Cutting white polyester fabric with 1.7W 445nm

[Doucesti]

What diode is it?
An M140?
What driver are you using?
Did you buy it from DTR with a driver?
Or are you using a different driver?

He invoiced me for the "1.7W 445nm Copper Module W/Super X-Drive & Three Element Glass Lens"
So yeah, I do think it's the M140!

From what I read, if I give it higher voltage, the drive will convert the extra voltage to heat. So I am woried about overheating the chip in the aluminium casing.
See https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/445-m140-didoes

But if you say it adjust the current, I am crazy thinking that it emits more light!?

 

[Pi R Squared]

He invoiced me for the "1.7W 445nm Copper Module W/Super X-Drive & Three Element Glass Lens"
So yeah, I do think it's the M140!

From what I read, if I give it higher voltage, the drive will convert the extra voltage to heat. So I am woried about overheating the chip in the aluminium casing.
See https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/445-m140-didoes

But if you say it adjust the current, I am crazy thinking that it emits more light!?

Yes it's an M140 with a 3 element lens, you could replace the lens with a G2 and get some more power but I don't know if it's worth it. It should be a 25-30% increase, the 3 element lens can make a smaller dot, but that only applies at a distance, at the close range you are using it at there would be no difference in the size of the dot, but there would be a power increase.

Alan

 

[Doucesti]

Hi again,
I should have said by changing the potential sent to the driver... Does that change the force of the laser? (7volts sent to driver means less light emited then 12volts). But no, I did test and I think it's the same lumens emited.

Anyway, did my testing this morning with chalk lines, it leaves a small mark of the chalk color each side of the cut. I think that the polyester next to the cut melts a little and the chalk particules stick to the melted plastic.

Also, I think I should have ordered the driver separated from the 12mm laser module, that way I could have heatsinked it too, separately, for longer duty cycle, meh!

Thanks all for your messages, keep em coming!

EDIT:

It won't make any difference if you bump it up to 9V, it is a constant current driver. That diode only needs 4.xV, the driver adjusts the voltage to keep the current constant.

Ohhh I think I understand by re-reading. Changing the voltage from my source doesn't change anything, it could just burns my x-drive faster, haha!
Sorry, my electrical skills are not really that good!

Do you know how long I can duty cycle my setup if the x-drive is inside the module without proper heatsinking?


Now I want to order something else and build something more powerfull!!!

 

[Pi R Squared]

I don't know the answer, with an X-drive anything up to 1.8A we don't normally heat sink them, above 1.8A we do, but that's in a hand held laser that's not meant to run for long periods of time. My guess is 5 minutes should be ok but I am not sure.

Alan

 

[swamidog]

i cut a fair amount of fabric and leather on my co2 laser cutter. it works very well.

 

[Doucesti]

I don't know the answer, with an X-drive anything up to 1.8A we don't normally heat sink them, above 1.8A we do, but that's in a hand held laser that's not meant to run for long periods of time. My guess is 5 minutes should be ok but I am not sure.

My power supply can give up to 2.5A but I guess DTR set it to 1.8A so it should be allright! I'll pm him to be sure.

i cut a fair amount of fabric and leather on my co2 laser cutter. it works very well.

Sweet! Is that home made?

 

[swamidog]

My power supply can give up to 2.5A but I guess DTR set it to 1.8A so it should be allright! I'll pm him to be sure.



Sweet! Is that home made?

yes it is.

 

[Pman]

That vid was great. Nice +4

 

[Doucesti]

Hi guys,

tldr; Do you have any recommandation on a good 1.5-3.0 watts infrared laser diode?

After much testing, there is nothing optimal for cutting white polyester with 432nm 1.5 watts. Tried black chalk, pen, marker, dying!

It does just fine with pale grey or anycolor beside the laser color.
https://www.facebook.com/thermaride...41827.517055461783975/551230835033104/?type=3

I added bigger vent under to catch smoke and over to cool the heatsink and a one of two motor to get a cleaner cut.

Anyway, I think I'm going to invest in some infrared laser diode.
I would like to use the same setup, I don't want to redesign my table to accomodate a CO2 laser...

Do you have any recommandation on a good 1.5-3.0 watts infrared laser diode?

Thank you!

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

There are some small near IR modules in the FAP800 series. I think the small ones are about 12 watts Max. They have a fiber output which I think can be close focused. At about 800 nM, the beam is near invisible.
HMike