Well, tonight I decided to tear into one of my 532nm pointers...a 65mw @ 293mA+/- draw, simply because I wanted to experience the full output of 808nm IR available. The pot simply will not go higher, and I've always wanted to see what one of the 808nm pump diodes are truely capable of...output-wise.
Everything went well, except collimation (I was using a digital camera to view output at about size at about 20 feet, also my eye protection : ). Maybe I was limited by thread length/placement for the single lens in the module, but the tightest spot I could get (looked slightly smaller than 1mm...) could only be achieved at about 2-3" away, before fanning back out. This had me also thinking, maybe some light inside was not all passing the lens, as the diode emits a line or oval-type shape un-collimated (no lens), with a high divergence. I was suprised once I removed the crystals and focused a dot...as the 808nm wavelength is very similar to a 650nm red appearance, when focused sharply. It indeed did nice smoking work on black plastic. Not the dim red people speak of actually, until a few feet away, and with the beam being diverged.
I'll try not to make this too long, but I do have some important questions...
First of all, while installing and removing the module multiple times, I broke a diode lead near the base. No biggie, as I want to install a much larger diode anyways, possibly wired to an external battery, instead of merely two AAA's.
I also pulled apart one of those "35mw" gun lasers you see all over ebay from Hong Kong I grabbed for $50 bucks, just to compare internals. (On that note, almost none of them truely output 35mw, hence the <35mw sticker, saying class lllA...wierd).
Anyways, this picture shows the 65mw Leadlight module in need of a higher-outputting diode:
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3382/modulerear1rw.jpg
Now, after comletely desoldering, how do I get the diode out, and what type of thermo-sealant should I use for the next diode? How do I know what mw range of diode I indeed have already as well?
I know this uses a 5mm diode type, but...could I machine the heatsink to 9mm, make much more surface area for cooling (remember, no heat buildup will arise from crystals anymore as well), and install a high-outputting 9mm diode instead of a 5mm? Again, this is for strickly 808nm output, not 532nm.
Also, will I need different lens's to collimate 808nm light into a low-divergence beam, or is this hard to do past a few inches, due to the wavelength/diodes properties? The goal is lighting cigarettes (friends' that is, as I don't smoke), camp fires, black balloons, etc.
If I go ahead with a much higher outputting diode, where can I find just one or two reasonably priced, and will the drive board need mods as well?
Also, here is what I still see after removing the IR filter and crystals, it's like a tinted green lens just in front of the diode, what does this actually do? Should it also be removed to increase IR efficiency once I find a way in there?:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2056/unknownlens8mt.jpg
I haven't messed with the pot on the other module (the $50 ebay "35mw" unit), but max draw on it is currently about 225mA. It uses a CR123 batt. Does this need to rise near 300mA in this case, like other pointers?
Here is a pic of the two side by side, the (was) 65mw on the left:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1968/twomodules3uu.jpg
I could even flip-flop the bodies if need be, as they both see 3v input.
Any help on this topic would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks guys.
Everything went well, except collimation (I was using a digital camera to view output at about size at about 20 feet, also my eye protection : ). Maybe I was limited by thread length/placement for the single lens in the module, but the tightest spot I could get (looked slightly smaller than 1mm...) could only be achieved at about 2-3" away, before fanning back out. This had me also thinking, maybe some light inside was not all passing the lens, as the diode emits a line or oval-type shape un-collimated (no lens), with a high divergence. I was suprised once I removed the crystals and focused a dot...as the 808nm wavelength is very similar to a 650nm red appearance, when focused sharply. It indeed did nice smoking work on black plastic. Not the dim red people speak of actually, until a few feet away, and with the beam being diverged.
I'll try not to make this too long, but I do have some important questions...
First of all, while installing and removing the module multiple times, I broke a diode lead near the base. No biggie, as I want to install a much larger diode anyways, possibly wired to an external battery, instead of merely two AAA's.
I also pulled apart one of those "35mw" gun lasers you see all over ebay from Hong Kong I grabbed for $50 bucks, just to compare internals. (On that note, almost none of them truely output 35mw, hence the <35mw sticker, saying class lllA...wierd).
Anyways, this picture shows the 65mw Leadlight module in need of a higher-outputting diode:
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3382/modulerear1rw.jpg
Now, after comletely desoldering, how do I get the diode out, and what type of thermo-sealant should I use for the next diode? How do I know what mw range of diode I indeed have already as well?
I know this uses a 5mm diode type, but...could I machine the heatsink to 9mm, make much more surface area for cooling (remember, no heat buildup will arise from crystals anymore as well), and install a high-outputting 9mm diode instead of a 5mm? Again, this is for strickly 808nm output, not 532nm.
Also, will I need different lens's to collimate 808nm light into a low-divergence beam, or is this hard to do past a few inches, due to the wavelength/diodes properties? The goal is lighting cigarettes (friends' that is, as I don't smoke), camp fires, black balloons, etc.
If I go ahead with a much higher outputting diode, where can I find just one or two reasonably priced, and will the drive board need mods as well?
Also, here is what I still see after removing the IR filter and crystals, it's like a tinted green lens just in front of the diode, what does this actually do? Should it also be removed to increase IR efficiency once I find a way in there?:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2056/unknownlens8mt.jpg
I haven't messed with the pot on the other module (the $50 ebay "35mw" unit), but max draw on it is currently about 225mA. It uses a CR123 batt. Does this need to rise near 300mA in this case, like other pointers?
Here is a pic of the two side by side, the (was) 65mw on the left:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1968/twomodules3uu.jpg
I could even flip-flop the bodies if need be, as they both see 3v input.
Any help on this topic would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks guys.