Extracting IR diode from DX 100mW

[Asherz]

Hi guys,

I got a spare DX True 100mW lying around, and am curious if it is possible to extract the IR diode from the laser and have an IR build? I'm expecting to have to buy new optics which won't be a problem, but I'm just curious as to howeasy extracting the diode is, and will it be a 9mm?

I have done a few searches on here and google and not turned anything directly related up, so any info you may have will be greatly apreciated Also will it be possible to re use the drive in the laser currently? And is this worth the effort? I don't mind doing it I'm just interested in what sort of power I'll get and if it'll be useable, obviously I'm not really interested in pointing just burning so focus points are irrelavent

If this works I'll post a right up on what I did.

Thanks again,

Ash.

 

[Seoul_lasers]

Sorry to tell you but it isn't going to burn without a focal point.
You need to focus the IR laser to have it burn well.
You are going to need an diode extraction tool to get out the IR diode from the cheepie unfiltered IR DX "green"

 

[styropyro]

It's very easy to get the IR laser diode out of those modules. Just pull the module out of the pen, desolder the driver, unscrew the protector ring that holds in the diode, and the diode will slide out.

I'm not sure if you are going to find a 9mm in there, a while ago there used to be those big 9mm 500mW IR diodes in DX greenies over 50mW, but now I don't see them as often because of companies cutting costs.

 

[Asherz]

Sorry to tell you but it isn't going to burn without a focal point.
You need to focus the IR laser to have it burn well.
You are going to need an diode extraction tool to get out the IR diode from the cheepie unfiltered IR DX "green"

Yea thanks for that, I know you need a focus point for burning but IR lasers are often harder to focus because of the unusual beam shape, when I said the focus point was irrelevant I was referring to the position of it, whether it was close to the aperture of further away. Often we see people trying to collimate the IR beam for distance burning but it's difficult to do. Sorry for not explaining my post well.

@stryo:

thanks for the help buddy, I'll give it a go now, I'll probably be able too see the diode size before taking it out because the driver will be soldered to the pins.

EDIT: Just tried to get to the actual diode, and I can't get the head of the module off, I can only get the whole laser to split into two compartments, where the batteries normally go. I gather the head is glued, only going to get it off with some pliers and some force :S

 

[Meatball]

If I were you, I would try and work with the crystal that lases 1064nm... I forget what it's called for now. But at 1064, it would be completely invisible. Plus, the light that it lases is much easier to work with/collimate than the diode's 808nm light would. So... basically, if you remove the doubler crystal (KTP?), you can (theoretically) take an aixis glass lens and focus it down into something much more than 100mw worth of 1064nm light!

All of this, I suspect is much easier said than done. But it WOULD be cool. I've been thinking about trying this for a long time now...

Oh, and if the diode is a 9mm, Meredith makes nice modules for a nice price!

-Tyler

 

[RA_pierce]

Most (if not all) of the small portable green lasers use a bonded/hybrid crystal set. The Nd:YVO4 and KTP cannot be separated.

Also, working with invisible wavelengths is very dangerous. Without proper equipment, alignment will be next to impossible. If a measurable amount of 1064 is achieved, it won't be wise to point it around the house "willy-nilly."

The DX pen will likely have a 9mm open can diode capable of up to 500mW. They do not have a FAC lens.
The divergence will be obscene. Collimation will be a pain in the ass.
An Aixiz lens can be used, but expect 300-350mW after optics, since the Aixiz glass lenses are 3 element optics and won't be able to collect much of the light with such a small entry aperture.

If the green works, it's not really worth taking apart.

I've made 808nm burners out of CNI pens and they were great.
I got >600mW out of them using glass optics from GGW sleds.

If I were you, I would try and work with the crystal that lases 1064nm... I forget what it's called for now. But at 1064, it would be completely invisible. Plus, the light that it lases is much easier to work with/collimate than the diode's 808nm light would. So... basically, if you remove the doubler crystal (KTP?), you can (theoretically) take an aixis glass lens and focus it down into something much more than 100mw worth of 1064nm light!

All of this, I suspect is much easier said than done. But it WOULD be cool. I've been thinking about trying this for a long time now...

Oh, and if the diode is a 9mm, Meredith makes nice modules for a nice price!

-Tyler

 

[Meatball]

Aw... that's a shame.. I didn't know that the crystals were bonded.

 

[Asherz]

OMG I actually got the stupid module out, with several blood blisters on my hands now thanks to the pliers. The module is actually surprisingly nicely machined I'm gonna have a play with it, I didn't realize the crystals were that small either, no wander alignment is impossible.

I'm gonna leave this as it is, see if it's still working and if it is get a nice host for it Or rip it to bits for the diode

EDIT: module still works, gonna give the lens a clean and it's sitting in a nice anodized dorcy jr heatsink that I can't use with the new version