Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

Buy Site Supporter Role (remove some ads) | LPF Donations

Links below open in new window

Dirty lens ?

P

ped

0
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
4,890
Points
113
Hi guys, i think the exit apeture lens has become dirty, on the left my 445 build , and on the right the 445 handheld build ...the uncollimated of course so you can see the problem..ive tried everything to clean it..i even have a special solution to clean mobile phone lenses without streaking, put some on a cotton bud, no difference...nothing is shifting it...any ideas?

qp44gg.jpg
 
Last edited:





It sounds like there is something on the diode window if you've cleaned the lens and it hasn't done anything. Either that or there is something on the back of the lens. If it's the diode window, there's a chance it's become burned onto the window and the only way to fix that is to decan the diode.
 
Prototype said:
If it's the diode window, there's a chance it's become burned onto the window and the only way to fix that is to decan the diode.
Click to expand...


Burned onto the window...never thought of that...im trying to avoide de canning as its in a custom press fit...be a bugger to get out without damaging it :(
 
I have a diode that the raw output looked like that. The can was damaged.
bentcan.png


I don't have a picture with the raw output but here it is with a lens on backwards.
bentcan2.jpg
 
With no lens my 445nm has a couple of spots, that I like to think of as floaters. They aren't at all visible when the laser is focused, although then the "wings" are.

I cleaned my Aixiz Glass lens with rubbing alcohol and lightly dried with the corner of a paper towel. I feel like there was already a thread about if this was alright to do. I can't remember if anyone said that the alcohol would definitely make the AR coating come off but after two rinses my coating is still visible and my lens was definitely a lot cleaner.
 
Alcohol should not make a AR coating come off unless you are rubbing very hard aginst the coating, or it was a bad coating job to begin with.


ZRTMWA said:
With no lens my 445nm has a couple of spots, that I like to think of as floaters. They aren't at all visible when the laser is focused, although then the "wings" are.

I cleaned my Aixiz Glass lens with rubbing alcohol and lightly dried with the corner of a paper towel. I feel like there was already a thread about if this was alright to do. I can't remember if anyone said that the alcohol would definitely make the AR coating come off but after two rinses my coating is still visible and my lens was definitely a lot cleaner.
Click to expand...
 
Flaminpyro said:
Alcohol should not make a AR coating come off unless you are rubbing very hard aginst the coating, or it was a bad coating job to begin with.
Click to expand...

OK Thanks, I just found a thread at CPF that pretty much said the same thing. Good info!

I plan to upload a pic of my diode's output without a lens later tonight, for all to see the floaters.
 
Ok just an update.

I de canned my diode...
rrl4e8.jpg




And waheyy..
nyfkn9.jpg



Ive said before and i'll say it again, im astonished the level of punishment these diodes can take.

Thier like chuck Norris...

Just not as hard.
 
BShanahan14rulz said:
great decanner ;-)

So was the window visibly damaged?
Click to expand...

It had a dark spot right in the middle of the window...nothing was shifting it :(

To de can i set the cordless drill to rotate slowly CCW , and the cutter went fast CW , worked like a charm.
 
you used a dremel to de-can your diode?
then you are more brave then i am, i know i would have cut the die in half to if i did:angel:
 
Xtrm2Rick said:
you used a dremel to de-can your diode?
then you are more brave then i am, i know i would have cut the die in half to if i did:angel:
Click to expand...


TBH i had nothing to lose..the diode was no use as it was...and i took it VERY carefully..and held my breath
 
ped said:
TBH i had nothing to lose..the diode was no use as it was...and i took it VERY carefully..and held my breath
Click to expand...

gratz on the job then:yh:
i usually take fine and sharp knife and cut around the can ( i did kill a few this way )
 
Try cutting pliers with the diode secured in a vise. I've tried on red LCC's, and its surprisingly easy just to sort of peel the entire can off, no need to cut/grind through it all around.

Somehow i wouldn't have even tried the dremel... metal dust/scrapings flying all over the place in whats soon to be an open can diode.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top