The " Cyan Cannon " build starts

[CDBEAM777]

Well....with the holiday season almost over....it is time to start yet another " Winter Build". This time, the target is a dual Blue/Green build using the Dragon Head platform. See http://laserpointerforums.com/f50/now-completed-optically-corrected-p73-hh-design-87235.html. This build will be called the " Cyan Cannon "

See the pic of the color generated when a Green 700mW 520nm LD is combined with the Blue 2W 462 LD. This set up was done by Logsquared at PL. To my eye, this color is Cyan.....a very interesting and good looking color....likely matching about the 490nm line.

The unit will be built starting with 2" Aluminum bar stock. Just as the Dragon's Head...the power will be provided by two (2) 18650 Lipo's located under the optical platform. The laser diodes, drivers and optics will ride atop the top front half. I remain convinced that this design provides the most compact geometry to employ combining optics in a Hand Held format.

But this one will use dual diode's to generate a mixed color: Blue+Green = Cyan. A custom LD mount will capture each diode and send the beams forward. The Green beam will pass thru a Dichroic filter/mirror and then continue on thru a set of cylindrical lenses which will correct most of the beam astigmatism. The Blue beam will also go straight forward, but will then hit the bounce mirror/prism , take a 90 degree turn and enter the same Dichroic filter/mirror. The Blue beam will then be reflected by the Dichroic filter/mirror and join the Green beam and will then also be corrected by the Cylindrical lenses.

The Dichroic filter/mirror is an optic coated such that it will transmit 99 % of the Green 520nm line and reflect 98% of the Blue 462nm line. This is standard projector design and this Dichroic material has been used on several of the RGB HH units seen on LPF....so nothing new there.

The "Cyan Cannon" will however the will be the first HH to " Photon Smash " Blue and Green to shoot out a stream of photons which will appear to be a Cyan color. Lazereer did a beautiful Cyan single LD unit...see http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/488nm-direct-diode-20mw-cni-pgl-iii-c-custom-build-88160.html

But....I want more juice out the front end and less divergence....and this should shoot out about 3W of Cyan beauty ! Lot's of components packed under the clear canopy !!....but the CAD drawing sez it should all fit !!

Well, that is the plan. Thankfully LD prices have continued to fall. Gathering the parts now. I will update as the build unfolds !! See the attached drawing and pic of the Logsquared unit. Pass the popcorn and enjoy the ride.:beer:

 

[Down with Umbrella]

Subscribing, I'll trade any other beam combination for cyan. It's my guilty pleasure. Maybe I'll fire up the argon tomorrow. Best of luck.

 

[ChaosLord]

I'm definitely going to be watching this thread.

 

[dubious speculation]

It will be utterly stunning to see the finished product!

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to witness the makings of a masterpiece unfold

 

[crazyspaz]

Very nice, and good to hear from you again CDBEAM :beer:
Can't wait for updates

 

[CDBEAM777]

..." A Masterpiece " you say....Well....no.....just some LPF entertainment...and the price for said entertainment is right....almost zero. Thanks to all for your nice and encouraging comments. !!!!!!!!!!! They are appreciated !!!!:wave::wave::wave:

I am still looking for a very compact and very nicely designed toggle switch....double pole, single throw. The challenge is both micro size and nice design !!! The best ergonomic location is the back area on the Acrylic canopy. But...there is not much room there....like 13.2mm x 19.5mm deep. I could machine out a cavity within the back Aluminum full diameter section. Undecided.

For the original DH, I just used some superglue to attach the switch to the backside of the LD mount...and drilled a hole in the canopy. In this fashion. the switch was securely mounted and the switch mount nut was placed on the canopy OD....so we got a " Twofer "....as the nut also secured the canopy to the unit body.

But....I am not impressed with the aesthetics of that switch....as it looks a little too much on the "slap it together" side. I do not really want a momentary switch...although I may have to settle for that type....to have a micro size and good looks !! ??

Anyway......will post a few pics of the " Gathering of the parts" soon !!!

 

[crazyspaz]

Have you considered a latching push button switch? You can get get 16mm latching LED switches (referred to as "angel eye" on most sites) for a few bucks. You can also get 12mm in the latching type, but they are harder to find and you will be more limited on the LED color.

 

[CDBEAM777]

Have you considered a latching push button switch? You can get get 16mm latching LED switches (referred to as "angel eye" on most sites) for a few bucks. You can also get 12mm in the latching type, but they are harder to find and you will be more limited on the LED color.

YES....I forgot about a latching LED illuminated switch.....THAT would be COOL !!! See this link:
New Angel Eye Green LED 12mm 12V Metal Switch Latching Push Power Button | eBay

This might work !!! I have asked the seller for additional dimensions, I believe that the mount hole diameter is listed.....so I need a 12mm mount hole. Based on another model he sells...I would project the top crown to be 15mm in Diameter and the mounting nut to be 18mm in diameter. My eyeball sez the overall length is about 22mm ???

Might hav'ta move things around a bit....but that is exactly what I had in mind !!! Thanx Crazy !!!! :san::san::san:

 

[crazyspaz]

No problem
Yea, the overall length is about 23-24ish millimeters.

 

[Alaskan]

I love the idea of combing colors to make what you want, have been gathering parts to do much the same as you are building, except RGB diodes.

What kind of mirror mounts are you using, the type which have a angled block of brass on them which turns? I've seen that type used as well as the flex type. I can understand how the flex type work, but not the kind which uses a angled block of brass to mount the mirror to which turns. Conceptually, I don't get it, are they for mirrors, prisms or both?

 

[CDBEAM777]

I love the idea of combing colors to make what you want, have been gathering parts to do much the same as you are building, except RGB diodes.

What kind of mirror mounts are you using, the type which have a angled block of brass on them which turns? I've seen that type used as well as the flex type. I can understand how the flex type work, but not the kind which uses a angled block of brass to mount the mirror to which turns. Conceptually, I don't get it, are they for mirrors, prisms or both?

For the bounce mirror I will use a prism mirror from Lasertack. It is a mirror...in the shape of a triangle....so looks like a prism....but it is a mirror....and he has these for Red,Blue or Green....I will use the mirror for Blue....since I am bouncing the blue beam 90 degree. There is no need for a brass triangle piece as the mirror is already shaped so as not to need an additional piece. This mirror will be epoxied to a LSP flexmod mount. That is the only combination I have room for !!

The Dichroic filter/mirror will be epoxied to a Tomorrow Systems mirror mount.
It is simple and very small and again....the only unit I can buy off the shelf that is small enough and looks like it will work !!

These optical steering components are ready made...and are precision and uniform. I like to utilize these components to accomplish the beam steering.
One could " custom machine " something....but why ?????? There is enough custom machining involved in the overall build...Why add more ???
Taken to the greatest degree....I suppose I could grow/construct my own LD crystals/junction....naw !!! SO...there it is !!

Builds are a mix of off the shelf and custom components. To me....it is a matter of what is practical !! See pic below...2" Aluminum rod stock, TS Dichroic mount, LSP Mirror mount and Acrylic canopy(rough). A build takes time !!! Time to visualize, time to design, time to gather the bits, time to machine, assemble and test !! It will be a slow process....but hey...its Winter !! What else ya got da to !!!:na::na::na::eg::eg::eg:

Note: A Flexmount from LSP will adjust for Pitch and Yaw.....The TS Mount will also adjust for Pitch and Yaw. They do it in a different fashion....but they do adjust. One needs these degree's of freedom to achieve optimal alignment.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you for sharing, I will be learning from your posts how to make a RGB combiner, applying what I can from your project but it will not be completed anytime soon. I have a large number of single mode R,G & B diodes to combine, 36 of them total, 12 of each color. If someone wishes to show me how they would do it, I'd be happy for some design assistance, PM me.

 

[crazyspaz]

This may be an ignorant question, but what prevents prisms from being used like this? Excuse the wonderfully awful MS Paint drawing:

Where, similar to a PBS, one beam passes through and the other is reflected. That would make for some very nice beams in multi-diode modules.

 

[CDBEAM777]

This may be an ignorant question, but what prevents prisms from being used like this? Excuse the wonderfully awful MS Paint drawing:

Where, similar to a PBS, one beam passes through and the other is reflected. That would make for some very nice beams in multi-diode modules.

Well.....that is exactly what the Dichroic filter does !!! One beam hits it from behind (Green beam) and passes thru at about 99%...The second beam hits the front (Red beam) and gets reflected at about 98%.....But.....they must be different wavelengths !!! One cannot combine two (2) red beams.....nope !!! Gotta be different colours....Although......

There are some Dichroic filters specifically designed to pass....say 635nm and reflect 650nm....I tried one !! No luck...Extremely sensitive to incidence angle....Pita to use !!! Expensive...10% transmission loss....Fail.....So....as far as I know.....we gotta stick to different colors !!! Stink'in laws of Optics again !!!!

OH....see added pics of CC.....bits up close and beams thru a Dichroic filter/mirror....:beer::beer:

 

[crazyspaz]

Well.....that is exactly what the Dichroic filter does !!! One beam hits it from behind (Green beam) and passes thru at about 99%...The second beam hits the front (Red beam) and gets reflected at about 98%.....But.....they must be different wavelengths !!! One cannot combine two (2) red beams.....nope !!! Gotta be different colours....Although......

There are some Dichroic filters specifically designed to pass....say 635nm and reflect 650nm....I tried one !! No luck...Extremely sensitive to incidence angle....Pita to use !!! Expensive...10% transmission loss....Fail.....So....as far as I know.....we gotta stick to different colors !!! Stink'in laws of Optics again !!!!

OH....see added pics of CC.....bits up close and beams thru a Dichroic filter/mirror....:beer::beer:

I should have clarified, I made the two lines different colors for viewing sake. Could something like that work for multiple combining multiple diodes of the same wavelength?

 

[CDBEAM777]

I should have clarified, I made the two lines different colors for viewing sake. Could something like that work for multiple combining multiple diodes of the same wavelength?

No....Must be different wave lengths ! I will find and attach a typical transmissivity/reflectivity graph....say from Edmonds.

Look at the curve...we will reflect the 462 nm line just fine. We just have a high enough wavelength at 520 nm to allow that color/line to pass the filter. Edmonds has these at 35mm sq.....so will need to cut it up a bit !! or find a smaller one.

Delays.....delays !!!