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Thorlabs Beam Block LB1

MadEye

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Aug 6, 2011
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Hi Guys,

I know there are many easy ways to build a beam dump yourself, and actually for the "low power lasers" we are using there is no real need for a beam dump, but I always wanted a professional one, and when I found the Thorlabs LB1 fpr 42,20€ (about 56$) I really could not resist cause its the cheapest professional one Ive seen and its rated for less then 10W, which is actually perfect for this Hobby Lasers we have.

So I made my order with Thorlabs, I had to pay with credit card and after a few hours I got an answer: Since Im a new private customer I had to fill out a form about some personal data and what I will need the parts for. Ok, not really necessary for a beam block, but I think I can live with that. I filled everything out, mailed in back, and the next day I got my order confirmation and a few hours later the UPS tracking ID, and just the next day I got my new Beam Block :).

It is made of a lot... maybe about 100? thin slices of metal which are made deep black on the 2 larger sides. It came with a Post which is simply mounted with a screw. Since a surface that was made for absorbing light is not that easy to photograph I made a small drawing to show you its shape.

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The laser dots are still pretty good visible on the absorbing area (even on 1 or 5 mw lasers) but it really does a good job, I pointed my 1W Labby on it for a few minutes on it, and I never felt that little impressed by my laser... Even it was on 1W I could look on it without safety glasses (I do not recommend this, of course! :tsk:) without getting any of this "silhouettes" (This "dots" you can see after looking in the sun or a bulp, you know ;) ) in my eyes... I actually even rechecked its output, but playing with 1W felt more like playing with 1mW...

NOTE: My iPhone made the dots look brighter then they were in real... For the eye it was more blue and not this bright white one, as I told you I could look at it with my bare Eyes.

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When I ordered this I was a little skeptical cause its completely open, and after shining my 1mw Laser on it I was even more sceptical, but after I tested it I really must say this little thing is a perfect target for high power diodes (since its for max. 10W you cant use your 60W CO2 of course) and DPSS lasers we hobbyist use.

Here you can see a comparison between the Beam Block (left) and a black, NOT GLOSSY piece of plastic (right).

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I know I could have got the same result with a blackened stone, but with this one I can even do some long tests without worrying to destroy the paint or coating, so i think 42€ was a pretty good deal. And since its rectangular you can remove the Post to get a small portable Beam Block with a secure stand.

And before I forget... I already got some gummi bears with online orders, but I think Thorlabs really topped all... ;) That was quite a funny surprise.

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So if you have any question, feel free to ask, I also can do some more tests, but now I dont really know what I could try out with this. Too bad I got no 10W green laser here :(.

-MadEye
 





Joined
Feb 18, 2012
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Hahaha! How come they give you snacks with a laser block? That's soo random lol
 
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
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Does anyone else want to order one of tgese JUST to get the food? Or is it JUST me? Maybe im crazy d:
 
Joined
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I usually end up with the THORLABS granola bars. They're quite tasty.
 

Wytry

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Feb 20, 2012
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Quite interesting, but is it useful? How looks the dot compared to some black heatsink or lpm sensor?
 

MadEye

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Aug 6, 2011
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Total replies: 7
replies about food:6
replies about beam block: 1

As I showed in the main post compared to plastic, black -not glossy- plastic was much brighter. I could do a few new pics tomorrow where I compare it to black anodized aluminum and my Laserbee Sensor. Have I mentioned you get some food with it? :p
(I just ordered an Od4 Filter from Thorlabs, to take a closer look on this "green dot" from low powered laser through Eagle Pairs Issue) and they did it again... Looks like every Thorlabs Order get a Lunchbox...^^)

And actually, I dont want to disassemble it, because this thin "slices" are so nice aligned to each other, but I have a storng feeling this beam block is made of razor blades... :)
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
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haha I also want one just for the snacks! Amazing what a little free food can do for your business these days, well done Thorlabs ;) :beer:
 
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