Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

Buy Site Supporter Role (remove some ads) | LPF Donations

Links below open in new window

FrozenGate by Avery

Why no competitor to the Hercules?

romogracie

romogracie

0
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
155
Points
0
I'm surprised after all these years, the Hercules is still the only handheld greenie with an internal fan to give it a true unlimited duty cycle.

I've always wanted a Hercules but could never afford one. I remember a couple years ago the Hercules 800 was selling for an outrageous $12K.

It can't be that hard for another company in China to design something similar and offer it for a fraction of LG's prices... :thinking:
 





Why is LG so expensive for all of their lasers? Because they are great at designing ;) It's not easy to design something akin to the Hercules.
 
romogracie said:
I'm surprised after all these years, the Hercules is still the only handheld greenie with an internal fan to give it a true unlimited duty cycle.

I've always wanted a Hercules but could never afford one. I remember a couple years ago the Hercules 800 was selling for an outrageous $12K.

It can't be that hard for another company in China to design something similar and offer it for a fraction of LG's prices... :thinking:
Click to expand...

IMO there is simply no market for it, given the high price. Seems like it was always more a proof of concept laser anyway.

I do question the the idea of "unlimited" duty cycle.

If the price on it were lower... that would be a different story. Hopefully there are new lower priced high powered modules on the horizon.
 
I can't be certain this is true, but I think the reason why not is because this is a handheld laser of lab quality.
 
LG is actually only a distributor. CNI designs and manufactures the Hercules.

It's really too bad LPF members can't get discounted Hercules through CNI group buys.
 
Cyparagon said:
Elaborate, please.
Click to expand...

Not sure which thread I read it on, but I remember reading somewhere that the output dipped after a few minutes.

Could have been due to batteries I guess.

Besides, considering this is a handheld, and not a labbie... that precludes an unlimited duty cycle as batteries would run down, no?
 
InfinitusEquitas said:
Not sure which thread I read it on, but I remember reading somewhere that the output dipped after a few minutes.

Could have been due to batteries I guess.

Besides, considering this is a handheld, and not a labbie... that precludes an unlimited duty cycle as batteries would run down, no?
Click to expand...

The Hercules has the option of being powered by a mains power supply.
 
InfinitusEquitas said:
the output dipped after a few minutes.
Click to expand...

That just means it has insufficient/no temperature/light feedback.

InfinitusEquitas said:
that precludes an unlimited duty cycle as batteries would run down, no?
Click to expand...

And the wall power only stays on as long as I have money to pay the bill.

Duty cycle is the percent on-time; it is set at a point that will not over-heat any of the components.

PWM_duty_cycle_with_label.gif
 
Last edited:
Hercules is also the only handheld commercial laser that has a forced air cooling (via small fan) that I know of.

Also the option to run it off mains, as Cyparagon said, it also features high temperature indicator LED as well as the rest of 5 FDA standard measures, and you can even adjust the current running into the diode via small pot just above the heat indicator LED.

That coupled by the fact that it's ALWAYS overspec, and made by CNI, and actually holds the Guiness world record for most powerful green handheld laser, pretty much justifies it's price.

I'm also wondering how can you ask why isn't anybody up selling them cheaper yet.
You've got DX selling their "200mW 2x AAA pens" at a fraction of a price of an actual 200mW pen from LaserGlow or Dragon. See how that turns out?
 
RA_pierce said:
The Hercules has the option of being powered by a mains power supply.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that:o

Cyparagon said:
That just means it has insufficient/no temperature/light feedback.

And the wall power only stays on as long as I have money to pay the bill.

Duty cycle is the percent on-time; it is set at a point that will not over-heat any of the components.

PWM_duty_cycle_with_label.gif
Click to expand...

Hmm... guess my thinking about duty cycle was kind of off... I was under the impression that unlimited duty cycle meant a laser could operate indefinitely.

Thanks for clarifying:beer:

Now go pay your electric bill:na:

(Just kidding:D)
 
I've asked elswhere here. I have a WL Krypton which I am testing for power, stability and beam.
What readings are members getting for Beam divergence / diameter, stability and mode for a Herc?
The Herc was WAYYY before its time but still held in high reguard.

HMike
 
Last edited:
It is dependent on the heat sinking material's ability to move heat from the heat generating components to the air, not the output power.
 
I would still appreciate some data on a high powered HERC. Diameter, divergence and a power graph. That portable is almost a labbie in-hand !! Why is there no data on it?
Many are dissing Steve's Krypton. My review may not be his best hour but what about the HERC? Someone has to have comparable data.
HMike

I'm designing a beam expander to fit this -- hand held lens popped a balloon at 30'.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top