How to remove head from DX 100mW?

[joop1987]

I received my dealextreme 100mW green pointer and I have a piece of IR filter I would like to add. I can't get the head off the pointer. I put a screw in the hole and pulled as hard as I could it seems to be glued. Any suggestions?

Can I heat it up with a hair dryer and loosen the glue? or will the break something?

This is the IR filter I have: http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/tipps/uv-ir_cut_filter.htm

When I shoot my TV remote control through the filter, it does not work.

 

[pseudonomen137]

You might want to get some vicegrips and something to stick between them and the laser. Then turn as you try to pull them apart and it should eventually give. Its just a very strong press fit and you pretty much have to use brute force to beat it.

Why do you want to add an IR filter though? I cannot see much if any benefit gained unless you need the laser for a special purpose. (The main issue with unfiltered lasers is dishonest sellers claiming the mW output based on the combined green+IR, but adding a filter will not increase the green output)

 

[Aseras]

in their specs that filter will cut your 532 output by 10%+

 

[joop1987]

I want to add it to protect my eyes. I got the filter for free, so why not. The DX laser poped a balloon from 5 ft with and without the filter. I don't mind less power for a "safer" laser.

 

[Hemlock Mike]

Joop -

Use a piece of hard wood. Drill about a 1/2" hole and cut in half to make a clamp.

Put the assembly in a vice and twist/pull . That's not a dance :laughing:

Mike

 

[pseudonomen137]

I want to add it to protect my eyes. I got the filter for free, so why not. The DX laser poped a balloon from 5 ft with and without the filter. I don't mind less power for a "safer" laser.

Well, honestly the stray IR, uncollimated and not really that powerful wouldn't really be much to worry about unless you take a hit straight out of the aperture, but then again I can't say there's anything wrong with trying to make laser use more safe. Good luck.

 

[spider-cricket-hater]

hey man let me know how your project goes with adding the filter. I want to do exactly this same. Can you take some pictures and post it here ?

I would love to see what you did and how you did it.
thanks bud. you will be saviour of my eyes ( an my friends )

 

[dr_lava]

This is the IR filter I have: http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/tipps/uv-ir_cut_filter.htm

When I shoot my TV remote control through the filter, it does not work.

Depending on the power of the IR emitted, I wonder if it has a chance of ablating the thin interference coatings on that filter, since it was designed for daylight-intensity filtering.
.. are they absorptive?

either way, good luck!

 

[XP750]

my previous greenie from DX has a lens which u can twist to adjust its divergence,but u'll have to pop the front cap 1st, does this current greenie have the same thing?

 

[joop1987]

I got around to install the IR filter in the DX 100mw laser pointer. It was very hard to remove the head. I tried the 1/2" hole in wood, clamp, and pull; but it would not budge. I placed a screw in the hole and pulled it out. It took me 20 minutes to get it out. The whole laser diode assembly came out with the head. Once it was out, I could take the head off easily.

Here are some pics I took:
All Apart
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1450/apartlargeuv9.jpg

Laser Diode
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9854/diodelargene4.jpg

Head from inside
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8531/headlargeet0.jpg

IR filter I cut
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7390/irfilterlargest4.jpg

IR filter glued in head
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/310/irinheadlargeem1.jpg

PCB bottom
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3531/pcbbotlargecr7.jpg

PCB top
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5626/pcbtoplargemu2.jpg

 

[Ashton]

ok, maybe I jsut dont know what to look for... but where the POT? IIRC the DX lasers are newwish and the newwish lasers are POT Modable, arent they? I didn't see a POT on the pics posted by Joop...?

 

[X_Marine]

Great pics Joop, and good job grinding that filter down to fit.
Hope it works out ok for you.

I think adding the filter is a good idea and would ease my worries just a little..

ThanX
X.

 

[Aseras]

those pics are very good. Can you unscrew the brass housing so we can take a look at the crystal set... ( and the supposed included IR filter. ) mark it before you open it so it does not damage the focus ( might already be off by the ir filter) just unscrewn the brass can looking thing.. and don;t touch anythig with your fingers or you'll never get the oil off.. try to avoid getting dust in as well. the just screw back together and reallign with the mark.

I like the extended end cap.. MUCH hard to get dust and crap on the lense that a leadligh or other pointe. looks like some pretty heavy duty metal too.

I see no feedback circuit at all on the diode, so they are actually using the internal photodiode or there's isn't any control at all. i also see no pot or anything else to adjust. if you have any electrical experience it would be nice to know how much current it pulls while lasing.

 

[joop1987]

I tried to unscrew the brass housing but the threads started stripping so I put it back. Seems like they used loc tite on the threads to prevent opening the laser up.

I measured the current going from the batteried to the laser assembly: 480mA

Alkaline and NIMH batteries gave the same current.

 

[Aseras]

thanks!

 

[SenKat]

That is pretty interesting...it looks like they used a spring on the back side of the module to ensure that the case was grounded to the diode. Possibly to help with centering the whole board, too....

 

[pseudonomen137]

Ashton, the old NewWish boards did has a pot to mess with. The new 100mWs I got are the same type as pictured, and they're much harder to mess with. Things are glued together more solidly, and no pot unfortunately.

 

[Aseras]

did you ever find out what the pump diode's in these are? we assumed 500mw? 480ma actually sounds kinda low. I honestly expected them to be overdriving the crap out of a 500mw pump to get the most power possible, maybe the <200's will show that. kinda expected if for the 100mw's too.

 

[joop1987]

That is pretty interesting...it looks like they used a spring on the back side of the module to ensure that the case was grounded to the diode. Possibly to help with centering the whole board, too....

You place the batteries backwards in this laser pointer. The case goes to the + side of the battery. The - goes directly to the circuit board.

 

[SenKat]

Uh-oh....I can see lots of folks getting the batteries in backwards !