S-KY 500mW 532nm Laser Module.

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12-31-2007, 15:50
Laser Ben

5 Attachment(s)

S-KY 500mW 532nm Laser Module.

I was recently sent a 500mW 532nm Laser for testing from S-KY/LaserBTB. This is their DPGL-500 unit. The laser arrived last week, a few days after shipping it. I have almost completed testing. I found the manual that was included was not very descriptive and somewhat hard to understand. I have attached a new manual that I made for the laser.

The laser is for sure not a CNI as some people have thought they were. The module is very unique and the power supply appears to be as well.

Performance: The laser only just reached 500mW when it was on a setting without modulation. When provided 5V for modulation, the power was only around 325mW. When that voltage was lowered to about 4.2V, the power jumped dramatically to 501mW also at 5.3V the laser was at full power. I setup the laser with scanners and a FB3 board and the laser was able to display any pattern without any blanking problems, the laser was actually better at modulation then my dual maXYZ! The beam specs were right on, the beam is almost perfectly circular with a diameter of 2.5mm and a divergence of less then 0.75mRad at 200 yards. Laser is very stable, when tested with my new Ultima it has a stability of only +-14.33% over 30 minutes!

Quality:
This laser appears to be very well built at first glance. When I looked closer, there was 1 screw missing and the bottom of the power supply and head was slightly scratched suggesting that the laser had been used. Other then those thing, the laser is very nice and pretty high quality.

Other
The laser is loud, there are 2 fans in the power supply and another in the laser head. They blow a lot of air, but they could use being turned down a bit.
12-31-2007, 16:05
Laser Ben

3 Attachment(s)

Here are some more pictures.
12-31-2007, 16:22
pseudonomen137

Looks like you're having fun with that Ultima =P

"The laser is for sure not a CNI as some people have thought they were."
I can't help but find this comment ironic. "Some people" is you I'm assuming?

Anyway, so the results at a glance seem to say its underpower at 367mW. What is the spec'd warm up time on this unit? Any chance you can let it run the warm up time and then test its average output to see if its really as bad as it seems. Thanks! (kinda wondering because of Lava's GB too. I just got 3 lasers from S-KY, two of which were underpower)
12-31-2007, 16:27
Laser Ben

There is no warm up time spec'd, but I let it run all night and there was no noticeable change in power.
12-31-2007, 21:47
Laser Ben

Very sad news, after running for about 3 hours so I can take measurements every 10 minutes, the laser died! One second it was on and the next it went out. I have tried everything I can including turning the laser off and then waiting for it to cool down. The laser still produces about 1mW at a TEM01. I'm sending an email to S-KY now to see what they recommend.
12-31-2007, 22:45
marconi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laser Ben

Performance: The laser only just reached 500mW when it was on a setting without modulation. When provided 5V for modulation, the power was only around 325mW. When that voltage was lowered to about 4.2V, the power jumped dramatically to 501mW also at 5.3V the laser was at full power. I setup the laser with scanners and a FB3 board and the laser was able to display any pattern without any blanking problems, the laser was actually better at modulation then my dual maXYZ!

Sorry to here it died., However I have a question for you.
How did you test the modulation speed?
Also, Looking at what you spec'd for modulation characteristics I find it hard to believe it performed better, seeing that its all over the place instead of linear.
To do a proper speed test requires disassembly and tested with a scope at the diode.
or, at least with a photodetector to a scope.
Also that being a DPSS laser it has to show lag.
Altho that laser may do over 30khz ,,will it do 100khz? linearly.
If it did perform better than what I made than there is something wrong with the laser I provided you.

Just an observation
12-31-2007, 23:39
Laser Ben

I tested it with a function generator and oscillascope. Set up the function generator for a square wave at 4.5v. I set up the function generator on CH2 and a photodetector with a photodetector on CH1 and set them scaled and overlapping. It did 34k fine but started having strange artifacts past that.

On patterns, I have a show with by dots and with the maxyz modules the dots are lines where as with this one theyre dots.
01-01-2008, 00:23
thankslaser

dial my phone number or answer me via MSN

Ben,

Far away from you, I did not know the details what happened, I dial your phone,not connected well, dial my phone number or answer me via MSN...

Kevin, S-KY
01-01-2008, 00:51
marconi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laser Ben

I tested it with a function generator and oscillascope. Set up the function generator for a square wave at 4.5v. I set up the function generator on CH2 and a photodetector with a photodetector on CH1 and set them scaled and overlapping. It did 34k fine but started having strange artifacts past that.

On patterns, I have a show with by dots and with the maxyz modules the dots are lines where as with this one theyre dots.

We would be interested in your test setup.
What model detectors and how you are handling saturation.
The newer analog Maxyz are capable of well past 50khz clean. They can also pass video
should you be inclined to do so.
Sounds like you have the TTL or the old analog model. Those are only spec'd to 30khz.
Pass me the serials and I can look em up, Thanks
01-01-2008, 01:11
thankslaser

TTL 0-20K, Analog 0-5V

Have you noted that this laser is our standard type of TTL 0-20K, Analog 0-5V?

If our buyer need >30K,must tell us in advance, and without more payment.
01-01-2008, 11:58
buffo

Quote:

Originally Posted by marconi

Sounds like you have the TTL or the old analog model.

I was thinking the same thing.

Ben, the new Maxyz modules sport one of the fastest blanking circuits available for a show laser. My Maxyz module pair is faster than *EVERY* other laser I own or have ever tested, including the newest model Lasever blue that I just received from China. (Which, I'm happy to report, is now re-installed in my projector and working quite well!)

Marconi guarantees 50Khz performance on these new units, but the circuit has been tested to 120Khz, and could be pushed to 150Khz with a few mods.

Actually, the super-fast blanking (and recovery) on the new Maxyz modules is a bit of a pain if you're using Chinese lasers with them... They're so quick, they make red tails at the beginning of just about any line that has a little red in it. I need to build that delay circuit that Bill Benner was talking about in an earlier thread. (Think the circuit is still on the Pangolin website somewhere...) Sorry Chuck, but there really is such a thing as too fast! :o

Ben, my old TTL Maxyz module wasn't much faster than my original lab top Lasever Green (which was also TTL) that I've had since 2002. If you've got one of those old TTL units, then what you're reporting makes sense.

But if you've got a new Maxyz module, then either something is seriously wrong with it, or your galvos aren't tuned properly and the fast blanking recovery on the Maxyz module is showing you the "skid" of the scanner as it overshoots the point and snaps back, while the other laser doesn't come on until the galvo has already centered on the point.

Adam
01-01-2008, 18:40
Laser Ben

Well considering how crappy my galvos are, that might be the problem. The serial numbers are 394 and 393.
01-01-2008, 22:03
drlava

what you described, with the output power reaching spec below and above 5V modulation sounds like a modulation or test setup issue. It looks like you are using a directly-connected Power supply to test the modulation? How far above 5V did you go in your testing?

Sorry to hear it didn't last. But, after looking at the 'manual' at least we know your last name! :)
01-01-2008, 22:41
Laser Ben

I tested it to 5.5vwhich should be enough to get a proper output. There is also a setting on the laser where the there is no modulation. That setting is where the laser should be on gull power. It was lower power on that setting and it only produced 501mw on the modulation from the power supply. That was at 4.2V. Sorry for spelling this was typed on my phone.
02-22-2008, 19:57
Laser Ben

It's been a while, I feel that I should leave feedback. I shipped the laser back to S-KY for service after the diode died. It was shown as delivered and I sent an email asking about the status. I recieved a response saying that the company had entered a partnership with a "more valuable, important customer". I was never able to finish my review, but I would have to say that I would not buy from them given the choice. On a scale of 1-10 I would give them a 3.
02-23-2008, 05:56
mliptack

Ben thanks for the update and I'm really sorry to hear that. The 'more important customer' comment really urks me! I can believe a company would say anything like that.

Was your money refunded?

I am surprised you gave them a 3!!!
02-23-2008, 07:51
Laser Ben

I ended ip spending $275 on shipping when I was told in the contract that they would cover return shipping. I will not buy from them. Their wholesale prices to constantly changed, that let me know that they were just making it up. I would like to thank bridge for the message.
02-25-2008, 10:01
Tomcat

s-ky are not that bad but for that price what do you expect.... i have seen 500mw green for over $800 s-ky destroy all other prices but at a cost of quality
02-25-2008, 11:04
mliptack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomcat

s-ky are not that bad but for that price what do you expect.... i have seen 500mw green for over $800 s-ky destroy all other prices but at a cost of quality

Are you joking?!? Not bad for the price - Laser Ben's laser died after 3 hours of use! Granted this may be an example of an outlier in a data set, but then to follow it up with that email. That is pretty low.

-Max
02-25-2008, 16:50
Laser Ben

I would have to say that the quality was decent, nothing like a CNI laser but better then others I have used. I was dissapointed with the quality of the power supply. The head was nice, but the power supply was not very strong and it was not insulated well at all.
02-25-2008, 18:08
mliptack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laser Ben

I would have to say that the quality was decent, nothing like a CNI laser but better then others I have used. I was dissapointed with the quality of the power supply. The head was nice, but the power supply was not very strong and it was not insulated well at all.

While of course the quality of the build is important - I think longevity is also a VERY important issue to factor in. Hence my last comment.