Causes for instability in high end portables?

[skewbasteve]

Hey all,

Been doing a lot of reading and something that I'd like to understand better is what causes instability in the higher end portables such as the recent CNI >400mW's dieing/dimming from Group Buy #6 (just as an example).

I realize if the user is not following the correct manufacturer's duty-cycle it could happen or if the temperature is not within the usable parameters it may happen. But what if all that was not the case.

Is it just as easy as being a poorly manufactured DPSS or diode? Something not aligned properly? Just curious... :thanks:

 

[pullbangdead]

Lasers are finicky and fragile, simple as that. These aren't flashlights, they're a ton more fragile, especially when you are working with DPSS and high power.

DPSS alignment is a real PITA. Then that finicky alignment is in a handheld device subject to movement, impacts (even slight), vibrations, and everything else that comes from carrying it around. Very easy to get a DPSS laser out of alignment.