DIY collimator for 16W IR laser

[RedCowboy]

Thank you. This was helpful I will get a focusable one and googles. FPV is nice, but googles will be easier to use. I will do some more research this weekend.

I was also wondering If I decided to pull off the fiber cable, will I break the laser? I don't want to hurt it and never tried.

And once again thank you and Eidetical. This is a nice forum. You guys genuinely try to help. I hope I will have something to contribute soon as well.

You unscrew it, counterclockwise....... normal threads.
Make sure to keep your fiber ends protected form dust/particulate.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

This is the exact model that I have "COHERENT FAP 800 FAP800-L-16W-800-830nm +/-.1 1.1mw FIBER COUPLED DIODE LASER (as on the picture in my first post)
"

The beam out of the fiber cable is collimated to burn things at about 6-7 inches. Then the beam diameter gets too large.

I tried cheap collimating lense from amazon but the beam would focus only for couple of feet and would not improve burning distance at all. Only lense and lense enclosure would heat up.

View attachment 74874
Then I purchased a pricey collimator from Thor labs. But I did not get any better results, so I had to return it. Maybe I bought a wrong collimator?
I don't know if those Aliexpress colimators will work either, that's why I thought getting lenses separately and putting them in PVC tube (to be able to adjust lense distances was a good idea).
I just don't know what shape lenses do I need to get (their focal length and etc...).

ME109 --- I'm currently working on the same project with an FAP800. Nasty wide beam..... I'm have some luck getting it kind of under control but that damn 19 dots sometimes won't converge at even 10'. Keep trying !
HM

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Just be aware that the visible red you see is very understated. As you understand the risks, then best of luck. Just for obvious reasons, be careful. I have a 50W 808, and have only ever ran it at threshold. And I get a good sense of the danger just from that.

I have a FAP800-40 but I keep it limited to 10 watts for testing. Getting a lens set for producing a tight dot is troubling
but I'm getting better !!
HM

 

[Photon Master]

I just got a Sanwu 7 watt blue and I think I’ve reached my limit of “more power is cool.” I’m glad I got the multi mode button so I can use it on low power to shine at distant trees because on full blast the beam is too bright to look at.

I’m certainly intrigued but the idea of a high powered invisible laser but one with a 5” spot at long distance sounds more like a blinding sniper rifle

Something with a super wide rapidly diverging beam could be useful and reasonably safe for night vision purposes though

 

[TrueLaserSaber]

I am also interested in this topic

 

[atomd]

I'm amazed at how fast people on this forum will push safety goggles on new visitors for a 10mW He-Ne yet offer immediate help to someone off the street wanting to build possibly the most dangerous laser to public safety that can be imagined. With absolutely no vetting, probing (except an appropriate "How old are you?" and essentially "don't hurt yourself or anyone else"), or possibly comments like "read a book about basic optics and lasers" or "walk before you run" sort of things. Just sayin'.

I'm not a safety nanny, but jesus freakin christ, what possible use is there for such a thing except possible mayhem or night hunting like a total pussy? Again, just sayin'. Thinking about the scene 10 years from now, this thread makes me want to push for the restriction and federal licensing of fiber lasers.

Nothing personal, just making a point. I love all lasers and applications of them, but if anything should be excluded from public forums about building them, I'd suggest IR lasers is it. Yet , I've offered support for builders of gas CO2 lasers, so there's my hypocrisy.

IR lasers are fine. I think we should distinguish CO2 for cutting, ND:YAG for doubling from stupid, deadly "toy" that has no use but to hurt someone.