IgorT
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Yes, i AM still taking orders.... :yh:
I am offering high quality Blu Ray and Red laser builds, with several diode and power options.
Read this post carefully, it contains all the information you need.
PM or preferably e-mail, if you have more questions or want to order.
PM or preferably e-mail, if you have more questions or want to order.
(If you just want to see the pretty pictures, scroll down. And then scroll down some more..)
DIY NOTE:
The offer here is for complete lasers professionally assembled from the highest quality components and the best diodes. Read bellow for all the info on the build and the specs.
If however you want to make lasers yourself and are looking for high quality DIY kits, i recommend you check out Jayrob's work!
Go to the bottom of this post for links to awesome kits and tutorials by one of the most experienced professional builders on this forum!
POST STARTS HERE:
(And yes, it's worth reading!)
Until the begining of this year all BluRay lasers were made with the PHR diode.
Now I have managed to obtain a LARGE number of 6x Blu Ray Writer sleds! Finally a diode capable of delivering high powers! This is a diode i am willing to set to high powers, because unlike PHRs, i know they can take it, and I like my lasers to last. Email me for more details.
As with 4x's, the price difference is based on the difference in diode price (and diode sub-type - normal, good-normal, freak, super-freak, and wavelength variations - rare diodes cost more, but last longer at higher powers / look brighter at same powers (or BOTH if you ask)!).
A year ago i had to pay $350 to get a single GGW 6x diode! And i never regretted it! Now you can get a whole laser for much less!
Diode options (and PRICES):
- The price for a >130mW PHR Blu Ray laser with a fully pre-tested high efficiency PHR diode is $185 for a laser with the Romisen host in a v3 Heatsink/Module and my constant current boost driver. (or $160 with the discount option below) Power with glass lens will be over 150mW...
You can also ask for a freak PHR to reach higher power at the same current! If you want, you can even ask for a high wavelength freak and get a more visible beam!
FlexDrive DISCOUNT OPTION: The same high efficiency PHR laser can be had for $160 if it can be made with a FlexDrive instead of my driver, but still comes in the v3 Heatsink/Module... I also have some cheaper models which can be had for even less, if again the FlexDrive is used.
Check out the pictures. The main model looks even better in person!
The PHR diode CAN be set to powers higher than 130mW, even as high as 175mW or more, but becomes VERY unreliable due to being overdriven that hard... On special request i CAN set them higher, but in that case you should know they could die at any time.
- The price for a 185-215mW 6x Blu Ray laser (jumps to 220-260mW with the medium custom lens upgrade) with a fully pre-tested normal-efficiency GGW diode starts at $270. (This is called the base price)
Because i pre-test all my diodes, you can also ask for higher efficiency diodes or for high wavelength diodes OR BOTH!
These diodes cost a little more, depending on how rare they are in a diode batch - the price differences are calculated statistically - but bring certain benefits. Freaks can reach higher powers without raising the current, and high wavelength diodes LOOK brighter at the same power.
Ask for more info about special GGW diodes!
Higher powers - up to >215mW (= ~250mW after glass) - can be had for the same price, if they are reached by setting a normal diode to a higher current, but in that case there is no diode warranty except DOA (for obvious reasons - higher current = higher risk)...
If a higher power is reached with one of the rare Freak or even Super-Freak diodes, the laser costs more, because there are not many such diodes in a diode batch. But since it will reach a higher power at a lower current, it will live longer and still comes with a "Birth-Defect Warranty"
Lower powers can be had at a lower price if they can be made with a lower efficiency diode!
Because the GGW diodes vary so much, the prices of 6x lasers also vary a little with the diode sub-type you select (freaks and high wavelengths cost more because they are rare, but produce more power at the same current without shortening diode life and/or look brighter due to higher wavelengths - the price differences are calculated statistically - depending on the efficiency/wavelength spread in a diode batch).
The 6x diode can be set to higher powers, up to >215mW after plastic lens, where the power after the glass lens becomes ~250mW, altho the recommended power for longevity would be 185-200mW after a plastic lens (= around 220-240mW after glass lens).
IMPORTANT: There is a delicate balance between power setting and diode life. You can always ask for more power, but at your own risk. Alternativelly, you can opt for a lower power, and have a reliable laser, that will last for a VERY long time... But if you really want a VERY high power, your best bet is to request that it is reached with a high efficiency diode, because the more efficient diodes are less likelly to have imperfections in the die.
NEW: The 6x's are now made with the latest v3 Heatsink/Module, which doesn't require a brass AixiZ module anymore (diode (and lens) goes directly into the aluminum heatsink for perfect thermal transfer!) They are powered by my constant current boost driver optimised for 405nm diodes, which keeps the current, and with it the power EXACTLY THE SAME every time you turn the laser on, regardless of the battery charge (on empty battery, the diode still has the same power as on full!).
FlexDrive DISCOUNT OPTION: If a GGW 6x laser is made with a FlexDrive instead of my BluRay optimised driver, the base price is also lower.
But for a 6x it's probably worth it to go with a driver, that will still be able to support future higher power diodes for a long time. If a FlexDrive is used, i can not guarantee, upgradeability to ANY and ALL future higher power diodes.
- 200-300mW BluRays: I am currently working on even higher power Blu-Ray lasers, testing several different diode types, to find one that can deliver more power than GGW 6x's, with the same or longer lifetime! With the most efficient of them, the power after glass would go close to 350mW! Price is not yet fully determined but hopefully won't be too much higher than for a GGW laser, if all goes well during testing - again prices will vary by diode efficiency (better efficiency = better diode)... Lots of work and testing ahead of me!
Taking reservations for the first batch of >200-300mW+'s! (non-obligatory reservations) made with the S03 diode - depending on the results of my testing!
- Custom 300-400mW BluRays: Using the BDR-203BK diode, i can now make lasers with powers as high as 300-400mW+! Contact me for the price! They could be set even higher (close to 500mW), but their life would be shortened too much in that case...
Each BDR-203BK laser will be custom made to order in (almost) any host you chose (except the Micros). The classic Romisen host, while small is by now the most advanced due to the v3 Heatsink/Module, altho similar stability can be achieved in several of my other hosts!
For each BDR-203BK diode a full PIV plot will be made, and my power recommendations will be based on that plot. (You get the plot of your diode with the laser)
NOTE: A BDR-203BK laser can in some cases only be made with my boost driver due to high voltage requirement of the diode (over 6V in some cases), so the "FlexDrive discount option" is not recommended!
- I also make <300mW open can RED lasers in the same body, but black. They use an AR coated acrylic lens for now, and deliver 280-290mW (depending on diode efficiency). The same glass lens upgrade will work with these lasers as well and bring them to ~300mW.
Even tho the laser is tiny, you don't have to worry about a duty cycle, because of the good heatsinking, and no heat created by the driver. If you feel it getting warm (after several minutes of continuous use), you can turn it off and let it cool a bit, but what feels warm to us is actually still cold for the diode. Contact me for the price and details.
NEW: With the v4 or v5 FlexDrives, the red now also uses the new v3 Heatsink/Module, optimised to fill up as much room as possible with aluminum mass, leaving just enough room for the driver in the middle. Since the diode is stuck directly into aluminum, the heat dissipation is as good as can be in this host, and the power stability is increased, due to reduced thermal gradient between the diode and the heatsink. Ask for pictures of the internals, if you want to see how it is built. (= email me)
Drivers:
I make my own High Efficiency Boost Drivers optimised for BluRays, which unmodified are capable of boosting up to 10V, delivering as much as 1.5A of current. With a different output capacitors, the driver could go as high as 25V if it was needed, but no 405nm diode will ever need even close to 10V.
This gives the laser the capability of always being easy to upgrade to the next higher power diode we will get our hands on in the future for barelly more than the cost of that diode!
The drivers i use never change in current more than ~0.2mA from full to empty battery, which makes them the most stable drivers around, and means that the power of the laser remains EXACTLY THE SAME until the moment the battery is completelly empty and shuts down.
Unlike linear drivers, DC/DC converter drivers work at an efficiency of almost 90% creating no noticable heat, that would reduce the lasers power by overheating the diode. Because of this, no duty cycle is required, since the driver is not cooking the diode all the time.
The red lasers use a v4 or v5 FlexDrive, with added output capacitors for better diode protection.
Alternativelly i can also use a FlexDrive for BluRays, if you want a discount. But there are certain limitations when it comes to 8x diodes, and the power fluctuates by a few mW over the battery voltage range (from full to empty). This is not noticable without a meter tho.
Powers:
- The default power for the PHR Blu Ray is set to just over 130mW (can be more or less - your choice) after a clear acrylic lens, (power will go over 150mW with glass lenses). You CAN ask for MUCH more power from a PHR, but don't be surprised if it dies. PHRs can not handle powers higher than 135mW after a plastic lens for too long...
- The 6x Blu Ray diodes are known to survive up to 200mW after a plastic lens. But no diode available so far (EDIT: Except an 8x) can survive that "forever", because when the power after plastic is 200mW, the actual diode output is over 250mW! That is above the pulsed ratings, and diodes usually don't like that.
But my personal 6x set to 193mW has survived a year of heavy (ab)use and i later had to set it to 236mW to kill it in the end, while experimental PHRs set to 150-170mW just kept dying one after another in a row, when used as much. The 6x can survive 200mW much longer than a PHR can survive 150mW, but the recommended power for longevity would be around 185-195mW (= a good-normal GGW 6x at <200mA).
The 6x is finally a diode that makes good use of my build's capabilities, and one which i am willing to set to VERY high powers, as long as you understand what that means. (If you don't, ask!)
However, due to the fact that i weed out the weakest 6x's, the extensive pre-testing i do on every single diode, and the careful selection process - i select a diode that is most suitable for your desired power - most of them will survive a year if not several of normal pointer use, even at powers such as 200mW after plastic lens - ~240mW after glass.
The only exception is if a diode has a hidden "birth defect". But this is covered by a "Birth-Defect Warranty" for GGW diodes. More on this below.
You can ask for any diode to be set to a higher power.
A higher power is just a higher current setting!
But a higher current will inevitably shorten the life of the diode! There is no way around this fact - the higher a diode is set, the faster it will burn out. No duty cycle can prevent that! All a duty cycle does is, it makes you use the laser less, and the diode lives longer in days, months even, but not in hours of actuall use!
405nm diodes have the unusual ability to be set way above their pulsed ratings, something which is impossible with reds (and other normal diodes). And then they keep on living for a while, sometimes long enough to deceive you into thinking they will survive. This allows us to set PHR diodes to powers which should be impossible with ANY diode available so far. But if you exaggerate, you can end up with a diode that dies in 15 hours or much less. Some diodes are tougher, others are weaker, and it is impossible to predict how long one will survive when overdriven. That is why i try to keep the powers reasonable and safe. I want my diodes to last, even if you do actually use the laser.
About Pre-Testing:
I test every single 405nm diode on my Diode Analyzer (a device i made specifically for this purpose), to find the best power for each diode individually. I make a Power vs. Current vs. Voltage plot of the diode, and 6x lasers will come with a full power graph (when i finally manage to type in all the data - over 60 GGWs so far - a lot of typing! :undecided
.My power recommendations are based on the test results (efficiency, kink positions...) and a lot of destructive testing (to determine the lifetime). For each diode type i try to find a power, where the laser will be able to survive over a year of normal use in most cases.
You can always ask for more power, but i do believe you should be aware of the tradeoff - higher power = shorter life, lower power = longer life.
Unless of course the higher power is achieved by using a higher efficiency diode!
- Higher efficiency usually means a "healthier" die with less imperfections. This is the reason i prefer to reach higher powers with higher diode efficiency rather than by raising the current. That way i can make a higher power laser, that will live just as long or sometimes even longer!
What you want is up to you. You can ask for maximum reliability or maximum power, but i will still try to kep max. powers reasonable. The powers mentioned above are actually quite high, even tho many set them even higher, but of course without any kind of diode warranty.
The pre-testing also allows me to fulfill special wishes, such as diode wavelength and diode efficiency. But since many of the diodes are too weak to use, and the rest vary all over the place, i have to separate them into price groups, based on their efficiency and wavelength... This way you can decide up front what you want, and you will never get a random diode in one of my builds.
In general, when you ask for a certain power, i always select the diode that is most suitable for that power and will in most cases last you a very long time. I keep the currents under 200mA, and prefer to reach higher powers with higher efficiency diodes...
Warranty:
- The >110mW PHR lasers are covered by a 3 month diode warranty, if you want more power, you can get it for the same price but without the diode warranty (you pay for diode replacement if something happens - the replacing itself is free tho, the build itself still has full warranty in any case).
- If you ask for max. reliability from a GGW 6x, it is also covered by the 3 months warranty, if you ask for max. power, you pay for diode replacement in case it burns out UNLESS IT BURNS OUT WAY TOO SOON (Birth-Defect Warranty). Again, the replacing itself is free - in the worst case, you pay for a new diode...
The build itself is covered by a FULL WARRANTY. If the laser breaks due to a fault in the build, it will be rebuilt completelly for free.
All 6x diodes have a "birth-defect warranty" - if one should die way too soon, like within a week or two... The ones that survive that initial period usually live a long happy life afterwards.
Upgrades:
With special 405nm AR coated glass lenses, higher powers will be achievable without overdriving the diode! The glass material lets through more light, than plastic, and the AR coating eliminates reflective losses. Light that would normally be reflected back towards the diode goes through the lens, and adds to the power, while at the same time reducing the strain on the diode and prolonging it's life!
The lens upgrade will be available at manufacturing cost. Once it's in, you can get a laser with the lens in it already.
Another upgrade option is an upgrade to a better diode.
If a better diode is available, the laser can be upgraded to that diode for the cost of the diode and a very small fee.
The build (IF NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS!):
The tiny laser uses a high efficiency constant current boost driver. It makes the most of the battery capacity and the battery life is 3-4 hours, depending on the model, battery quality, and the current/power setting of course. This translates into weeks of normal use.
Constant current means, that the laser will have the exact same power, every time you turn it on, even when the battery is almost completelly empty. It also means, that as the laser warms up, the driver will automatically reduce the voltage, in order to keep current the same at all times. This way it powers the diode in the safest possible way.
The high efficiency of the driver means, that the driver creates almost no heat, so the diode is the only source of heat in the laser! Because of that, this tiny laser can support any diode available now or in the future, regardless of it's power. It can even support a 300mW red diode with a practically unlimited duty cycle. Especially now with the v3 Heatsink/Modules...
The laser utilises a fully modular design, easy to take apart for adjustments, or diode replacement, if it should ever turn out to be necessary. If you ever have to send it back to me, you only have to send me the tiny module that sits in the head. The module could even simply be switched for another one in an emergency! The tiny module is a completelly self contained laser by itself. The host is just a pretty battery holder and secondary heatsink.
Shipping:
Registered Priority Airmail costs $9 worldwide or $6 for countries in the EU and has a tracking number, so it can't get lost (in most cases you can track it online).
The laser will also be disguised as a "DIY Flashlight-Kit" for people from countries with "Lazor-Craze", so you don't get into trouble with the customs.
Delivery guaranteed or you get another laser or your money back!
I have shipped almost 150 lasers to many different countries all over the world, and there are never any problems with the customs.
The laser is declared as a "$12 DIY LED Flashlight KIT" and disguised as such, that's why i can guarantee delivery.. It never fails.
I am selling the lasers to fund the custom lens project (and so that i can experiment on diodes and do destructive testing without going broke
)...Once the lens project is completed, i will also offer upgrades to a special 405nm AR coated lens for around $25-$35. A similar lens costs $100 at ThorLabs. This lens will make the laser even more powerful (blocks less light and eliminates reflective losses) without pushing the current and endangering the diode!
Until then the lasers will use a clear acrylic lens (unless you chose otherwise).
EDIT: The final lens models have been selected, and they will be available soon, after the final testing!
The final testing starts as soon as Jayrob mounts the three final lens candidates into metal lens nuts for optimal light throughput.Features:
- Small but powerful, you can carry it around in your pocket all the time
- You can choose the power you want 110-135mW for the PHR and 170-215mW for the 6x (you can ask for more, but power determines diode life!). These powers are after plastic lenses, and will be MUCH higher with glass.
- The lasers are made using only the higher efficiency diodes, in order to reach the desired powers at a lower currents prolonging the diode life.
- Three months warranty on the PHR at the default power of >130mW (>150mW after 405nm AR coated glass!)
- Three months warranty on the GGW 6x if you ask for Maximum-Reliability.
- Full warranty on the build itself, support, servicing and the possibility to upgrade to ANY higher power diode when available.
- High efficiency constant current DC/DC converter driver (current regulation), for reliable operation and constant high power, independent of the battery charge. The high efficiency of the driver also means it creates no heat and doesn't reduce the diode's power while operating!
- Fully modular design, easy to take apart, replace diode or disguise as a flashlight (for customs in LazerCraze countries)
- High quality build with great heat sinking so you never have to worry about a duty cycle again! Especially now, with the v3 Heatsink/Modules, where the diode is pressed directly into the aluminum
- Comes with several lens protection caps for EDC in your pocket (because i know you'll lose some
) Dust on the lens can reduce power and mess up the output, bad cleaning just makes it worse!! ALWAYS USE THE LENS CAPS WHEN THE LASER IS OFF! NEVER TAKE THE LENS OUT UNLESS YOU ARE REPLACING IT FOR A BETTER ONE!- Comes with a battery pack of two (laser only needs one) I recommend you order a spare pack and charger from the links in the second post of this thread.
NEW:
- Since i pre-test all diodes before using them, each 6x diode Blu Ray laser will come with a full power vs. current plot of your particular diode, made on my Diode Analyzer (i will send these to the buyers after i manage to type in the full high resolution PIV data of by now >60 GGW diodes - something that was impossible to do while building all those lasers!).
UPDATE: There are HUGE differences in the efficiency of the PHR and 6x diodes! I select only the best diodes for my builds (diodes that put out more power at the same current). This way i am able to give you a more powerful laser without shortening the life of the diode!
The lower efficiency diodes are used for experiments (high current life-time tests), or they can be turned into slightly lower power lasers, with a discount.
DIY Links:
If you want to learn how to make lasers yourself, i highly recommend you check out Jayrob's kits and his detailed tutorials!
You will get the highest quality parts and all the help and support you will need to learn how to make your own lasers, from one of the forums best professional builders! Check out his many original ideas for different laser models - click on the links below!
'Pocket Mini Kit'! - Click Here
'DIY Green Kit'! - Click Here
'Key Chain CR2 Build Kit'! - Click Here
For a comprehensive list of all of Jayrob's awesome tutorials - Click Here
NOTE: If you like one of the kits but don't know how to assemble it yourself, you can ask to have me build it for you.
Time for some pictures... (Click on the thumbnails and then Scroll down for more.)
Check out the Power Stability Graph of a v3 HS/M 6x BluRay recorded by Electron on a Coherent LabMax Top!
Attachments
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New_Host_001.JPG -
CR123 SideButton Next to Tiny AAA - LR.JPG -
Tiny AAA Blu Ray Beamshot - LR.JPG -
New CR123 Host Next to Classic - Beamshots - LR.JPG -
Max-Mass Dorcy w. Ap-Cap - LR.JPG -
Max-Mass Dorcy w. Regular Focusing Ring - LR.JPG -
Micro Hosts P6 - Size Comparison.JPG -
208mW v3 6x Power Stability Graph - LR2.JPG
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That's insane! If I would have done that, I would probably be so tired so that I would not be able to write a single word on this forum. I can understand that you are going crazy.
Can't wait to see some beam shots. 
