QUESTION! Nichia 1.4W NDB7675 vs M462 462nm Laser Diode

[EpicHam]

So I've been browsing DTR's webpage lately... you know... cos I fear imminent laser market collapse and I find something interesting in the 462nm range.

inb4 any judging sets in. I'm a COMPLETE NUB with regards to lasers. I'm not that rich and if I break it assembling something I'm done .. no more expensive boy's toy for me. Took me 3 years of "tutoring" before I dare to solo computers.

Ok , lets get back to it.
The Nichia NDB7675 9mm module which only does 1.4W and a divergence of ...14 degrees will set you back $200 just for the diode.
While the M462 which does almost 2W (5.6mm module ,yes) only goes for $120. Still can't find its datasheet yet but still it leaves me rather confused.

Both of them emit the same wavelength , yet the higher powered one is $80 cheaper than the lower powered one while being a bit more modular too.

Can someone teach me why is it that way?
Perhaps the NDB7675 have a few secrets up their sleeve that I'm not aware of?



PS: I jumped to the laser projector part of the forum not long ago... It sounded like two robots talking with numbers and alphabets flying everywhere .

 

[EpicHam]

For what it's worth: http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/2w-m462-462nm-laser-diode-90132.html --I believe that's the datasheet. Correct me if I'm wrong.

uhh... that's a LPM graph with the beam shape... not exactly that useful in comparing specs to see if its worth the dosh imo.

 

[IsaacT]

The 1.4W one extends to higher wavelengths. People average 462 on the M462 whereas you can push the 9mm 462's to upwards of 470. Huge wavelength difference!

 

[EpicHam]

The 1.4W one extends to higher wavelengths. People average 462 on the M462 whereas you can push the 9mm 462's to upwards of 470. Huge wavelength difference!

WOWWWW!
That's just 3nm from a 473!
COOL BEANS!

How's its durability compared to a DPSS?

Fall resistant?

 

[IsaacT]

Havent ever had an issue with my 469nm measured Aquarius II...it performs beautifully.

 

[EpicHam]

Havent ever had an issue with my 469nm measured Aquarius II...it performs beautifully.

so if you can only have one.
Would you keep Frost or Aquarius?

 

[IsaacT]

Well....that is a very hard decision. I miss frost with his perfect beam specs and all. That said, Aquarius is so very bright that it is a brilliant way to get that wavelength.

In the end I would have to choose Frost. Mainly because it took a lot of work to put that one together and I was/am very proud of it. Brucemir is taking good care of it now though and soon I won't even have my Aquarius as I am trying to get further into Astrophotography.

 

[DTR]

The 1.4W one extends to higher wavelengths. People average 462 on the M462 whereas you can push the 9mm 462's to upwards of 470. Huge wavelength difference!

The best way to explain it is at manufacturer currents they both do about the same wavelength. With the 9mm NDB7675 people are pushing them way past where we would even consider running a M140 or NDB7875 after the point of foldback(where output power is lower than running @ lower currents) to basically fry the dye forcing it to shift into the 470nm area. It is yet to be seen how bad this is for them. But yes it is possible to push the NDB7875 to a much higher wavelength.

The M462 can't take that kind of abuse.

 

[upaa27]

Oh, sorry, just thought it was a datasheet because it looked similar to http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/nichia-1-4w-ndb7675-462nm-laser-diode-89378.html (a thread about NDB7675 that claims to be a datasheet)

That "Datasheet" text on the page you linked is a LINK to the datasheet.

Links to the datasheet
NDB7675: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_6-KC5wFXIJWjVxYi1Ka0w1QVE/edit

M462: None atm

 

[EpicHam]

The best way to explain it is at manufacturer currents they both do about the same wavelength. With the 9mm NDB7675 people are pushing them way past where we would even consider running a M140 or NDB7875 after the point of foldback(where output power is lower than running @ lower currents) to basically fry the dye forcing it to shift into the 470nm area. It is yet to be seen how bad this is for them. But yes it is possible to push the NDB7875 to a much higher wavelength.

The M462 can't take that kind of abuse.

so basically its if you don't care about how long your laser will live , go for the NDB7675 to the point of no return.

If you love your diodes go for the M462?

 

[DTR]

You can always get a NDB7675 and run it @ 1.8A which will still be slightly higher in wavelength than the M462 but not 470nm high. On the flip side it will probably be about 200mW less than the M462 so little give an take there.:beer:

 

[EpicHam]

You can always get a NDB7675 and run it @ 1.8A which will still be slightly higher in wavelength than the M462 but not 470nm high. On the flip side it will probably be about 200mW less than the M462 so little give an take there.:beer:

hmmm... so...
Considering the price difference. How noticeable is it in person when compared to the mainstream 445nm?
Cos I've seen the pics on the forum doing a little comparison between the M140 and the 462nm modules at factory current, but let's say if someone just pick up 1 of the 2 lasers , can you tell which is which just from the color?

 

[DTR]

Yep the 445nm clearly has a violet hue to it where the M462 does not.

 

[EpicHam]

Yep the 445nm clearly has a violet hue to it where the M462 does not.

cool beans.
SO..... which is closer to the blue sky kinda cyan color?
473 or 462?
500 ish it starts to look green... and 450 ish it starts to look violent... in between is kinda a mystery for me lol

 

[Grix]

cool beans.
SO..... which is closer to the blue sky kinda cyan color?
473 or 462?
500 ish it starts to look green... and 450 ish it starts to look violent... in between is kinda a mystery for me lol

473nm.