Re: FS: 405-G-1 Glass Lens Mod-28% Increase vs AixiZ!!
Jay!
First of all, sorry for replying so late, i received your package a while ago, but was too busy to even consider contemplating posting on the forum...
But i DID try the lens the moment i got it, of course...
The first thing i noticed was, that it goes a little hard into my personal v3 Heatsink/Module laser, because the CNC shop decided to reduce the lens wobble by making the threads a little tighter. Untouched metal lens nuts go in just fine, but i guess the grip during machining leaves some minor marks on the threads, which go unnoticed in usual modules with loose threads. But this wasn't a problem for long. A little "screwing around" solved it, and it went in just fine after that...
The results were pretty much as expected. I got the "same" power increase (within a fraction of a percent due to specs similar to the point where it matters), and the same beam profile as i was used to, from the short FL/high NA custom lens.
Great job on the mounting BTW! I love the fact, that it is mounted in nothing but metal, so i can give it a bath in analysis grade acetone! These lenses can be a bitch to clean, but pure solvents do the trick nicelly, and i've found acetone to work best (the manufacturers recommend it too (
TO EVERYONE: Nail Polish Remover is NOT Acetone!!! It just contains a tiny bit sometimes, the rest is oil and perfumes, you don't want to wash your lens in THAT!)
Initially i wanted to sugest the use of an o-ring for support of the front face, because that mounting method kinda stuck in my mind from reading all those "books" on laser optics. But then i remembered the o-ring and some play-room around the edges are only required in laser-welding collimator optics, where the lens gets HOT from the light passing through, and expands in all directions, so the o-ring has to give way and the play-room prevents it from cracking itself against the walls.
For laser pointers this doesn't matter, and since your insert holds the lens outside of the effective diameter, it's just perfect. Not to mention that the rubber o-ring would melt during an acetone wash.
As you can probably imagine, i went through a lot of trial and error when mounting or trying to mount all those expensive test lenses, but that's only because i don't have your machining tools and expertise. If i had a choice, i would have done it exactly like this..
Which reminds me of something else. I said i'd do a test buy in the near future (as soon as my crazy time permits) for the medium lenses, so that people can see what they are like and share their impressions on the forum, before any big decisions are made.
Do you think you could get a 7mm lens mounted in the same metal lens nuts?
The lens i am thinking of also has a rim outside of effective diameter, suitable for an insert to hold it against.....
I mean, i was willing to mount them myself for the test buy, much in the same way as i mounted my own (
which is now on it's way to Franco for some testing and reviewing)...
But a metal lens nut modification, such as yours would be pretty much exactly as good as the "final product".. There they would machine lens nuts to specs, but mount the lenses in much the same way as you did...
Last i talked to them, they made a point of how proud they were for not using any glue in the mounting process... All they need is a drawing of the lens nut, and an example of what it has to fit in.
I was hesitant about sending them an AixiZ module, but i could send them a v3 HS/M instead, and one of your lens nuts to give them an idea.
So if you're willing and have some time, you could be of great help with the test-buy!
