Help a newb (splash issue)

[NeoMatrixJR]

:bowdown:
Short time lurker, just registered. Started out with one of the cheepie lasers from china. (focusable, lockable, "200mW", green from focalprice) I wanted to add an IR filter, or at least test one, so I pulled one from a webcam. After removing the focusable lense and not having much luck finding a place to put the ir filter, I re-assembled the laser (w/o the filter) and when I fired it back up I had a lot of...Splash? I'd search but I don't know what you call it. Excess noise, splash, etc. around the main dot. Where does this come from and can I get rid of it? Or am I just hosed on my new laser?

 

[udanis]

This could be caused by if dust/finger prints got on the lens. Also the lens could be misaligned, but I think the bigger issue is particles stuck on the lens.

-Udanis

 

[danefex]

I've had this problem before. After a lot of all-around lens cleaning I couldn't project a 'crisp' clean dot with one of my pointers until trying something else......

Wash your hands & rinse them with some rubbing alcohol. Get a cue tip & remove some of the excess cotton by 'twisting' some of it off with your clean, un-oiled fingertips. Dab a little alcohol on the cue tip (just a light dab, don't soak it) & try cleaning the face of the diode. Use a can of compressed air & cautiously blow out any remaining micofibers from the cue tip when you're done. Not a lot of air is necessary though, you don't want to blow any moisture in there.

This resolved my problem, and it was after cleaning the other lenses (aixiz in my case) hadn't worked the first time around. BE CAREFUL with the diode when doing this though, carelessness can do damage. I hope this helps

 

[NeoMatrixJR]

I've had this problem before. After a lot of all-around lens cleaning I couldn't project a 'crisp' clean dot with one of my pointers until trying something else......

Wash your hands & rinse them with some rubbing alcohol. Get a cue tip & remove some of the excess cotton by 'twisting' some of it off with your clean, un-oiled fingertips. Dab a little alcohol on the cue tip (just a light dab, don't soak it) & try cleaning the face of the diode. Use a can of compressed air & cautiously blow out any remaining micofibers from the cue tip when you're done. Not a lot of air is necessary though, you don't want to blow any moisture in there.

This resolved my problem, and it was after cleaning the other lenses (aixiz in my case) hadn't worked the first time around. BE CAREFUL with the diode when doing this though, carelessness can do damage. I hope this helps

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a try. The diode output w/o a focusing lens looks ok but it's hard to tell. FYI it's the same pointer you have in your signature: "200mW 532 FocalPrice pointer"

 

[danefex]

FYI it's the same pointer you have in your signature: "200mW 532 FocalPrice pointer"

Hrmm, sorry to hear yours has the blurry dot issue, mine came with an excellent dot projection. I hope the cleaning tip helps.

I'm just curious.... how 'centered' is your 200mw greenie? I know most lasers aren't perfectly center-alligned but my FP greenie is grossly off.

 

[NeoMatrixJR]

Danefex, thanks for the tips. I finally got a good bottle of alcohol and gave it another cleaning. Turns out it was the lense. I didn't get it properly cleaned last time. As to the allignment...I'm not sure. I don't really know how I would test this.

 

[Plan B]

A simple test would be to roll the laser on a flat surface while on and watch the dot on a far wall. The dot should not move vertically or make circle patterns if aligned. Another simple option is to look down the length of the host with the beam of the laser pointing away from you. Rotate the laser in you hand slightly to see if the beam lines up with the host.