Beam Expander to Lens Adapters - M11.5 x 0.5 to M9 x 0.5

[Z80 Lasers]

I needed more beam expander adapters so I ran off a small batch today. These are a bit beefier than the old Chinesesium ones. These are made from Aluminum but I could make them from other metals if need be. I could use a larger diameter and/or length too. I got the process down pretty well now so making them doesn't take very long once I get going. The M9 x 0.5 hole runs all the way through so you may need a drop of thread locker to keep the lens from moving. Let me know if anyone wants one.

 

[CoolLaserUser]

Good adapters!

Does a beam expander make the laser beam larger in diameter?
Maybe it helps to make a laser burn for further distances?
Do you think it's necessary to have one?

 

[GSS]

Good adapters!

Does a beam expander make the laser beam larger in diameter?
Maybe it helps to make a laser burn for further distances?
Do you think it's necessary to have one?

It basically extends the distance of a tight spot.
I guess it would burn at further distances but at how much power loss I don't know..
I know you have to play with the lasers initial lens first to make the expander work.

RedCowBoy is the expander user king.
Hope he chimes in.

 

[Z80 Lasers]

I've been able to extend the burning power of a NUBM44 to around 60' with an 3X Beam Expander. Probably could have gone farther but that's the distance I was testing. There is some power loss but it's fairly minimal.

 

[CoolLaserUser]

I guess that it's not necessary to burn things far away from the laser's aperture unless if you want to pop a line of 100 balloons.
More than likely, I would use a G8 lens or just test my lasers how far they can for instance light matches, pop black balloons etc.

In addition, beam expanders are expensive.

 

[Ricker]

Google Image Result for https://media.tenor.com/WCAv4Kenrz0AAAAM/come-in-black-dark-knight.gif

 

[RedCowboy]

It basically extends the distance of a tight spot.
I guess it would burn at further distances but at how much power loss I don't know..
I know you have to play with the lasers initial lens first to make the expander work.

RedCowBoy is the expander user king.
Hope he chimes in.

You lock the focus of your primary lens down at infinity or slightly less in the case of our MM blues and then screw on the beam expander.

So the adapter acts as a nut to lock the primary lens in at infinity focus, then attach your beam expander.
Note you can adjust the depth of your module in it's heat sink if the primary bottoms out in the adapter in order to set your infinity focus.

 

[NoobLaserBoy]

Hello



I found some expander seller on AliExpress. That seller seems to sell expanders for CO2 laser mostly. Because listing says "for cutting machine, welding machine, engraving"

But there was a listing for x6 expander and it said "for 450nm". I asked seller if that expander could be used for fibre lasers or laser pointers but he replied he doesn't know and that I could try to see if it works. Anyone knows if CO2 laser expanders worth with average blue lasers?



I'm looking for some good inexpensive expander to help with beam quality. I'm not sure if there are some high magnification options which are not physically large. Never tried one before as well. I'm trying to make a blue laser pointer burn things at longer distances.

 

[CoolLaserUser]

Hello



I found some expander seller on AliExpress. That seller seems to sell expanders for CO2 laser mostly. Because listing says "for cutting machine, welding machine, engraving"

But there was a listing for x6 expander and it said "for 450nm". I asked seller if that expander could be used for fibre lasers or laser pointers but he replied he doesn't know and that I could try to see if it works. Anyone knows if CO2 laser expanders worth with average blue lasers?



I'm looking for some good inexpensive expander to help with beam quality. I'm not sure if there are some high magnification options which are not physically large. Never tried one before as well. I'm trying to make a blue laser pointer burn things at longer distances.

I guess if you want; it's possible for you to purchase that beam expander from Aliexpress so you can try it out and see if it will fit your blue laser pointer. It's up to you!

Keep in mind that Chinese laser products or accessories might not be the best things you can purchase, the beam expander might be manufactured in China since it's from Aliexpress!
Otherwise you could return the product if it doesn't work.

The best suggestion before buying a beam expander is to fit a G8 lens since it delivers more power output plus have good divergence for long distances.
G8 lens can literally be used with any laser pointer.

I'd do many experiments to be sure before making any purchase, for instance I have been recently considering purchasing more G8 and G2 lenses.
However, I would first do LPM measuring, see how the dots look like, take pictures of the laser beams and lastly test how far lasers can burn and pop balloons with G8 or G2 lens.
It's always worth being sure before making a purchase since anything costs alot and to prevent wasting money.

 

[Z80 Lasers]

Hello



I found some expander seller on AliExpress. That seller seems to sell expanders for CO2 laser mostly. Because listing says "for cutting machine, welding machine, engraving"

But there was a listing for x6 expander and it said "for 450nm". I asked seller if that expander could be used for fibre lasers or laser pointers but he replied he doesn't know and that I could try to see if it works. Anyone knows if CO2 laser expanders worth with average blue lasers?



I'm looking for some good inexpensive expander to help with beam quality. I'm not sure if there are some high magnification options which are not physically large. Never tried one before as well. I'm trying to make a blue laser pointer burn things at longer distances.

If it says that it's for a CO2 laser then it likely has an anti-reflective coating that will reduce the transmission of other colors being able to pass through it. Unless it states that it is designed for a specific wavelength or range of wavelengths or says that it's un-coated then it probably has some sort of AR coating on the lens. You can usually tell because the glass won't be clear. The X3 and X5 beam expanders I sell are un-coated and suitable for all wavelengths.

 

[NoobLaserBoy]

I guess if you want; it's possible for you to purchase that beam expander from Aliexpress so you can try it out and see if it will fit your blue laser pointer. It's up to you!

Keep in mind that Chinese laser products or accessories might not be the best things you can purchase, the beam expander might be manufactured in China since it's from Aliexpress!
Otherwise you could return the product if it doesn't work.

The best suggestion before buying a beam expander is to fit a G8 lens since it delivers more power output plus have good divergence for long distances.
G8 lens can literally be used with any laser pointer.

I'd do many experiments to be sure before making any purchase, for instance I have been recently considering purchasing more G8 and G2 lenses.
However, I would first do LPM measuring, see how the dots look like, take pictures of the laser beams and lastly test how far lasers can burn and pop balloons with G8 or G2 lens.
It's always worth being sure before making a purchase since anything costs alot and to prevent wasting money.

Thank you for your post. At least I now can ask seller if that beam expander is coated or not. That's something I didn't know.

I might give that AliExpress expander a try in future but not right now. If I remember correctly it costs around 90$ including delivery and it's a x6 magnification unit. Not sure if I can post links in here so people can check it out.

That G8 lense looks sounds very interesting. Do you know if it can be used with expander together? I googled G8 a little and found lots of praise about it.

Another follow up question. If G8 can be used with say x5 expander where do I attach it exactly? Before or after expander? That might be a dumb question but I honestly have no idea

 

[NoobLaserBoy]

If it says that it's for a CO2 laser then it likely has an anti-reflective coating that will reduce the transmission of other colors being able to pass through it. Unless it states that it is designed for a specific wavelength or range of wavelengths or says that it's un-coated then it probably has some sort of AR coating on the lens. You can usually tell because the glass won't be clear. The X3 and X5 beam expanders I sell are un-coated and suitable for all wavelengths.

Thank you very much for this detailed information. I've learned a lot from your post.

So are lenses or expanders that are coated for a specific wavelength produce better results than uncoated ones?

Almost forgot to ask. May I take a look at what's available in your shop?

 

[CoolLaserUser]

Thank you for your post. At least I now can ask seller if that beam expander is coated or not. That's something I didn't know.

I might give that AliExpress expander a try in future but not right now. If I remember correctly it costs around 90$ including delivery and it's a x6 magnification unit. Not sure if I can post links in here so people can check it out.

That G8 lense looks sounds very interesting. Do you know if it can be used with expander together? I googled G8 a little and found lots of praise about it.

Another follow up question. If G8 can be used with say x5 expander where do I attach it exactly? Before or after expander? That might be a dumb question but I honestly have no idea

No problem

I guess all laser lenses like G8 must be fit to focal the laser beam otherwise the laser will appear like a flashlight, so you must have installed a laser lens first before fitting a beam expander with a compatible laser pointer.
Remember to test using G8 lenses since a beam expander costs as much as like 5 G8 lenses!

The next thing is that a beam expander might have a lens 9x0.5mm adapter which means that lasers where the lens sticks out, you just simply screw the expander onto the lens.

So you should ask the seller from Aliexpress if the beam expander has lens 9x0.5mm adapter, otherwise it's not going to be a good thing.

You can purchase a beam expander from Barnett Unlimited for only 75usd which will be a good quality and real expander.

https://www.barnettunlimited.com/product-page/x3-beam-expander-w-m9-x-0-5-lens-adapter

Or email Barnett about his beam expanders, he will surely fix you a good one

 

[Z80 Lasers]

I've got a new design for the adapters now. Ran off a large batch of them this week.