Techhood, anyone have experienced with them?

[AngelG]

@Shmackitup Wow, didn't know they can be that quick. I think he has also a woman so they both work in the store. To be fair, she replied to my last question. But it's for a lens-related topic.
@RedCowboy You should ask him. I know only for S06J SLEDs: They take care not to touch them with hands, prepare a big drop of solder tin to cover the both leads at the same time, then quickly touch them with it and remove the thin PCB.

 

[Shmackitup]

@Shmackitup Wow, didn't know they can be that quick. I think he has also a woman so they both work in the store. To be fair, she replied to my last question. But it's for a lens-related topic.
@RedCowboy You should ask him. I know only for S06J SLEDs: They take care not to touch them with hands, prepare a big drop of solder tin to cover the both leads at the same time, then quickly touch them with it and remove the thin PCB.

I'm guessing that they're just getting to work when I'm trying to go to bed!

 

[AngelG]

Something like that. They've got some copper hosts which suspiciously resemble the well known Aixiz ones. They sell them 3 pcs for $9 (with acrylic lens). I didn't try 'em though.
Edit@05.12.2016: Today arrived my orders. Among everything, there were 2 diodes SLD3237VF which are different. I'll post pics.
The first one has markings on the package and the crystal holder inside looks different from the second one which doesn't have any markings.... With small current, well under the Ith, it emits bluish light just like the other 405 nm diodes... Which one is genuine and which one is fake ?!

Attachment#1 - contents of one of my orders; Attachment#2 - Diode#1 - markings
Attachment#3 - Diode#1 - from top; Attachment#4 - Diode#2 from top (it has no markings)
Attachment#5 - Side - to - side comparison.

 

[AngelG]

Robinson kindly responded to my question and said that the new batch from Sony's factory comes with the markings and the new crystal holder. Also that we shouldn't worry, since the other parameters are the same.
I'll be able to confirm the power output after I have a LPM.
SLD3237s should yield 250 mW @ 200 mA drive.

 

[RedCowboy]

Just scored some NUBM's to test with different lenses while keeping the GBalls intact, will see how long shipping is.

 

[Alaskan]

I am very interested if when the Gball is intact whether another lens can be used in front of it to further focus the beam to infinity, and what focal length is needed to do so. Edit: well... I shouldn't say "whether", I know we can do that, but I'm wondering if something like a G2 can be used for that and if there is enough room with a DTR module to do so.

 

[RedCowboy]

I know it can be done, it's just a matter of finding the right set up, maybe a large cyl pair and a homemade expander.

This was one makeshift expander I know I have posted this video before but my 06 died a while after I de-canned it so I didn't do any more testing, but it can be done and when the next GBall comes along, maybe a nubm10 or nubm12 that puts out about maybe a dozen watts I will want to use it with the GBall intact and likely an expander type setup as I am not looking for a projector type line, although there should be a single lens solution as well the expander will be better for burning across the basement.

--

-----------edit-------------

Along the line of your original question, with a diode such as the nubm06 I would think a low power single element lens would work best, maybe take apart a 3 element and try just the thin lens, I won an auction for an 06 and possibly will get another 08 but it will likely take a month to get here on the Chinese slow boat, but when I get them I will test many lenses, I have quite a collection of scavenged lenses.

We should be able to calculate what we need, maybe a bit wider and longer FL lens would be nice, but the big killer is the divergence, although for 50 feet and under a single element that's pretty shallow, rather a low power lens would probably be a good choice.

 

[Alaskan]

Those are some good ideas, I sure would like to know the solution to this, I'd rather not remove the GBall after hearing of so many eventual failures when they are removed, what ever the reason.

 

[RedCowboy]

UPDATE:

I won an auction for a NUBM06 from TECHHOOD Sunday 8th and the diode is here on the 24th, so 2 weeks is not bad from China, not bad at all.

Apparently not all NUBM's have the same GBall as we have seen before, this one prints a little thicker than my last. The pics were both at 15 feet.

This was the print from my last nubm06 at 15 feet with factory GBall intact, and the 2nd pic is my new nubm06 at 15 with factory GBall.

It is a good burner up close and pops out an open flame on wood.

I do not have a power measurement, I am running a SXD at 4.0a and the draw is 2.3a at 8.2v, but that doesn't tell us much except that this diode's driver is drawing 75% of what my typical NUBM44 build would with a 4.5a SXD. I would say it is good and reasonably within spec from what I have seen and measured.

It's a fun desktop burner for 40 bucks, 55 if you count the host and chunk of bar stock, I have batteries so I won't count those, or the cost of my safety glasses which are a MUST have before you ever use one of these lasers.

Anyway shipping was great at 2 weeks and the diode is strong and bright, I can easily see it's more of a 450-455nm than 445nm when safely viewing the beam.

-----EDIT-----

Oh I forgot to mention, the pins were full length and clean, this looks to be a brand new diode.

-----EDIT-----

Not to get too far off topic, but adding a sanwu 3X expander extends the burning fun. You can add the expander with the GBall intact using the adaptor and an emptied out 3 Element housing and a shim or you can accept the shorter lifespan associated with removing GBalls and use a 3 Element and 3X for a real easy and enjoyable laser, as always SAFETY FIRST, Laser Safety Glasses that attenuate the wavelength you are working with are a MUST have.

 

[AngelG]

So far his things work - I've tested the BDR209 diodes he sent (sbd allowed me to win 'em), they're reportedly dismantled from BDR209s. So far they arrive in working condition (I have several yet to come). I won also a Mitusibishi ML501P73, which looks brand new (though I don't know what to do with it ).

 

[paul1598419]

So far his things work - I've tested the BDR209 diodes he sent (sbd allowed me to win 'em), they're reportedly dismantled from BDR209s. So far they arrive in working condition (I have several yet to come). I won also a Mitusibishi ML501P73, which looks brand new (though I don't know what to do with it ).

Drive that ML501P73 at 1.1 to 1.4 amps and you should get around 1 watt of 638nm red/orange laser light. the beam divergence is awful, though.

 

[Dutch67]

UPDATE:

I won an auction for a NUBM06 from TECHHOOD Sunday 8th and the diode is here on the 24th, so 2 weeks is not bad from China, not bad at all.

Apparently not all NUBM's have the same GBall as we have seen before, this one prints a little thicker than my last. The pics were both at 15 feet.

I've found this to be the case as well. On two of my NUBM05 builds the dots were not as tight as I would have liked them to be. My NUGM01T is also a little unfocused on one axis as well. Either way it is nice to not have to buy a lens or deal with open cans

 

[lasersbee]

I've never had any problems ordering from Techhood
and Robinson is always there to answer questions.
We have an order on the way as we speak...

Jerry

 

[Alaskan]

He doesn't do too bad at English, but from time to time I see problems in his listings, or communication, but I believe he wants to be honest, not like many China ebay sellers who just want money, doesn't matter to them otherwise.

 

[lasersbee]

He's not an English Grammar graduate but I
can easily understand his written messages.
He!! his English is 1000 times better than my
Chinese... Which is non existent...

Jerry

 

[AngelG]

Drive that ML501P73 at 1.1 to 1.4 amps and you should get around 1 watt of 638nm red/orange laser light. the beam divergence is awful, though.

ThanX for the advise, for the divergence - I thought it's single-mode....
With "don't know what to do" I mean that with 660nm's I heal, with 405nm I expose PCB, with 638 I .. um ... probably have fun I think these are sold as 500mW rather than 1W.