Old dog with a new "toy"

[DTMF]

I haven't been here in ages. I dropped out of building 10+ years ago, went on to other hobbies. I'd see the occasional ad for some random laser pointers here and there. Someone gave me one of these Gatling style pointers as a gift the other day and i lmfao about. First thoughts it's a piece of crap poorly made hunk of aluminum....then I turned it on. Holy cow this much power for $40 is just stupid. The red "safety" glasses are obviously useless. I did the usual burn stuff tests to see what I was dealing with and nobody without proper training or safety should be able to just drop these in a cart and have it the next day .
Sticker claims >5000mw I highly doubt it's anywhere near that but still crazy how much power these hunks of crap can put out.

 

[WizardG]

When I built by first '140 pointer I showed it off to a few people @ work. One engineer (now my manager ) scoffed at my claim of a bit over one watt. He had just changed into his bike shorts for the ride home, so I dotted his knee. He became a believer about a second and a half later!

 

[paul1598419]

Never been a fan of those Gatling lasers, but they can put those older 445 nm diodes in them. I'd watch the duty cycle though.

 

[RedCowboy]

I haven't been here in ages. I dropped out of building 10+ years ago, went on to other hobbies. I'd see the occasional ad for some random laser pointers here and there. Someone gave me one of these Gatling style pointers as a gift the other day and i lmfao about. First thoughts it's a piece of crap poorly made hunk of aluminum....then I turned it on. Holy cow this much power for $40 is just stupid. The red "safety" glasses are obviously useless. I did the usual burn stuff tests to see what I was dealing with and nobody without proper training or safety should be able to just drop these in a cart and have it the next day .
Sticker claims >5000mw I highly doubt it's anywhere near that but still crazy how much power these hunks of crap can put out.

That's why we push laser safety all the time and hopefully people will gain some insight from it, actually helping new people to understand the importance of laser safety is well worth putting up with seeing the risky things they post when new to the hobby, because if we ran off everyone who did something dangerous without explaining to them why they shouldn't behave that way when working with lasers, then they will continue to take risks, it's much better to help new people understand.

Lasers are only getting stronger and beam quality is improving, the next generation of affordable fiber laser based tools and mass produced display quantum dot laser diodes will be really amazing, but they will also pose increased risk when handled by novice users, better they gain some understanding about laser safety now.

Hopefully we can educate rather than restrict.

Oh, and welcome back after your long break, there are some really pretty new single mode diodes too, 488nm, 505nm and 515/520 and paired with a newer long focal length lens the G8.

 

[DTMF]

That's why we push laser safety all the time and hopefully people will gain some insight from it, actually helping new people to understand the importance of laser safety is well worth putting up with seeing the risky things they post when new to the hobby, because if we ran off everyone who did something dangerous without explaining to them why they shouldn't behave that way when working with lasers, then they will continue to take risks, it's much better to help new people understand.

Lasers are only getting stronger and beam quality is improving, the next generation of affordable fiber laser based tools and mass produced display quantum dot laser diodes will be really amazing, but they will also pose increased risk when handled by novice users, better they gain some understanding about laser safety now.

Hopefully we can educate rather than restrict.

Oh, and welcome back after your long break, there are some really pretty new single mode diodes too, 488nm, 505nm and 515/520 and paired with a newer long focal length lens the G8.

Glad to see this place is still just as it was so many years ago. I might dip back into it, I've found a few hosts and sleds I didn't know I had.

 

[paul1598419]

Glad to see this place is still just as it was so many years ago. I might dip back into it, I've found a few hosts and sleds I didn't know I had.

If you restrict yourself to only using diodes you get from CD/DVD player/burner sleds you won't get a chance to see some truly amazing wavelengths only recently available. I have diode lasers with wavelengths from 473nm, 477nm, 486nm, 493nm 502nm and 510nm.

 

[RedCowboy]

Glad to see this place is still just as it was so many years ago. I might dip back into it, I've found a few hosts and sleds I didn't know I had.

Everyone loves the Sharp 488nm single modes, they can be reliably overdriven @ 350ma to output 150mw and the color is amazing, a green/blue sort of teal, but they way we perceive it depends on it's surroundings, so it's a bit of a chameleon and a really nice beam, the far field spot is very tight with a G8 lens focused to infinity.

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[DTMF]

If you restrict yourself to only using diodes you get from CD/DVD player/burner sleds you won't get a chance to see some truly amazing wavelengths only recently available. I have diode lasers with wavelengths from 473nm, 477nm, 486nm, 493nm 502nm and 510nm.

I've got 4 hosts that will fit axiz size modules. 3 are lab styles I built a run of years ago for members here. I'm definitely interested in putting something in them besides PRH and LOC diodes in them. Pm if you have anything for sale that would fit.

 

[Unown (WILD)]

I gotta make me one of those at some point. Cyan is an amazing color

 

[paul1598419]

I've got 4 hosts that will fit axiz size modules. 3 are lab styles I built a run of years ago for members here. I'm definitely interested in putting something in them besides PRH and LOC diodes in them. Pm if you have anything for sale that would fit.

All I have is some 503nm and 505nm case positive diodes left in my stock. If you are interested in any of those let me know and I'll send you a PM.

 

[RedCowboy]

I've got 4 hosts that will fit axiz size modules. 3 are lab styles I built a run of years ago for members here. I'm definitely interested in putting something in them besides PRH and LOC diodes in them. Pm if you have anything for sale that would fit.

The 505nm single mode diodes are inexpensive and a much nicer emerald green than the dpss 532nm or even the direct 520's

Sharp GH05035A2G φ5.6mm Green 505nm 35mW-80mW Laser Diode (Stem Isolated) | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sharp GH05035A2G φ5.6mm Green 505nm 35mW-80mW Laser Diode (Stem Isolated) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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[DTMF]

The 505nm single mode diodes are inexpensive and a much nicer emerald green than the dpss 532nm or even the direct 520's

Sharp GH05035A2G φ5.6mm Green 505nm 35mW-80mW Laser Diode (Stem Isolated) | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sharp GH05035A2G φ5.6mm Green 505nm 35mW-80mW Laser Diode (Stem Isolated) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I still have an old dpss >100mw still going strong. But I definitely need to try one of the those.

 

[milantheone]

I still have an old dpss >100mw still going strong. But I definitely need to try one of the those.

man, i see you..

just like you, i returned back after 12 years and saw all those new diodes.. i felt for that again.

you definitely will not regret 505nm color, i already built 2 of them, and there is another 3rd diode of the same color on the way to me.
you can find my post with pictures comparing 2 505nm diodesside by side. they are slightly different shade of emerald - mint green.

but i love 488nm sharp diode the most, i think it is the diode to go to. relatively cheap and amazing color. something that 12 years ago we culd only dream of.

also on the way to me is 450nm just 80mW osram diode, to have something to fill the gap between 405nm and 488nm.
i dont even consider those 1-2-3 watt diodes, as i want just nice compact pen style builds with nice tight dot.