Laser Contest #1 - Best Laser under $100

[Gun]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Thanks for the prizes Pman! I think we'll save it for the next comp though, we've got enough for this one and we don't want to run short for the next one .

 

[grainde]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Hi just to let you know I updated post no. 6 with my submission. here

Cheers:beer:

 

[Lazerbeak]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

That Phobos is Gorgeous Grainde!!!

~ LB

 

[scumbagatheist]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Wow, Grainde! I'll be over here, sulking in the corner when you get your grab bag winnings..

 

[tonyt]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

That is one pretty laser Grainde!!! Good luck!

 

[grainde]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Thanks guys glad you approve! Long way to go yet though and the competition is already very tough! :beer:

Edit: I couldnt add this due to the 3 pic limit, but this is what the head looked like after polishing. The lens that is reflected, is actually used on my saik build.

 

[styropyro]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Total cost of parts and shipping was $86. Parts include OSRAM PL450B laser diode, copper module, Aixiz glass lens, Microboost driver, and JayRob pen host kit.

The camera picks up the color as more violet than it really is. The color of this laser is much closer to true blue.

I'm a big fan of small builds, even at the cost of battery life and duty cycle. The real pro of this laser is the nice single mode beam! I'd chose one of these over a multimode 1W 445nm laser any day.

Here it is compared to a 520nm laser build using the Osram PL520. These colors go very well together. Now I only need a 635nm single mode build to complete the trio! I have already bought an Opnext 638nm laser diode from DTR, now I just need to decide on a host/driver combo.

So it's no "lightsaber", but it is one of my favorite builds!

Video!


Burning Blue Laser Pen!! Step by Step Construction and Burning Demo! - YouTube

 

[scumbagatheist]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

I was afraid we'd be seeing this one coming! With Styro and Blord in, this competition is heating up!!

 

[Lazerbeak]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Definitely a sweet build Styro, Good luck!

~ LB

 

[styropyro]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Thanks, gotta love some good competition!

I don't know if anybody remembers, but LPF had a whole slew of competitions back in the day. No prizes were given out though.

Here's one of them: http://laserpointerforums.com/f58/awards-best-answers-35969.html

 

[Lazerbeak]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Thanks for the history Styro :beer:

~ LB

 

[TheDukeAnumber1]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

I think we just need to look at it from the standpoint of, if you wanted to order the parts today to build it, it could be done for under $100. Part of the fun of this thread is getting ideas that we can duplicate, otherwise it's a competition of who got the best deal. So yes I think we should assume they paid more.

And I will be getting my submission in this afternoon.

Edit: oops, incongruent post, let it ride.

 

[Lazerbeak]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Looking forward to it Duke

~ LB

 

[bloompyle]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

685nm pen in a refurbished WL E2 ... You have no idea the challenges here. Since we're limited to 3 shots, I tried getting of of the module (most irritating part), the host, and the best beamshot I could get of a 20mW 685nm laser with a little smoke. I tried...

This was hard because I couldn't just use the case pen, these diodes are case neutral with only TWO pins. Got a little advice from Jay here to just find a way to get contact with a wire for the negative. So I took a long~ish length of black wire, stripped most of it, then sandwiched it between a module cover and the module itself, and screwed it on there. Then in the crevice left over, I wrapped it a couple times. This wrap, and the extra, got jammed TIGHTLY between the module and the pen shell/host. This thing isn't going anywhere. This also double for the issue of the module being a hair too narrow, and sliding through the host. All in all, after all the irritation, it's a decent pen in a wonderful host! Also, 685nm isn't used too often.

Part:
Host: DOA WL E2 host ($40 shipped)
Diode: 685nm diode (3 for $10 on ebay)
Driver: ghost drive V2 ($7)
Module: 5.6mm copper from GB, ($4)
Lens: 635-650 3 element ($6)

TOTAL: $67

 

[Lazerbeak]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Great job Bloompyle. A unique I host I've actually never seen, and a unique wavelength. Another awesome submission :beer:

~ LB

 

[IsaacT]

Re: Competition #1 - Best Laser under $100

Hey Bloompyle that is one awesome build!!! How would you describe the difference between 685/650/638? Noticeable?