Help me with a CNI RB-640 (445nm + 640nm)

[reginak]

Hi!

I bought this laser from DNJY and the red + blue was aligned but I think something happened when he sent me the laser, now the laser is misaligned and even at 3 meters I can see both red and blue dots side by side. No pink color

Sending it to CNI is not an option since shipments between Brazil and China are VERY slow these days.

I want to know how to open this laser so the mirror can be aligned. I tried to unscrew the head but its very tight and I don't know if its the head I have to unscrew. I won't try to align the laser myself, I have someone that is a laser DIY guy, but I need to know how to open this laser.

Here is the picture of the laser (pics taken from this topic http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/cni-pgl-rg-portable-yellow-red-green-43601.html)

And DNJY topic about this laser:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/upcoming-review-cni-rb-447nm-640nm-63342.html

Can someone help me?

Thanks

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Not much other than realign the laser yourself or have someone else do it.

 

[aryntha]

The harder you try attempting to protect your shipment -- the harder the shipping companies will try to defeat you. ...

Regina,

Dissasembly is going to be the biggest problem. Then there's going to be a combining optic that has to be realigned and, if it isnt rattling around it's probably not broken.

What I've found from problems like this though is it's best to spend some time researching it to make sure a possibly destructive step is what you want to do since this laser is an odd beast, it may not open the way other PGL-Cs do.

The first step for a NORMAL PGL-C is removing the head, and on a *STANDARD PGL-C*, this is best done with a rubber 'strap wrench' (or two). Now, this unit may work differently because of the two-laser setup but I doubt it; but it's possible with CNI that the head is glued on.

A strap wrench looks like this and can be found at most hardware stores; I'm not sure in Brazil...

Normally what you'd do is wrap the head and the handle part in the strap wrenches and unscrew them that way. The rubber strap gripping it keeps the body from being mangled.

Now, again in the RB's case this may not be the situation, but if it isn't, then it would seem there's no way to get the laser module out. So really there's little to lose by trying, just understand it may not work that way. My biggest worry on opening it this way is the offset output aperture... If this was 'screw on', there really would be no way to keep it properly angled unless it was glued or threadlocked on.

How about the possibility of sending it to someone in the US who can then send it on to China? You'd have to pay for shipping, sure, but I'm sure someone here would be willing to do it.

I wouldn't give up hope yet, it's probably an optical block epoxied to a piece of metal which in turn is attached to a tensioned screw that moved. The biggest issue is going to be getting it open.

(Note, I'm +1ing on this post, and here's why: It serves as an inherent review. Regina took the chance on having a combined-color laser shipped internationally. I've had nothing but bad luck with combined lasers, especially from Sunclan. This is not to say anything bad of Phi/DJNY!!! Combined lasers are just that much more fragile! However what Regina's 'leap' shows us is that these CNI combined lasers can go out of alignment during normal shipping processes, and when dealing with expensive international deliveries it certainly allows the rest of us to sit up and take notice as to whether or not we necessarily want to take this risk. Personally I thought that CNI's combined lasers were more secure against this kind of thing.)

 

[reginak]

Hi!

Thank you Aryntha.

I opened it (found a strap wrench) and found the first RED mirror is loose AND the blue laser screws are loose too. (look picture below) and I tried everything to align the lasers but no luck, its harder than I tought I had another problem opening it, the wires broke because the unscrewing of the head. I asked someone to solder it again and it worked.

And unfortunately I screwed things further, after giving up the align thing, I closed the unit and when I turned it on... oh my, little smoke coming from the laser. The wire twisted and something touched the circuit or something else lol look at the images below

Is there anyone here in the forum (USA) that can replace this little thing that is black?

Lesson learned, It was stupid to open a dual laser, its not like a DIY from the forum, I'm not a DIY girl and WON'T open this kinda of laser ever again.

If it is not possible to fix it I will send it to CNI via DHL.

Cheers!

 

[DTR]

Sorry to hear about your loss. It may still possible to replace the driver yourself or have someone else do it. That is if the diodes are still working. A couple of flexdrives might work but you would need to figure out what the proper current for each diode to get the right color balance.:beer:

 

[DJNY]

Regina, as we talked before I told you I don´t suggest you to open it and ask wannaburn f.e. instead :tinfoil:

Hope it is going to work again soon and don´t run you a lot of money

It´s an awesome laser and I´m sure, especially as a lady you´re going to enjoy the pink beam a lot.


For the shipping, I was really shocked that the allignment fail during the EMS shippment. IMo I wrapped the laser very well :thinking:

 

[reginak]

Does someone has experince sending a laser to CNI to repair?

Thanks

 

[hakzaw1]

Plus 2 for Regina--sad to see the damage from the shipper.
+1 TO MATT for his help and advise ....he is our resident expert on damage by shippers!

len

 

[DJNY]

Hey Regina, any updates on this one?

 

[rhd]

This is perhaps a horrible thing to say, but I think it might be interesting to create a similar head through eMachineShop. The concept of using 4 or 6 set screws per diode housing, to aim each laser, is kind of interesting. You could epoxy dichros more or less in place, and then use the set screws to adjust.

 

[aryntha]

+1 TO MATT for his help and advise ....he is our resident expert on damage by shippers!

I wish that wasn't true. It kind of is though. I've got a stack of dead soldiers...


Regina: I still think repair on the component level is possible. Identifying that component should not be impossible. Next to it is a SMT capacitor; that device itself could even be a SMT fuse but I don't think we'd be that lucky. It actually looks more like a diode; if that's the case, replacing it may not be impossible. Especially with it being on the edge of the board like that.

Also interesting to see the construction of the CNI duals..

If you wanted to ship it to me I could take a crack at the SMT replacement, I've done worse before. But there may be someone else here who's far more confident in the matter, so I'll give them first shot, too.

In any case, it's no real consolation but +1 (ag, doesn't let me...) for being 'adventurous' enough to show us the internals of the CNI duals...

 

[bennett326]

I wish that wasn't true. It kind of is though. I've got a stack of dead soldiers...


Regina: I still think repair on the component level is possible. Identifying that component should not be impossible. Next to it is a SMT capacitor; that device itself could even be a SMT fuse but I don't think we'd be that lucky. It actually looks more like a diode; if that's the case, replacing it may not be impossible. Especially with it being on the edge of the board like that.

Also interesting to see the construction of the CNI duals..

If you wanted to ship it to me I could take a crack at the SMT replacement, I've done worse before. But there may be someone else here who's far more confident in the matter, so I'll give them first shot, too.

In any case, it's no real consolation but +1 (ag, doesn't let me...) for being 'adventurous' enough to show us the internals of the CNI duals...

it does look allot like a diode good eye :beer:
being that the laser runs of off 2 cells i assume its some kind of buck driver which need a shottky diode to operate? right? and if that is it and its blown it could be a easy fix......

now i may be way off here i am what people would call a noob at electronics. but im learning i guess heh...

 

[LaZeRz]

This is perhaps a horrible thing to say, but I think it might be interesting to create a similar head through eMachineShop. The concept of using 4 or 6 set screws per diode housing, to aim each laser, is kind of interesting. You could epoxy dichros more or less in place, and then use the set screws to adjust.

I would be in for one of those. Ehgemus could probably make us some hosts that would fit the dichro mount perfectly.

Good luck fixing that cni unit! I hope it's nothing too serious.

 

[rhd]

I would be in for one of those. Ehgemus could probably make us some hosts that would fit the dichro mount perfectly.

Good luck fixing that cni unit! I hope it's nothing too serious.

I wonder if there's a logical OD that might at least fit some standard hosts?

Anyone know off hand of a decent host with room for a fairly wide (say 36mm+) heatsink of at least 4cm in height?

Sorry for the off topic chatter. If this idea still sounds wise in the morning, I'll start a thread.

 

[Ash]

I wonder if there's a logical OD that might at least fit some standard hosts?

Anyone know off hand of a decent host with room for a fairly wide (say 36mm+) heatsink of at least 4cm in height?

Sorry for the off topic chatter. If this idea still sounds wise in the morning, I'll start a thread.

Other than boring the head of this one out, I don't know of one:
www.rayfoss.com
I would be interested in several of the combining heatsinks if we can get the design right.

Personally, it looks like Regina's laser can still be fixed. If CNI won't fix it, it can be rebuilt and realigned. :evil: