Are These Any Good?

[Last One Left]

Hey guys im doing some research and lloking for stuff to build my first 445nm laser..
I was looking on ebay and some CHEAP stuff caught my eyes..can anyone tell me if they are any good? Thanks guys..

Diode Driver

Lens

Another Lens

Thanks again guys..

 

[DrSid]

The driver seems to be sold also at O-like.com. AFAIK it was only recently added and I haven't heard about anyone using it.

1W 445nm laser diode driver / 200mW 405nm laser diode driver [OL-445-405-D] - $14.99 : Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products

As for lens, they both look like Aixiz lens, and we are all using them. I can't tell you the exact names. Imho one is for 445 (the full threaded) and has nice beam without splash, the other (half threaded) if for 405nm, has worse beam, but passes through 10% more power .. and works for 445nm great too.

 

[Last One Left]

Ok thanks..i know choosing a lens would vary from person to person by the way you described it..can you tell me in your opinion which would work better for beam pointing? and also, what would be the difference in buring power if i choose the one better for beam..thanks alot..
About the driver, im guessin to stick with one thats proven to be good would be smarter..like the v5 flexdrive..its just the price is so high!! lol..

 

[DrSid]

Here I finally found the thread ..

http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/445nm-lens-comparisons-51456.html

I use that middle one from first post, it's just fine (see L2P in my sig).
I have no experience with the later, but it's said to have more power, and worse beam (more splash).

 

[Last One Left]

Thanks for the help man..By the way, how much mA are you pushing your diode at and what driver are you using?

 

[goninanbl00d]

The driver looks like the O-Like driver because the seller is O-Like. Nobody's used or tested it so far.

Both of the lenses will work fine, both have metal lens nuts.

The O-Like lens has a portion of lens where there is no threading, meaning you can't use an AixiZ focus adapter. With the other glass lens, you can use a focusing head or focus adapter.

 

[Last One Left]

So are you saying the both lens will basically perform the same, just one can accommodate the focus adapter?

 

[DrSid]

Thanks for the help man..By the way, how much mA are you pushing your diode at and what driver are you using?

I'm using Flexdrive V5 at 1.5A IIRC, with heatsink at the driver, which is however not cooling enough, and after minute or so it overheats and starts to blink. So I'm thinking about double driver setup (check threads in 445nm section, it was discussed recently).

 

[Last One Left]

Did you try thermal paste and maybe a different heat sink design? i think i read somewhere that dual drivers has risk of one failing or something like that..because i was asking about using two cheap ebay drivers in parallel for my 445nm laser, and it wasn't advised..

 

[DrSid]

Well of course it depends on the driver .. flexdrives seems to work just nice, with no heatsink required.

 

[Last One Left]

Ok kool kool..i didnt know that..i wish they wont so expensive lol..