NUBM44 problems. Please help.

[Dutch67]

So I recently sold a laser to member Calikirk. It was an NUBM44 build in S4X host with SXD driver set to 4.5A. I know that it was working 100% perfectly before I sent it off to him.

He has received the laser and it was working fine for a few seconds but then shut off. He has tried multiple different batteries and it wont seem to stay on very long. I had this problem when I first had it but I tried a pair of LG batteries and it worked fine. So maybe it's just a battery problem.

But now there's a different problem. For some reason the laser no longer puts out the large bar that it is famous for, it puts out this swirly looking blob. you can see it here in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fWxENq_XH0&feature=youtu.be

Can anyone help me here? I really want to make this right with him and I'm not sure what has gone wrong.

 

[diachi]

So I recently sold a laser to member Calikirk. It was an NUBM44 build in S4X host with SXD driver set to 4.5A. I know that it was working 100% perfectly before I sent it off to him.

He has received the laser and it was working fine for a few seconds but then shut off. He has tried multiple different batteries and it wont seem to stay on very long. I had this problem when I first had it but I tried a pair of LG batteries and it worked fine. So maybe it's just a battery problem.

But now there's a different problem. For some reason the laser no longer puts out the large bar that it is famous for, it puts out this swirly looking blob. you can see it here in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fWxENq_XH0&feature=youtu.be

Can anyone help me here? I really want to make this right with him and I'm not sure what has gone wrong.

That swirly "blob" is either crap on the LD window or on the lens, or the lens itself is melting. That shifting swirl is a dead giveaway that something in the path of the beam is melting/deforming.

Can't comment on the not running part - perhaps a loose connection - sounds more like something can't handle the load though. If I had to guess I'd say it was the batteries dropping out under the load.

 

[Dutch67]

That swirly "blob" is either crap on the LD window or on the lens, or the lens itself is melting. That shifting swirl is a dead giveaway that something in the path of the beam is melting/deforming.

So cleaning the lens could help? I sent it with the lens already in place so it shouldn't be the diode window.

 

[diachi]

So cleaning the lens could help? I sent it with the lens already in place so it shouldn't be the diode window.

Probably not ... hard to say without seeing the lens/pictures of the lens. Whatever is causing it is probably likely baked in pretty good by now...

Any chance we can get pictures of the lens - even still attached?

 

[Dutch67]

Probably not ... hard to say without seeing the lens/pictures of the lens. Whatever is causing it is probably likely baked in pretty good by now...

Any chance we can get pictures of the lens - even still attached?

I just asked him to check it out and try cleaning it. If that doesn't work then I will ask for pictures of the lens.

Thank you for your help so far

Edit: the lens is a DTR G2

 

[CaliKirk]

Thanks for helping out, extremely appreciate it.

I cleaned the outside of the lens with fresh qtip and 90% ISO. It did not seem to change the output at all. I didn't want to get to crazy and start opening things up as im over at a friend's ATM.

Once I'm back to my workbench I am going to take the lens out and clean the inner side of the lens, i also can try another g2/g7. I have a macro lens there if need be as well and can take pictures of the lens or diode window. I can take a picture of the exterior of the lens but I dont think that will do any good?

When the bar first turned into a blob, the output was all over the place. The spots of intensity swirled around slowly. But the swirling was very short lived and now the output is constant.

I did take another video right after i swabbed the outer part of the lens and I wish I could have been recording when the swirl went to a blob but I started recording right after. It's now going dim after seconds.

As I was turning the knob while the laser is on, the output change did not move with the turns of the knob leading me to think it is not the lens.

https://youtu.be/9RIg9g-Mnb8

 

[Dutch67]

Thanks for helping out, extremely appreciate it.

I cleaned the outside of the lens with fresh qtip and 90% ISO. It did not seem to change the output at all. I didn't want to get to crazy and start opening things up as im over at a friend's ATM.

Once I'm back to my workbench I am going to take the lens out and clean the inner side of the lens, i also can try another g2/g7. I have a macro lens there if need be as well and can take pictures of the lens or diode window. I can take a picture of the exterior of the lens but I dont think that will do any good?

When the bar first turned into a blob, the output was all over the place. The spots of intensity swirled around slowly. But the swirling was very short lived and now the output is constant.

I did take another video right after i swabbed the outer part of the lens and I wish I could have been recording when the swirl went to a blob but I started recording right after. It's now going dim after seconds.

As I was turning the knob while the laser is on, the output change did not move with the turns of the knob leading me to think it is not the lens.

https://youtu.be/9RIg9g-Mnb8

Could you take out the lens and batteries and see if the diode window it okay? That might be the problem. Hopefully its only got some dirt on it.

 

[diachi]

As I was turning the knob while the laser is on, the output change did not move with the turns of the knob leading me to think it is not the lens.

https://youtu.be/9RIg9g-Mnb8

Yes, if the artifacts don't rotate with the lens that would indicate to me that there's contamination of some form on the LD window. :undecided:

Lets hope it's something simpler than that though.

 

[94Z28]

Yes, if the artifacts don't rotate with the lens that would indicate to me that there's contamination of some form on the LD window. :undecided:

Lets hope it's something simpler than that though.

Had this happen on a M140 just the other night.. pressed it, soldered, tightened it all up.. the output was horrid. Turns out it had some old thermal paste on window from them being shipped all together.

Cleaned the window with a qtip (dry) just lightly.. it cleared right up.

I would be to sketched out to use alcohol on the diode, it may work but I'd let it dry for a good while before firing it up again.

Maybe the diode can be de-canned by someone if need be.

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi CK,
About the laser firing up then stopping, then running again if this is your issue. The driver might be out of regulation due to heat sinking the IC or bonding the driver solely to the main 12mm sink. This happened to me with my 410nm build. then no problem ..

Rich

 

[diachi]

Had this happen on a M140 just the other night.. pressed it, soldered, tightened it all up.. the output was horrid. Turns out it had some old thermal paste on window from them being shipped all together.

Cleaned the window with a qtip (dry) just lightly.. it cleared right up.

I would be to sketched out to use alcohol on the diode, it may work but I'd let it dry for a good while before firing it up again.

Maybe the diode can be de-canned by someone if need be.

My concern with a NUBM44 especially is that the contamination has been burnt on/caused the window itself to be damaged - in which case the only solution really is to pop the window out or decan - the latter being the better choice.

If you're going to use alcohol on optics don't use the 70% stuff from the store, I've seen that leave residue - although it's great for general household cleaning and disinfecting cuts and such. I usually opt for >97% Isopropyl (Also good for cleaning and disinfecting! Be prepared for it to sting... ). Lab grade acetone works well too.

First Contact(TM) is also great - although that may be a pain to work with on such small optics like diode windows. It's also expensive.

Edmunds and Newport both have good optics cleaning guides:

Cleaning Optics

Cleaning Optics

Hi CK,
About the laser firing up then stopping, then running again if this is your issue. The driver might be out of regulation due to heat sinking the IC or bonding the driver solely to the main 12mm sink. This happened to me with my 410nm build. then no problem ..

Rich

Do they really heat up that quickly? Honest question! Sounds like it's cutting out after only a few seconds, I'd have thought it'd take longer than that to heat up to a point where it shuts down/stops regulating.

 

[Shakenawake]

I managed to burn crap on both of my nubm44 diode windows. have sent them to flaminpyro for decanning. hope that takes care of it. dtr could do it too if that turns out to be the problem. like others said, if it doesnt rotate with the lens it is on the diode window

 

[Dutch67]

Thank you all for you help. You guys are great and I really hope that your suggestions help

I only ever removed the lens once so I don't know it any dust got in there but it was working fine before I send it to him. I never used it much because it kinda scared me host strong it was and I also accidentally burnt to many things with it :shhh:

 

[94Z28]

Thank you all for you help. You guys are great and I really hope that your suggestions help

I only ever removed the lens once so I don't know it any dust got in there but it was working fine before I send it to him. I never used it much because it kinda scared me host strong it was and I also accidentally burnt to many things with it :shhh:

Does your lens have Teflon tape on the threads? I've had this happen as well.. if it comes free from the threads and gets into the cavity; once it heats up it leaves residue on optics and diode window.

Alot of things can cause dust or dirt in there.. if you had heatsink paste around the module etc.

If the lens hasn't been removed by you, has the buyer removed it? If so, it's ultimately up to him to show us and take pics.

He's right about M44 burning to the window I could imagine the heat coming from that window lol.


The on/off sounds like batteries to me, need to use quality batteries for a diode like this.. it could be alot of different issues that can only be solved by process of troubleshoot/eliminate.

Switch not groundin
Battery contact not proper to switch spring
Low discharge batteries
Driver overheating
Diode issues
Etc... the list is long

 

[CaliKirk]

Thanks again for everyones help!

Unfortunately it looks like it is the diode window. Upon taking the lens out I noticed that the diode window is defective. It looks like it has melted.

The other thing I don't get is that now it goes from a little less output than an m140 to dim almost at an instant once turned on. It's visible on the last video I posted towards the end.

I don't think Lildutchboy sent the laser out defective at all, like AT ALL, especially since it did turn on once receiving but within 10 seconds of turning on is when it started acting different, such as the bar turning into a swirling blob.

Simply putting batteries inside and clicking a switch on definitely didn't cause it so at this point the only unknown is from USPS. :cryyy:

EDIT: it almost looks like the melting started from inside the can. Has anyone heard of an issue like this?

EDIT: 94z - I only use quality cells, the ones I currently have and are using are only little over a month old.

 

[94Z28]

Thanks again for everyones help!

Unfortunately it looks like it is the diode window. Upon taking the lens out I noticed that the diode window is defective. It looks like it has melted.

The other thing I don't get is that now it goes from a little less output than an m140 to dim almost at an instant once turned on. It's visible on the last video I posted towards the end.

I don't think Lildutchboy sent the laser out defective at all, like AT ALL, especially since it did turn on once receiving but within 10 seconds of turning on is when it started acting different, such as the bar turning into a swirling blob.

Simply putting batteries inside and clicking a switch on definitely didn't cause it so at this point the only unknown is from USPS. :cryyy:

EDIT: it almost looks like the melting started from inside the can. Has anyone heard of an issue like this?

That's not cool.. get it decanned.

Maybe dust or dirt got in there caused beam to heat dust and melt window?

What's all the specs on the can?

Or maybe it reflected off lens?

/edit yeah your batteries may be fine, but that window could be the issue of output...