AR coated lens vs G1

[Glaser201]

I am planing to build a 445nm laser using a 1.5A v5 Micro Flex Drive. I was just wondering what kind of power difference would i get between a G1 and a AR coated lens? Is the difference in power worth the more divergent beam? Also would a Guidesman host work well for this kind of build?

 

[jayrob]

People who are going for max output power will use the 405-G-1...

But the AixiZ 3 element lens will give a better looking dot with less 'visible' divergence. (at about 15% less output power)

It is because the diode makes a line instead of a dot. The AixiZ lens 'clips' the line shorter.

See here for lens comparisons with 445nm:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/445nm-lens-comparisons-51456.html

 

[steve001]

I am planing to build a 445nm laser using a 1.5A v5 Micro Flex Drive. I was just wondering what kind of power difference would i get between a G1 and a AR coated lens? Is the difference in power worth the more divergent beam? Also would a Guidesman host work well for this kind of build?

Barring housing diameter constraints there's no reason not to use some other 405nm AR coated lens with a larger diameter. That would allow the full width of the beam to be utilized.
A low divergent beam only requires a longer positive focal length plano-convex lens. There's no reason why a two lens system like that used in green lasers couldn't be used also. One plano-concave and one plano-convex. Both AR coated for 405nm

 

[JBTexas]

Minor question; thought of this some time ago, and didn't bother asking, but this looks like a good opportunity.

In some post in some thread some time ago someone suggested that a laser with a G1 lens would "run cooler" than with a standard 3-element lens. I guess the implication is that a G1 lens "lets more of the radiation out / less radiation ends up 'hanging out' in the cavity / diode / etc." (ummm... take my wording in CONTEXT... I realize that photons do not 'hang out' anywhere... )

It SEEMS logical, but I wonder if a G1 might allow a laser to run cooler by a MEANINGFUL amount.

 

[Glaser201]

So basically, a laser set to 1.8A will output about 1800mW with a AR lens, and about 2W with a G1. Did i get that right? i think 200mW is worth a better dot, plus i can always switch the lens. Thanks for the help

 

[jayrob]

Minor question; thought of this some time ago, and didn't bother asking, but this looks like a good opportunity.

In some post in some thread some time ago someone suggested that a laser with a G1 lens would "run cooler" than with a standard 3-element lens. I guess the implication is that a G1 lens "lets more of the radiation out / less radiation ends up 'hanging out' in the cavity / diode / etc." (ummm... take my wording in CONTEXT... I realize that photons do not 'hang out' anywhere... )

It SEEMS logical, but I wonder if a G1 might allow a laser to run cooler by a MEANINGFUL amount.

It's obviously going to be better for the diode to let more of it's light out of the module and lens, but to actually measure and show results, is another story...

So basically, a laser set to 1.8A will output about 1800mW with a AR lens, and about 2W with a G1. Did i get that right? i think 200mW is worth a better dot, plus i can always switch the lens. Thanks for the help

Glaser201, yes it's only about a 15% difference roughly...

But your numbers are not for a normal efficiency diode. Those are for a high efficiency diode if you can get one like that.

Normally, at 1.8 Amps you can expect maybe 1.6 to 1.8 Watts with a 405-G-1, and about 1.4 to 1.6 Watts with an AixiZ 445...

 

[LASER66]

I'd hate to try to track down the heat absorbed by an Axiz lens compared to a 405-G-1 or 405-G-2 lens!
Like Jay says, 15%, so yes that energy goes somewhere, but using a little heat compound, or putting fins on a heat sink, or using a host with more grooves would likely result in lowering the temp of the diode. Also a little creative masking with an aperture, etc can get rid of splash of G-1/ G-2 system, which was not mentioned here since there's not a lot of power in splash, but discussed previously with the single lens systems. Good luck

 

[Juniortore1]

On my 445nm, I switched to a rayfoss 445nm lens for my 1W, the beam is just as wide, but it is a lot thinner and smaller even though just as wide as the g1. I am saving the g-1 for a 12x build I may possibly build soon.