Question about diodes and lenses

[xirrious]

I am a newb to the laser hobby compared to alot of you so I'm sure someone out there can help me with more experience. I have two 2w blue 445nm lasers. One newer then the other. The old one has been dropped 3 times onto hard surfaces and now has horrible focus a ton of splash and horrible beam characteriics in general.. The new one not only has a tight beam and little splash but also seems to emit a truly blue color and the old one emits more in the violet range.. Is this just because I bought from china and their diodes may not all be the exact same specs etc, or is it lense or diode damage in my old laser versus the same laser bought 4 months later,, Any ideas? or ansers? Would greatly be appreciated! thanks! =)

*edit* Also without the lense on at all the diode produces a clear rectangle with my newer laser and the one on the old laser has areas like striation looking marks where the light doesnt shine and is more blurry in general.

 

[Tmack]

Your old laser has suffered damage to the diode. 445 are multi more diodes and those lines that are missing is what is decreasing your power. In a 445 the higher power you get the more your wavelength will shift to a lighter blue. Either your driver surfed damage too, or the fact that the overall output is lower, may be the reason why you are seeing the more violet appearance. A 1w m140 445 will look much more violet than a 2w 445. The lens may be dirty from the fall accounting for the splash your seeing. Looks like your older laser took damage in every area possible most likely.

 

[KRNAZNBOY]

Can you take off the lens and see what the raw output looks like?
That can tell you a lot...

:beer:
-Matt