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

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

DIY 473nm / FRANKEN-TEK B&W Transplant To Handheld With TEC

JLSE

1
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
3,580
Points
0
Firstly, this project has been on my mind since acquiring my first 473nm labby made by
B&W / CNI.

I decided to gut a working labby which I had previously re-aligned. To minimize the guess work
I wanted the best crystal set I had out of the surplus lot purchased. I machined the head
taking extra care to get the mount good and centered. With a manual mill, this can prove
difficult at times.

So far I have only mocked up the head, and am not at the point where I begin hard mounting and
alignment.

My first sought after achievement on this was getting some 473 light out. I have the pump,
a 3W CNI 808 with FAC and collimator as the muscle currently running at a mere 600mW.
As I progress on this build, I will slowly increase, but only during the final fine tuning stages.

I have yet to wire the control for the TEC, and the diode is running on bench supply for
the time being.

Anyways, enough rambling, here are some pics and a short video filmed through my 808 goggles
which is what it appears foggy.

Hope you all enjoy :beer:





Some pics...

DSC06933.jpg


DSC06965.jpg


DSC06969.jpg


DSC06981.jpg


DSC06987.jpg


DSC06992.jpg


DSC06996.jpg


I will update as this goes. No idea on the output yet, but its already putting out a mW or so
with 600mW in. The alignment is still crude, and the TEC has to be setup. For now I am
very happy with getting any light at all. Thought this was going to be a tad more difficult :san:
 
Last edited:





jimdt7

0
Joined
Feb 5, 2011
Messages
1,893
Points
48
Re: FRANKEN-473 A B&W TEK Transplant To Handheld With TEC

:pop: :pop:
Very nice job !
+1 :beer:

Jim
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
3,575
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-473 A B&W TEK Transplant To Handheld With TEC

Wow! Im speechless
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
350
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

That is very admirable to have accomplished that!

Did you have any issues or concerns with the hygroscopic nature of the crystals used in 473nm as mentioned in the thread below?

Is there a way of avoiding their exposure to the open air when working on a project like this? I guess I don't know enough about what's involved in working on a 473nm labby... I wouldn't ask you to explain it all though, just wondering about if there was a risk of moisture absorption...

http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/473-nm-moving-crystals-73716.html
 
Last edited:

JLSE

1
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
3,580
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

:pop: :pop:
Very nice job !
+1 :beer:

Jim

Wow! Im speechless

Appreciate it :beer:

That is very admirable to have accomplished that!

Did you have any issues or concerns with the hygroscopic nature of the crystals used in 473nm as mentioned in the thread below?

Is there a way of avoiding their exposure to the open air when working on a project like this? I guess I don't know enough about what's involved in working on a 473nm labby... I wouldn't ask you to explain it all though, just wondering about if there was a risk of moisture absorption...

http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/473-nm-moving-crystals-73716.html

From what ive seen on the batch that I have, they appear to have been nitrogen filled.
If you pull the front plate off, exposing the IR filter, you will notice what appears to be the fill port.

Moisture may be an issue if left exposed to such an environment.. Once this head is
ready to mount in the main body, it will spend the night in a desiccant box, and be sealed up
after assembly.

Ive also had crystal sets including LBO which I use for mock up in a drawer for over
a year, and they still work. Im not sure of degradation, or amount of exposure in
my case, but im sure it takes its toll over time.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
350
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

Interesting, I see thanks JLSE. I guess it's not like it immediately melts away in a pool of absorbed water then. That's good. :yh:

I really enjoyed seeing the photos, best of luck on the rest of the project! :beer:
 
Joined
Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,487
Points
63
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

That's great work! It's not easy working with higher powered IR like that. For one, it's hard to see exactly what the beam is doing. I think you have it down though!! Subscribing to keep up with your project.

:gj:
 
Joined
Mar 22, 2011
Messages
791
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

As soon as I saw the title, I knew it must've been a project from you. Good work! Keep it up, because I am dying to see the final product!!
 

Hiemal

0
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
1,443
Points
63
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

I knew it was possible. :p

Ah well, Good job JLSE. :D
 

DTR

0
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
5,684
Points
113
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

Great work. I am very interested in how you will be powering the TEC.;)
 

JLSE

1
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
3,580
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

That's great work! It's not easy working with higher powered IR like that. For one, it's hard to see exactly what the beam is doing. I think you have it down though!! Subscribing to keep up with your project.

:gj:

Getting the IR setup is a PITA, so far I have had to use a cam and low
power just above threshold to find the fine point. I have yet to run over
1W, and wont be until the main mount is seated, and im ready for fine adjustments.

As soon as I saw the title, I knew it must've been a project from you. Good work! Keep it up, because I am dying to see the final product!!

Appreciate it.. You and me both, these kinds of projects tend to get me anxious.
At least until they are finished.

I knew it was possible. :p

Ah well, Good job JLSE. :D

I knew it wouldn't be exactly easy, but not impossible either. I read what
was posted in your thread.. Two points of why it would not be possible
are false so far, if what was written was true, I'd have no 473 after 5mins
of crude alignment.. :beer:

Great work. I am very interested in how you will be powering the TEC.;)

Its a simple controller I saw on the net a while back.. When I get a chance to
draw it up, I will PM you with it.
 
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
57
Points
0
Re: FRANKEN-TEK A B&W 473 Transplant To Handheld With TEC

I knew it wouldn't be exactly easy, but not impossible either. I read what
was posted in your thread.. Two points of why it would not be possible
are false so far, if what was written was true, I'd have no 473 after 5mins
of crude alignment.. :beer:

Again. Like I said, if you've done it before (or you know something about aligning a DPSS system), it shouldn't be toohard.

Also, LBO does not crumble to dust after five or so minutes of exposure. Nonetheless, moisture exposure still isn't good for it.

My point was: give a bunch of crystals and a pump diode to the average guy here to realign and they wouldn't exactly be able to get it working again. Try to do it in an existing small-form-factor 18650 host, and, well...

Actually, that can be your next challenge. :beer:

But good work nonetheless. I look forward to when you start cranking the pump diode on that thing. :)
 

JLSE

1
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
3,580
Points
0
Again. Like I said, if you've done it before (or you know something about aligning a DPSS system), it shouldn't be toohard.

Also, LBO does not crumble to dust after five or so minutes of exposure. Nonetheless, moisture exposure still isn't good for it.

My point was: give a bunch of crystals and a pump diode to the average guy here to realign and they wouldn't exactly be able to get it working again. Try to do it in an existing small-form-factor 18650 host, and, well...

Actually, that can be your next challenge. :beer:

But good work nonetheless. I look forward to when you start cranking the pump diode on that thing. :)

The same could be said for diodes and drivers.. Many members are at various stages
of learning, but I wouldnt count them out so easily.

I know of a few members who have successfully re-aligned the CNI 473 labbies with
nothing more than some advice in thread and patience.

There has been some discussion on a few threads in the forum..
http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/b-w-tek-bwb-10-oem-473nm-help-69642.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/35-80mw-peak-473nm-module-ebay-67605.html


As for my build, I went with a larger mount to accommodate the larger pump
and its heat as well as room for the TEC. I thought of a pen build but this
one will be added to my collection, and dont want low mW and stability issues.

My goal on this build is moderate size, clean and stable beam, and a
high output.

Shrinking it down would not be any more of a challenge, probably easier
as it would eliminate the TEC, and its controller. Problem is, I want it to last
and be a reliable laser, so im compromising for a bit of size... :beer:
 
Last edited:

JLSE

1
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
3,580
Points
0
I was hitting 90mW of 473 last night, though I forgot that the labby the parts
came from was making 2 separate beams.. I thought at first it was a split beam
at the output of the LBO, but you can see 2 beams also between the LBO and YAG. :thinking:

I really wish I noticed this before hard mounting everything.. I tried a few different
LBO crystals with the same result, so im assuming the YAG is at fault.

After some moving around I was getting a steady 60mW, and was able to eliminate
the stray beam, but at the cost of some power :undecided:

DSC07012.jpg
 
Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
3,239
Points
63
Damn man... Looks great!

I was thinking about doing the same with my set of 473 labbies. But I need to read up more on procedures of alignment.

Looking good man! Keep it up!

EDIT: Also would a dicro (block blue) before the YAG be beneficial? The crystal emits both forward and backwards... so would reflecting the light back into the crystal be beneficial in anyway?
 
Last edited:




Top