burning capabilities

[jayhawker08]

ok, i know i don't have the best laser (dx30), but i'm just getting into this hobby. I have been very happy with it, i think i got a good one. It pulverizes balloons (check out the vid ;D), but I can't seem to get it to light a match. Is it even possible, or am i just getting my hopes up? I have a homemade lens on it now (gutted magnifying glass) and fresh duracell batteries. Would lithiums or some other battery help?

(video note: popped unsharpied balloon in .19 seconds [smiley=evil.gif]

 

[LaserNoob]

It's possible to light a match with it. I have one, check out one vid http://youtube.com/watch?v=L5abrJqNuww
In that vid I used NOVAlasers collimator lens. But I have one lens that has a focal point at about 3 inches thats much better. It's from an old binocular. Try to use any lens. I also got a plastic lens that I got from a spy toy, a sort of binocular with led.

I use http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3893 matches thats black headed. They are really good for low powered lasers

 

[Things]

ya i have seen DX 30's light matches, but the power output varies between models, so it depends...

 

[me_too_lazy]

ya i have seen DX 30's light matches, but the power output varies between models, so it depends...

probably a freak unit then
30mW will NOT light matches
even with external lens and sharpied matches

im not sure about the cheap matches they sell on DX tho
I have never tried em myself

 

[LaserNoob]

I can http://youtube.com/watch?v=L5abrJqNuww http://youtube.com/watch?v=L5abrJqNuww
And sometimes even faster

 

[elitex]

Optotronics has a 4000 mm (12 feet!) focal length lens for lasers. Still waiting for it to show up so I can see what it can do. I think its more impressive to pop and burn from a distance of feet than from 3 inches away. Makes a better video.

 

[stevetexas]

getting things to burn from a distance is fun , but your setup has to be very stable at both ends.
A small (<1mm) movement is magnified proportionally to the distance. Makes it hard to burn if the beam isn't set on one spot.

 

[stevetexas]

Also, try some lithium batteries - they do seem to add a little extra oomph.

 

[photongeek]

Very nice :
Can someone post closeup pics of your external lens for the DX 30?