Just to calrify what Jim is saying....
When I first got the laser the diode current value I measured was above the readings I was getting on the front panel meter. So although this was only indicating up to 4.3A it was actually pumping the diode current towards 5A! So when we replaced the diode the first thing I did was find out which pot on the driver board (internal) actually set the max that the driver will supply. I have marked the pot on the attached image. I tested the current using two different methods, one with an ammeter in series with the diode feed and the other with a voltmeter across the diode ballast resistors. These are 4x 0.33 ohm resistors in parallel so their combined resistance is 0.825 ohms. Calculating the current using the voltages I was getting on my meter across these confimed that the front panel meter was way out. I set the current so it would max out at 4.3 amps and the front panel meter read 3.85A
After realigning the laser and getting it back to spec I adusted the front panel meter calibration pot (also shown on the atached image) so that the display agrees with my measurments. Testing the readings throughout the range I am confident that the meter on the front is now accurate.
It is my considered opinion that this inaccuracy of the front panel meter was the reason this laser croaked as it appeared it was only being driven to its max current when it was in fact being driven beyond this value.
Viasho owners I would measure your diode current if I were you! Simply measure the voltage across the ballast resitors (four in a row on the image just to the right of the green connector block on the top edge) and use ohms law to determine the actual current.
Rob