Lifetime17 Custom Brass 495nm Laser 100+mw review

[Alex2893]

The Sale
Recently i have been getting back into lasers and with all these new laser wavelengths coming out i kept my eye out for them. This past Saturday i stumbled across this awesome 495nm laser build by Lifetime17. I payed on Saturday, it shipped Monday and i received it today. Crazy fast.

The Close ups
20180124_193730 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_194057 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_194042 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_194003 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_193941 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_193903 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_193412 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_191514 by Alex Littig, on Flickr

I think its safe to say the machining work from Lifetime17 is beyond top notch. Not a single flaw. The threads are super smooth, the 14500 battery fits perfectly and the momentary button feel is very premium. The host is absolutely perfect.

Beamshots(WARNING PIC HEAVY) After playing with some camera settings i managed to get the color on the photos to match what i see with my eyes. At least as close as i could.
20180124_194445 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_194655 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_194615 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_184538 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
20180124_191248 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
532nm, 495nm, 445nm
20180124_194918 by Alex Littig, on Flickr
(532nm vs 495nm)
20180124_191906 by Alex Littig, on Flickr

Divergence
So when it came down to measure the divergence it was not really possible. I only have 10 meters to work with inside my apartment. The beam diameter coming out of the aperture was 4mm and the beam diameter at 10 meters was 3mm so it was getting smaller which means i am not far enough away to properly focus this laser to infinity. Also i am trying to abide by the duty cycle as much as i can and if i really want to measure the divergence properly ill need a about 30 meters and another person. Just goes to show how insanely awesome the divergence is. id say its the lowest divergence laser iv ever seen. even better then the BDR-209DBK 405nm diode.
ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp by Alex Littig, on Flickr

LPM Measurement Graph
I try to keep the duty cycle around 30 seconds as instructed by Lifetime17 but my lpm has a longer response time so i put the laser near a cool window and lit it get fairly cold. maybe 60 degrees F. After the minute test it was still cool. No problem at all. I think my meter reads low as there are a few burn marks on the sensor and Lifetime17s much higher quality lpm reads a bit higher.
495nm laser review by Alex Littig, on Flickr

Conclusion
This laser is my dream laser. This wavelength is want i dreamed about back when the first 445nm where coming out and now its a dream come true !!! The color is stunning. The beam is so brilliant especially with fog and what i like is its only 100mw so its fun to use and i dont have to worry about burning holes in things. I would like to give a huge thanks to Lifetime17 for this laser. It truly is a masterpiece.

 

[paul1598419]

Yes, these Sharp diodes have great beam specs for a direct diode laser. Rich does do excellent work. I would have used an acrylic lens as it eliminates every bit of the rectangular artifact, and hardly at a cost of power. I love the one I built every bit as much as you love this one. It is a host I bought from Rich too. Enjoy!

 

[badboybilly]

Nice laser enjoy it,

Paul
Not sure I understand you, You have been searching for a lens that will get rid of the artifact on these 495 diodes and know your saying you would have used an acrilic lens as it eliminates every bit of the artifact, Like I said previously the 2 element 520 coated lens does just that, The acrilic does not as I have a 495 beside me with an acrilic lens and the artifact is there, it’s not terrible but it’s there!


And here’s a strange photo I captured with an acrilic lens!

 

[paul1598419]

All I can do is impart the knowledge I have. I have seen more of these Sharp diodes than anyone else on this forum and I have yet to see a hint of it with the acrylic lenses I use.

I have a 2 element glass lens AR coated for 520nm shipped to me and I will see what it does when I receive it.

Interesting, Billy. Where is the rectangular artifact in the photo?

 

[RedCowboy]

Very nice. :beer:

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi Thank you Alex Glad you approve of my workmanship i thrive to give a great product. They take some time to machine but worth the tie in the end. With this awesome diode the 495nm is a real treat for us guys and i'm sure everyone would agree . Fantastic photos they are really professional, i wish i could produce such great photos to show that full copper 495 i have up on my sales page. Any way congratulations and enjoy but most of all take care of it and be safe . Thanks once again for this review buddy.

Rich

 

[WizardG]

Very nice indeed, but I have a concern. In the pictures showing the business end of the thing it looks like the aperture of the host is clipping the edges of the beam.

????

 

[Alex2893]

Very nice indeed, but I have a concern. In the pictures showing the business end of the thing it looks like the aperture of the host is clipping the edges of the beam.

????

It does look that way but I did measure the diamiter of the lens and apature and there really close the same so the beam just barely fits through but it does. Even if there is its so miniscule it does not effect anything

 

[Alaskan]

Being so tight may help mask splash.

 

[paul1598419]

The lens is 6mm working aperture. What is the focus knob diameter?

 

[BobMc]

Those pictures really show forth the glory of that host. Really makes it look just awesome. Great looking 495. Enjoy that puppie. Nice read! :gj:

+reps

 

[Alex2893]

The lens is 6mm working aperture. What is the focus knob diameter?

4.5mm

 

[ZRaffleticket]

That is one nice build. I like the 495nm color a lot better than the 505nm color. Now we need cheap 488s to hit.

 

[BowtieGuy]

Congrats, Alex, that's one beautiful laser you've got there, it's the whole package, a sweet custom host surrounding one of the coolest wavelengths available; it's definitely a keeper for sure! :beer:

Those are some fantastic looking beam shots, the 3 way comparison with the 532nm, and the 445nm really highlights the color difference well. :yh:

:gj: +rep!

Edit: Rich, great work on that host!

 

[Encap]

Nice presentation!
Great way to get back into lasers --something different, something special, unique host --not even close to the same old, same old.
Your renewed unbounded enthusiasm and unrestrained appreciation of your new laser is infectious.
Way to go--is just the kind of reporting this hobby needs --- the kind of thing that make life worth living!!
Enjoy it. Reminds me of my first JetLasers TiB received-- how unusual, amazing, perfect, and worth every penny it was.

Nice review, relatively rare wavelength, outstanding and clean host work by Lifetime17, high quality photos.

Thanks for sharing your red letter day! +rep :beer:

 

[ElectricPlasma]

Awesome build! I did the same thing in my 473nm build (see avatar) with the tight focus aperture, I'd like to thing it counts for style points.