- Joined
- Oct 1, 2016
- Messages
- 148
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- 18
Hey everyone, I know there are many threads out there already talking about beam expanders, but after doing multiple searches and looking at over a dozen threads I couldn't find anything explaining WHY beam expanders are so great. I think making a thread on this could help alot of people like me who are fairly new to high powered/class IV lasers and who are confused by beam expander's pros and cons. I have also spoken to now 2 people on this forum who are also confused about beam expanders benefits and negatives so I think it is time to start a thread explaining them.
What started all this was I'm about to purchase a "PL-E Pro 465nm 3.5W" from JetLasers and as you may know, there is an option for a 10X beam expander (which isn't cheap). I'm aware this beam expander will make the beam 10X larger and will improve the beam divergence/ making the beam go further, but how does this effect the burning factor? How does this effect the brightness of the beam? It seems to me that making the beam 10X larger would make it 10X less powerful at burning stuff and also 10X less bright when being shined up into the night sky.
Also, as a side note, I'll be purchasing a pair of 26650s to use with the extension and a pair of 26350s to use without the extension with my new "PL-E Pro 465nm 3.5W". I haven't yet decided whether or not to get protected 26650s or non protected 26650s (they are about the same capacity), but these are the best 26650s I could find. If you can think of anything wrong with using any of these batteries please let me know or if you have a better recommendation for what 26650s to get, please let me know that as well.
26350s I will be using WITHOUT laser extension (for length purposes):
https://www.fasttech.com/product/5363800-inr-26350-3-7v-2000mah-rechargeable-li-ion
Protected 26650s to use WITH laser extension (5250 mAh):
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10013037/3753900-authentic-aweite-awt-imr26650-3-7v-5200mah
Non-Protected 26650s to use WITH laser extension (5100mAh):
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10025377/5512400-authentic-keeppower-icr-26650-3-7v-5200mah
Thank you to everyone ahead of time for replying to this thread and helping me and other nubbies out! :beer:
What started all this was I'm about to purchase a "PL-E Pro 465nm 3.5W" from JetLasers and as you may know, there is an option for a 10X beam expander (which isn't cheap). I'm aware this beam expander will make the beam 10X larger and will improve the beam divergence/ making the beam go further, but how does this effect the burning factor? How does this effect the brightness of the beam? It seems to me that making the beam 10X larger would make it 10X less powerful at burning stuff and also 10X less bright when being shined up into the night sky.
Also, as a side note, I'll be purchasing a pair of 26650s to use with the extension and a pair of 26350s to use without the extension with my new "PL-E Pro 465nm 3.5W". I haven't yet decided whether or not to get protected 26650s or non protected 26650s (they are about the same capacity), but these are the best 26650s I could find. If you can think of anything wrong with using any of these batteries please let me know or if you have a better recommendation for what 26650s to get, please let me know that as well.
26350s I will be using WITHOUT laser extension (for length purposes):
https://www.fasttech.com/product/5363800-inr-26350-3-7v-2000mah-rechargeable-li-ion
Protected 26650s to use WITH laser extension (5250 mAh):
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10013037/3753900-authentic-aweite-awt-imr26650-3-7v-5200mah
Non-Protected 26650s to use WITH laser extension (5100mAh):
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10025377/5512400-authentic-keeppower-icr-26650-3-7v-5200mah
Thank you to everyone ahead of time for replying to this thread and helping me and other nubbies out! :beer:
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