Need help identifying laser module

[Buontinh]

Hi all,

I'm new here and kind of new to diode laser in general even though I read quite a bit about ruby laser as a kid. My first exposure to laser if you can call it as such was a simple adjustable black tube containing a high lumen LED and lens to focus the LED that I mail ordered. I think that was in 1990 or 91. I then graduated to a 10mw HeNe tube that was removed from a laser printer.

Anyway, fast forward to about 8 years ago, I bought my first real diode laser with the intention to build a RGB laser projector. It was a 500mw greenie from Laserwave. Like most everyone here, when I first got it I used it to smoke whatever I could think of around the house, besides using it to turn my room into a laser show hall with a set of laser scanner. I played with it for a couple of weeks then got bored or something so put everything under my bed.

I still have the scanner, but the 500mw greenie does not work anymore for some reason even though it only had less than 5hrs of run time on it. I will ask you guys for help in fixing it one of these days, but it's not the reason why I'm here today.


I got this module at about the same time I got the 500mw green, but never tested it out to see if it works or not. Recently my friend had the need to cut very thin steel - just .1 or .2mm thick so it got me thinking about adding laser cutting to my desktop cnc mill as I happened to have this module which might be powerful enough for thin steel or engraving. Does anyone have specs (max power, voltage/current) for this module. I found this from Googling, but not sure if it's the same.

https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/...reImages/00020_psisdg8965_89650N_page_8_1.jpg

I currently have the module mounted on a copper plate which is attached to two TEC modules which is then cooled by aluminum heatsink/fans. It will be powered by an HP 6574A 35amp power supply.

Thank you

 

[RedCowboy]

Looks like a 120w 969nm +/- 3mw quasi CW Fiber coupled LD.....but that's just my opinion, not a known fact.

Here's a couple sister modules:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Power...418362?hash=item4b3d5353fa:g:0BkAAOSwU8hY651V

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-IPG-Ph...m=263501554464&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

They are bundled into large laser units for industrial use.

 

[Alaskan]

Looks the same to me, but a slightly longer wavelength.

 

[RedCowboy]

That's just my estimation because I looked at another unit that's a PLD-30-974 and is a 30w 969mw +/- 3mw....however they also have a 975nm, it's just that I have seen others marked 974 that center at 969nm, they are MM IINM

Here's some other info:

http://www.ipgphotonics.com/en/products/lasers/diode-laser-systems/diode-lasers/pld-10-60-w#[pld-70]


My security cameras see IR very well, I have an IR flashlight that's fun to play with, anyway I want to mount a CCD cam to a LCD visor so I can work with these lasers with my eyes fully covered and not have to look at a monitor or HH cam and depend on attenuation glasses. The FPV or virtual HD glasses would work along with a RC quad copter type tiny CCD camera.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Visionplus...984836&hash=item1ece42a3e8:g:x98AAOSwH-9Zo48n

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Night-Visi...304178&hash=item25e69944e8:g:MiMAAOSwjZJZ-C9-


I bought one of these too just for fun, connect battery and set it out back and watch the birds.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GOQOTOMO-S...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

p.s. Safety first, use at your own risk, never harm others or allow others to be harmed.

 

[Alaskan]

It looks like an awesome fiber laser, wish I had a few.

 

[RedCowboy]

The little modules are laser diodes combined and they all bundle via fiber to pump a bigger fiber that's ytterbium/erbium doped and has bragg gratings that makes the fiber it's self the gain medium, they are supposed to put out excellent beam quality from the cheap power of multi mode fiber coupled pumps, they are not cheap but beam quality is supposed to be fantastic for the true fiber lasers, the pumps/modules are just multi mode and not expensive, especially used, but they are not true fiber lasers, just pumps coupled to fiber.

I would love to have a true fiber laser, it's what the big boys are using for industry, military, ect... and they will only get better, stronger, lighter....

p.s. I apologize for video bombing the thread, but I am fascinated with this technology and where it will go.

 

[paul1598419]

That does look like a nice fiber coupled IR laser. I haven't gotten into these yet as I have been too busy with my other projects. I guess I'll have to explore this more later on.

 

[Buontinh]

Thank you all for the info. So it looks like the thing should be able to run continuously at 100w if cooled properly I guess?

 

[RedCowboy]

Well..... it looks like quasi CW so I don't know, it would likely be good for 30w if properly cooled, possibly more.

I would start low and work my way up, try to find some more info about it's intended duty cycle.

 

[hakzaw1]

..... RC--+rep for the outstanding work in this thread!!! you amaze us every time!!! tytyty

good luck Buontinh... hope it works for you!!!

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Ahhhhhh --- Fiber lasers. Maybe soon for
us hobby people!
HM

 

[Encap]

Thank you all for the info. So it looks like the thing should be able to run continuously at 100w if cooled properly I guess?

If you really wanted to know about it you could just call IPG and ask or email them the photo of it and ask--they made it and it is their part number for a pld - qcw. PLD Quasi Continuous Wave

"The PLD Series offers discrete single emitter laser diode packages in 1-, 3-, 6- and 12- chip configurations with 110 μm fiber core diameter. Center wavelengths options include 445, 465, 915, 940, 960 and 980 nm with output powers up to 120 W. PLD options include wavelength stabilization at customer requested center wavelength."

See: IPG - Contact Us

 

[hakzaw1]

'Hitevercoop' has a RGB to do a big mirror ball and it uses fiber to deliver the laser on the ball.

 

[Buontinh]

Thanks. Yeah, I guess I could email them and ask.

Also for power supply that support external analog modulation for voltage/current, I'm wondering if it's possible to turn it into a QCW power supply using a function generator?

 

[RedCowboy]

If you don't mind killing it you can try anything, LOL but I would find out what frequency and how long of a PW it can take, your HP 6574A 35a wont get you more than about 30w out anyway if they run at 2 volts and you have 35 amps, but what special needs it may or may not have I don't know, I expect you can hit it with a square wave but sorry I don't have one yet, just some old FAP units that run at 2v

I would find or get the specs, sorry I don't know the particulars.

 

[Encap]

Thanks. Yeah, I guess I could email them and ask.

Also for power supply that support external analog modulation for voltage/current, I'm wondering if it's possible to turn it into a QCW power supply using a function generator?

If you don't care then you don't but then why ask about it at all here?

Would think it is worth a phone call or an email--costs nothing asking the people that made it, if you actually want to know. LOL
They may or may not help you as you are not a customer of theirs.