Wicked Lasers - lying about tracking info

[ScottW]

No one is debating that there are no other RETAIL alternatives. ... There are other builders here that can probably pull it off too. Or try it yourself. It maybe be difficult to get the alignment right but the actual work to set it up is easy. And none of these other alternatives should cost you close to $400.

A good answer, and I was following you up until the claims it is "easy" and "close to $400".

I still find it difficult to believe their isn't another RETAIL option. Maybe from some "not-so-well-known" company? How can WL have something so unique? They are big on cosmetic uniqueness, but generally not what I would call "innovative" with the guts of their products. And Chinese companies copy each other all the time. So it doesn't make sense to me that WL is the ONLY source for a high power 635nm with beam correction.

But as for a custom build... If custom builds with corrective optics were easy or cheap, they'd be common. You'd see builders (and manufacturers) doing it all the time.

The parts for a standard build with machined host are about $250. That leaves $150 budget for someone to develop/design the optics, buy the lenses, prototype and test the optics, and the additional costs (beyond a standard machined host) for a one-off design/build to hold those optics. All that for $150? Are the optics designer and builder supposed to donate their time to my build? Are the lenses free?

I'm trying to believe. I want to believe. But the facts just don't support it. You might as well be asking me to....

 

[ScottW]

Good info, BC. Thanks for the time and effort you put into that lengthy reply.

You make some good points about "demand". Perhaps 635nm (and 650-660nm, too) just don't sell well and perhaps that explains why more companies haven't put more R&D into a corrected 635nm product.

I disagree with your opinion that it is "easy" to custom build an optically corrected 635nm. You cite two experimental builds by two VERY skilled and experienced builders, then extrapolate that into "easy"? No. Reading those threads it is clear it wasn't "easy" even for experts, and it certainly wouldn't be easy for the average builder. And while CDBeam777's build is awesome, that approach doesn't lend itself to a compact, portable handheld like we are discussing here.

I also differ with you on price estimates. $45-$75 for a one-off, custom designed and machined host that can accommodate custom optics and heat-sink 750mW+ adequately? That's not happening unless someone is giving away their design and fab time, which would be completely unfair to assume. It might be practical for a builder that was able to do the host design and machining himself, but that excludes the vast majority of us.

You say it isn't worth extra cost to have beam correction, and I say it is. There is no "right" or "wrong" on this point; we just have different opinions and tastes. We probably drive different cars, too.

Hopefully we are close to a point where we can "agree to disagree" as I think we have beaten the horse pretty thoroughly. I still want a high power corrected 635nm, and would prefer to find a proven, off-the-shelf solution because building -- even by expert builders like Lazeerer or CDBeam777 -- has been documented as difficult.

Maybe as more high power red diodes come on the market, some great company (I'm talking to you, JetLasers) will find it profitable to produce something with beam specs similar to the Inferno. A PL-E Pro 1W 635nm with correction optics would make me a happy camper!

 

[atisvt99]

Where the heck is Gray??

Sheesh, that was a little uncomfortable to read at times...

 

[ScottW]

Where the heck is Gray??

Sheesh, that was a little uncomfortable to read at times...

Hey, it was uncomfortable to write at times.

I'm currently working with Gray to diagnose/resolve a problem with my PL-E Pro 800mW 532nm. I don't want to distract him from that, LOL.

But once that's resolved, I'm definitely going to hit him up about a higher power 635/650 with optics and see if he can suggest anything!