminum drilled out to hold the module. Not really needed if the module is secured to the aluminum box...then the box is the heat sink! I used it as a way to mount the module flush and also to line it up so that the beam is nice and straight...the box is less than 1" thick, so when it is sitting flat on a table (or what ever), you don't want the beam to point down even the slightest bit or it will hit the surface! It must be perfectly level with the box...
Jay

 

[wooooooolazer]

yeah that would be bad lol hard to shine a beam when it points down.



....lazer.... ;D ;D ;D

 

[jayrob]

My experience is different, I found the Meredith acrylic lens to be a bit better burner than the Aixiz lens. The Meredith glass lens is not as good of a burner..compare the beam specs between the two on the Meredith website. I have that one too so I can confirm it but who knows? Your experience might be different.

Gazoo, that's strange that you and I had different results with the comparison?? Maybe I got a bad lens from Meredith. It's the only one I have. I have many AixiZ lenses though, and they all seem the same to me. I don't have any test equ. though...just burning and lighting matches...
Jay

 

[Gazoo]

Hello again Jayrob,

Out of curiosity I decided to revisit this thread and do some measurements. One thing I haven't done since I received my power meter is to measure the output between the different lenses. Please keep in mind I am using a TEC with my Meredith module, and an open can diode I am pushing with 600ma's. Even with the TEC I am using, the cube still does get warm. I need to mount a fan to my TEC eventually and then my measurements should be more accurate.

With the Meredith glass lens the output is ~350mw's. I was surprised by this as all of my previous measurements have been in the 300mw range. As the cube got warm the output did drop to 320mw's. Anyway the glass lens seems to be the best for close up burning. For example I can burn a hole through a floppy disk in about 5 seconds at appx. a foot.

With the Meredith acrylic lens the outout is ~300mw's with the cube warm. It is easier to light matches at a distance of 7 feet, and it takes the same amount of time to burn a hole through a floppy as with the glass lens.

With the Aixiz lens the output is ~290mw's. I really can not notice any difference between the Meredith acrylic lens and the Aixiz lens. Lighting matches or burning through the floppy seems to be the same, and the difference in the output between the acrylic lens and the Aixiz lens could be the temperature of the diode. However there is no doubt in my mind the glass lens is letting a little more light get through. In addition it is obvious there is AR coating on the Meredith lens, if there is on the Aixiz lens I don't see it.

As a side note. I do highly recommend the Meredith module for building a labby with a TEC especially if using an open can diode. But I do suggest getting the aluminum cube with it as it does make mounting everything much easier. The Meredith glass lens does appear to have a slightly brighter beam. If you compare the specs on the Meredith website between the acrylic lens and the glass lens you will see the acrylic lens does focus down to a smaller dot at distances...at least this is my understanding.

For value the Aixiz module and lens can not be beat and works very well with SenKat's diodes. And as we all know, SenKat's diodes are the best deal around.

 

[jayrob]

Gazoo, that's great research! Thanks for posting the information...I have a Meredith glass lens on order with mounting cube. I agree about the Aixiz value being the best deal. Still want to try the Meredith glass lens though!
Thanks again,
Jay

 

[Gazoo]

I don't blame you one bit for wanting to try it... ;D I don't think you will be disappointed with the glass lens and I will be interested in knowing what you think of it..

 

[wooooooolazer]

What website do you buy this from , cant seem to find it, i like the cube that it goes in, good for putting on a tec.

....lazer... ;D ;D ;D

 

[Gazoo]

Here you go:

http://www.mi-lasers.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?search=action&keywords=diode_optics

Make sure to get the 5.6mm to 9mm adapter too...