Power Meter Calibration and Comparison

[rkcstr]

Yup, I can have it in the mail tomorrow... you want it Priority Mail as well?

BTW, diode is tested and measured (quick and dirty) ~54mW at 89.3mA with non-modified Aixiz acrylic lens on a thermal meter head with knimrod's amp. That measurement is just to give an idae of what the diode should be doing when you get it, though I can't really say how accurate the measurement was.

EDIT: Correction, ~56mW @ 89.3mA... I'm sending a different diode because I noticed a smudge on the window of the other one, so only the best for LPF

 

[Kenom]

Sure. I'll pay ya for that as well.

 

[Zom-B]

This is completely weird. I've never heard of diodes increasing in power with use, but it happened again. Last night it was 61.5mW and today (without cool down period) it measured 60.0 mW. (As a reminder, it started out as 59.3mW) I've measured the driver current to either confirm or eliminate the possibility of degrading driver parts, and the driver still drives the same current. Very strange.

 

[Kenom]

OK so I've got the heads all setup and ready to go.  Just waiting for the drivers to get here then I'll solder the drivers to the heads and adjust everything so they are set to the proper output  I've got pictures of the heads thus far.

I need the star to mount the diode in place so that it doesn't come out the top of the head as well as the plastic rings. Had I access to a lathe I'd set up a heatsink with a slightly larger diameter at the base to prevent it from slipping out the end. I've got the pins seperated with thermal silicone.

 

[jayrob]

Good looking build details there Kenom! Just curious, if you do not have a lathe, where did you get the heatsinks?
Jay

 

[Zom-B]

So the heat sink is not a tight fit and has an air gap? Wasn't the dorcy body supposed to heat sink too?

 

[Kenom]

oh it sits up against the body of the barrel pretty good. Not "tight" but it makes contact. As far as making the heatsinks, I had a machine shop turn them for me. Cost me a pretty penny to have them turned too. To buy the aluminum and turn it on a lathe would cost $5 or so. but add onto that shoptime and it works out to $30 per heatsink. But since I'm not making the dorcy's anymore I don't need the heatsinks anymore.

 

[rkcstr]

Well, you should get the driver/PSU today, tracking says it left the Billings, MT processing center today

That should mean that the diode will arrive tomorrow.

 

[Kenom]

Sweet. Yes I got the psu.

 

[happytomato]

Hi,
Haven't been to this thread in a while, could someone just sum up whats happening (I don't fancy reading 17 pages). I've noticed my name is on the list, this is good, althugh it seems to want me to pay something. How much and who to? And I have no laserz currently, I have returned my greenie to dx and am awaiting 2 krytons from kenom.

Thanks

 

[Kenom]

No lazors?  that's not a good thing.  I don't know for sure that the krytons will be to you by the time that it gets to ya.  The reason for laser as a requirement is so taht you won't be tempted to play with the calibration lasers for anything other than testing.  So you might want to consider your participation in this.  Not saying you can't unless you aint got lazorz.

Ok I've got my two setup and they are lasing.  I'm looking at how long folks are wanting to test these things for average?  30 seconds?  1 minute?  Only reason I ask is I'm lookin for stability.  The bluray has been set to 102mw but after a minute it does increase a mw or 2.  Seems to keep increasing as well.  I'm doing some testing on stability

 

[Kenom]

test 2

 

[Kenom]

As you can see from start to end it increases steadily. Now this is only 1 minute. want to test for longer stability say like 5 minutes. it is rather warm in my house currently 80 degrees F. Takes a really long time for my house to cool down this is with a/c

 

[Kenom]

Ok dropped the power down to roughly 93mw and it's a bit more stable. I did a 4 minute test and it was pretty good.

 

[Kenom]

Ok so here are pictures of what I've got so far. I've taken the pictures of it open so that everyone can see what is inside it and not be tempted to open it up.

Should we have it focused so that the beam is a certain size at our distance from the meter. Obviously not "focused" but say a 2mm dot.

 

[Kenom]

here is the red module. set to 120mw. Pretty doggone stable if i do say so myself.