Review: CNI MGL-III-400 (lab laser)

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

Hello all! I've been waiting for a while to make this review as I was not sure that the laser would last given my previous luck with CNI. Before reviewing, I would like to state that I got this unit from CNI in a trade of my dead PGL 400 after talking with them about all the bad units I've gotten from them (Double digits now???) :tired:

SO here we go!!!

UNIT: MGL-III-400-532 with FDA PSU

SPECS: This laser is rated for 400mW output at 10% stability, run times for this unit are pretty much as long as I'd like it to be on. :tinfoil:

SHIPPING: The laser got here before I even knew it had been shipped as CNI had not told me they shipped yet, and went on one of the many holiday weeks they have in China, so I can't say how long it took... not without digging about for some old paperwork.
It arrived in a rather large box, in which it was VERY well secured and packed with the actual laser head in Styrofoam and then padding.

TESTING: Well, for testing I hit this thing hard to make sure I was free of CNI issues...at least for now. I did several 1-3 hour burns, and recorded the power in 10 min intervals on some papers I've printed out and placed in a binder as "logs" of my testing. I did this for about 10 hours in total, and I have to say... WOW. This unit is STUNNINGLY stable! There were several times when over the course of an hour or more, the power didn't shift more than 5mW! I have never seen power this stable... not from DPSS.
Its operating in TEM00 no matter how short or how long I run it, that doesn't change. There isn't even the "flicker" of mode changes some cheaper greens, and Viasho/RPLs like to do...granted they aren't tec stabilized lab lasers, but you get my point. I do find it somewhat odd that even during warm up, its in TEM00 :thinking: Here is the dot on an un even fence at 174feet:

POWER: :lasergun: boy oh boy does it have power :eg: She likes to hang on to her favorite number, which comes up quite often:na: :

Minimum power observed after warm up: 522mW
Maximum power observed after warm up: 589mW
Average power observed after warm up: 535mW

BEAM SPECS:At the aperture the beam is about 1.3mm with a divergance of 1.0mRad

OVERALL: I am very happy with this unit, and am feeling fairly secure that my problems with CNI are over. So, without further wait, here are some more pictures! Will probably be adding some videos soon too :shhh::shhh:

and I just thought this was kinda cool too:

Thanks for reading all, feel free to request more media or ask questions, I will do the best I can :thanks:

Sorry about the crappy pics, don't have a camera other than my phone right now, I will re take them when I can.
-Dustin

 

[jakeGT]

532nm at 532mW
Pure sex!

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

532nm at 532mW
Pure sex!

Indeed, and the laser isn't bad either! :na:

 

[lazeerer]

WOW. That Lab is amazing. I never really liked Green lasers i think because of all the bad experience i had with cheap ones.

But seeing this beast i think it has changed my mind on how i look at 532nm now.:drool:

How much does this unit retail for.?

Great Review and thanks for sharing.

+:beer:

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

WOW. That Lab is amazing. I never really liked Green lasers i think because of all the bad experience i had with cheap ones.

But seeing this beast i think it has changed my mind on how i look at 532nm now.:drool:

How much does this unit retail for.?

Great Review and thanks for sharing.

+:beer:

This unit in a CNI group buy is $950 for a 400mW Rated with 10% stability, though CNI gave me a better unit to make up for all the issues. A unit that will perform like this one is >$1,200 US. for a >500mW and that is again, with 10% stability... this is more like their 3% stability which I don't even want to know the price on.

 

[lazeerer]

Thanks. Well I think especially with DPSS Laser you get what you pay for.

It looks like you got a perfect unit.:wave:

I have never seen more then 120mW of Pure Green in person before.

532mW of 532nm must be stunning.

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

Thanks. Well I think especially with DPSS Laser you get what you pay for.

It looks like you got a perfect unit.:wave:

I have never seen more then 120mW of Pure Green in person before.

532mW of 532nm must be stunning.

Yeah, 532nm is my major weakness. I can't ever say no to a nice green I have a nice collection that I have been fortunate enough to sell when I needed cash, and have now gotten the same units back.
I HIGHLY suggest you get a higher power green, though I would avoid RPLs and Viasho Handhelds :undecided:. Also, stay clear of the CNI-PGL-III-Cs over 300mW, nothing but trouble... took me years to get this working unit :undecided:

-Dustin

 

[lazeerer]

Thanks For the Tip. I will keep this in mind if i decide to get a High power Green Handheld.

But i would prefer a High Power Green lab after seeing yours.

I will probebly pick one up around Christmas time.:san: I little Gift to myself.:crackup:

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

Thanks For the Tip. I will keep this in mind if i decide to get a High power Green Handheld.

But i would prefer a High Power Green lab after seeing yours.

I will probebly pick one up around Christmas time.:san: I little Gift to myself.:crackup:

Go for it! Only thing I don't like is that its a PITA to get the beam outside

-Dustin

 

[jeffreythe00]

Nice review Dustin! Also nice laser!