The problem is laser shows are not profitable enough to enable one to buy Zemax or other optical software. The software has a limited market and is very expensive. The diode laser's mode shape is just complicated enough to make doing a mathematical ray trace by hand, nearly impossible.
Not too many individuals are going to shell out 5 grand for a one year license for a piece of software.
So everything gets done by trial and error, instead of proper custom optics getting made.
Optical modeling is very expensive. For a past employer, I wanted raytrace software for a new led project. Our product sold for 5 thousand dollars a unit. We would have had to sell about eight units just to pay for the software and the led-laser add on module.
It comes down to lack of demand, plus the fact that the 445s are not a very good diode. They are not intended to be. If they were good, like a single mode diode, the interference fringes would show up in the video image, which is un-desirable.
Steve
Qui habet Christos, habet Vitam!
I should have rented the space under my name for advertising.
When I still could have...