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- Feb 25, 2010
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Hello Folks,
While waiting for the final drivers from Lazereer for the "Lawgiver ll"....I decided to tackle a project that I have seen many requests for...but NO serious attempts at doing...A Hand Held unit with an Optically Corrected Mitsui P-73 LD. See the drawing !!!
As usual... I have used what I have learned from Laser Projector optics...to apply to the challenges of the Hand Held format. Although I have beat the drum multiple times... that we should..." Think Outside the Cylinder "...this design is a 2"(50.4mm) OD x 6"(152.4mm) Long - typical HH Cylinder Geometry unit!! Turns out that a cylinder is the most compact geometry for the design needs of this project !!
How many times have you read..." The P-73 is a great and affordable diode...BUT....I HATE THE LINE "...Well...It is WAY past time to give this LD a pair of glasses !!!! OR...apply correction optics to the Holy Grail P-73 !!!
Mechanics.
As you can see, the unit uses two ( 2) 18650 LiPo cells, placed within the lower half of the construct. I have started construction with a solid Aluminum rod with 2" (50.8mm) diameter and about 5 3/4" (146.05mm) long. The Aluminum rod will be milled down to a semi-circle geometry for about 4" (101.6mm) of the overall length. This milled area will then provide a flat platform where the LD mount, Correction optics and Driver will reside.
The solid bottom section will serve as a heat sink and a home for the LiPo cells. A bore hole will then be milled, almost full thru, for the LiPo cells. The back cell will present the + battery contact to an isolated contact point. A bore hole thru the back Ally Rod will then allow a + wire to pass/travel to the I/O switch and on to the driver. The driver will be grounded to the main Aluminum body.
The front and back of the unit will employ 1/4"(6.35mm)thick Aluminum plate/dics to finish the ends and contain the LiPo cells. The front plate will have a typical contact spring to engage and secure the LiPo cells within the underside bore. The spring will connect the cell - to the Aluminum body There will be an aperture hole in the front plate to provide beam exit. Both front and back plates will be secured to the main body with machine screws.
I want to showcase the heart of the optics, so the front upper half will be a clear 1/8"(3.175mm)thick Acrylic tube which will cover the front 4"(101.6mm). This cover could be Aluminum...but I think clear Acrylic will look good !!! The outside OD of the main body will be highly polished.
Optics
A critical aspect of optical correction for the P-73 is that a 2mm Fl Collimation Aspherical lens MUST be used to start the correction sequence. The position of this very small lens relative to the output of the P-73 MUST be right on for alignment. SO...to accomplish this alignment / positioning a special adjustable LD mount must be used.
This special mount, from LSP, is a very small brass box-like unit, threaded on the front to accept the standard M9 retainer barrel. The back has a square retainer plate attached where the P-73 is captured and bolted to the mount body. The retainer plate bolt holes are slightly oversized and THIS is what provides X / Y adjustabillity for the diode. The retainer plate, with captured LD, is moved...up/down - left / right to find the optimal position. When the best position is located, the retainer plate bolts are then tightened down, locking in the optimal LD===> Lens alignment. The LD is NOT press fit into the retainer plate but just a snug fit. The fit provides radial adjustment within the retainer plate. The heat from the LD transfers mostly by front and back LD collar contact. It works very well.
The LD mount / holder used is the "Mitsubishi diode Correction optics kit" from Laser Show Parts. A 2mm Collimation lens mounted in a brass retainer is also from Laser Show Parts. These two components used together start to correct the astigmatic nature ( Read... like a line ) of the P-73 LD.
After the beam correction has been started by these two components ( Holder+Lens )...Then ...the optical correction process must continue by putting the beam thru two (2) Cylindrical lenses. These lenses are labeled "Plano Convex" and "Plano Concave" on the drawing.
In my build, I will custom machine an Aluminum mount/holder to put the lenses at the optimal distance and in correct perpendicular relationship to the beam. Note: The lenses will be secured to the Aluminum mount/holder with a very small amount of clear epoxy. LSP does offer Cylindrical lenses of the correct design/power and holders for those lenses.
The distance between the Cylindrical lenses ( Plano Convex and Plano Concave ) is absolutely critical to achieving a good beam spot. The distance from the 2mm Collimation lens to the first Cylindrical is also important and must be set correctly to achieve a good beam spot.
I have used a set of Cylindrical lenses I had left over from previous experiments. The distances for THESE lenses work per my drawing. The Lens set from LSP may have slightly different distances. It is an easy thing to do some experimenting to find the optimal distances. Once the optimal positioning has been determined, THEN the Cylindrical lens and lens mount/holder can be secured( Bolted down ).
In Closing
I am hopeful my end result will be a fairly compact HH unit with a well defined tight beam spot ...NO LINE !!!
I have used this exact correction method in projector builds with excellent results !! I should be able to obtain approx 1.0 Mrad divergence with a Nearfield beam @4mm. I will likely use a driver set to 1250mA....so....hopefully around 1W of Red Beauty out the front end !!!!!
Stay tuned for pics as the build unfolds. Although this project is not a " Combiner "....in the strict definition...it DOES combine a great LD...with corrective optics...in an HH format !!! Another first for " Terrawatt Labs" !!! Hot Diggity !!
CDBEAM=======>
While waiting for the final drivers from Lazereer for the "Lawgiver ll"....I decided to tackle a project that I have seen many requests for...but NO serious attempts at doing...A Hand Held unit with an Optically Corrected Mitsui P-73 LD. See the drawing !!!
As usual... I have used what I have learned from Laser Projector optics...to apply to the challenges of the Hand Held format. Although I have beat the drum multiple times... that we should..." Think Outside the Cylinder "...this design is a 2"(50.4mm) OD x 6"(152.4mm) Long - typical HH Cylinder Geometry unit!! Turns out that a cylinder is the most compact geometry for the design needs of this project !!
How many times have you read..." The P-73 is a great and affordable diode...BUT....I HATE THE LINE "...Well...It is WAY past time to give this LD a pair of glasses !!!! OR...apply correction optics to the Holy Grail P-73 !!!
Mechanics.
As you can see, the unit uses two ( 2) 18650 LiPo cells, placed within the lower half of the construct. I have started construction with a solid Aluminum rod with 2" (50.8mm) diameter and about 5 3/4" (146.05mm) long. The Aluminum rod will be milled down to a semi-circle geometry for about 4" (101.6mm) of the overall length. This milled area will then provide a flat platform where the LD mount, Correction optics and Driver will reside.
The solid bottom section will serve as a heat sink and a home for the LiPo cells. A bore hole will then be milled, almost full thru, for the LiPo cells. The back cell will present the + battery contact to an isolated contact point. A bore hole thru the back Ally Rod will then allow a + wire to pass/travel to the I/O switch and on to the driver. The driver will be grounded to the main Aluminum body.
The front and back of the unit will employ 1/4"(6.35mm)thick Aluminum plate/dics to finish the ends and contain the LiPo cells. The front plate will have a typical contact spring to engage and secure the LiPo cells within the underside bore. The spring will connect the cell - to the Aluminum body There will be an aperture hole in the front plate to provide beam exit. Both front and back plates will be secured to the main body with machine screws.
I want to showcase the heart of the optics, so the front upper half will be a clear 1/8"(3.175mm)thick Acrylic tube which will cover the front 4"(101.6mm). This cover could be Aluminum...but I think clear Acrylic will look good !!! The outside OD of the main body will be highly polished.
Optics
A critical aspect of optical correction for the P-73 is that a 2mm Fl Collimation Aspherical lens MUST be used to start the correction sequence. The position of this very small lens relative to the output of the P-73 MUST be right on for alignment. SO...to accomplish this alignment / positioning a special adjustable LD mount must be used.
This special mount, from LSP, is a very small brass box-like unit, threaded on the front to accept the standard M9 retainer barrel. The back has a square retainer plate attached where the P-73 is captured and bolted to the mount body. The retainer plate bolt holes are slightly oversized and THIS is what provides X / Y adjustabillity for the diode. The retainer plate, with captured LD, is moved...up/down - left / right to find the optimal position. When the best position is located, the retainer plate bolts are then tightened down, locking in the optimal LD===> Lens alignment. The LD is NOT press fit into the retainer plate but just a snug fit. The fit provides radial adjustment within the retainer plate. The heat from the LD transfers mostly by front and back LD collar contact. It works very well.
The LD mount / holder used is the "Mitsubishi diode Correction optics kit" from Laser Show Parts. A 2mm Collimation lens mounted in a brass retainer is also from Laser Show Parts. These two components used together start to correct the astigmatic nature ( Read... like a line ) of the P-73 LD.
After the beam correction has been started by these two components ( Holder+Lens )...Then ...the optical correction process must continue by putting the beam thru two (2) Cylindrical lenses. These lenses are labeled "Plano Convex" and "Plano Concave" on the drawing.
In my build, I will custom machine an Aluminum mount/holder to put the lenses at the optimal distance and in correct perpendicular relationship to the beam. Note: The lenses will be secured to the Aluminum mount/holder with a very small amount of clear epoxy. LSP does offer Cylindrical lenses of the correct design/power and holders for those lenses.
The distance between the Cylindrical lenses ( Plano Convex and Plano Concave ) is absolutely critical to achieving a good beam spot. The distance from the 2mm Collimation lens to the first Cylindrical is also important and must be set correctly to achieve a good beam spot.
I have used a set of Cylindrical lenses I had left over from previous experiments. The distances for THESE lenses work per my drawing. The Lens set from LSP may have slightly different distances. It is an easy thing to do some experimenting to find the optimal distances. Once the optimal positioning has been determined, THEN the Cylindrical lens and lens mount/holder can be secured( Bolted down ).
In Closing
I am hopeful my end result will be a fairly compact HH unit with a well defined tight beam spot ...NO LINE !!!
I have used this exact correction method in projector builds with excellent results !! I should be able to obtain approx 1.0 Mrad divergence with a Nearfield beam @4mm. I will likely use a driver set to 1250mA....so....hopefully around 1W of Red Beauty out the front end !!!!!
Stay tuned for pics as the build unfolds. Although this project is not a " Combiner "....in the strict definition...it DOES combine a great LD...with corrective optics...in an HH format !!! Another first for " Terrawatt Labs" !!! Hot Diggity !!
CDBEAM=======>
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. I've seen you come in multiple times on threads about the infamous 638 spot. Time to put your skills where your beam is. I know I, and everyone else, is really looking forward to any updates with this build. Lazeerer had implemented a lens that semi corrects the line, but it's not quite there yet. Can't wait to see mr. Combiner at work 
