Advice on RGB projector rebuild

[HankLloydRight]

Hello everyone...

At FLEM I picked up a Laserworld PRO-700RGB unit from Francis (thanks!).

It's a TTL unit, and the original specs look to be the following:
Total Power typical: 700mW
Minimum output power: 600mW
Power Red: >100mW / 637nm
Power Green: >100mW / 532nm
Power Blue: >400mW / 445nm

I want to replace the lasers with slightly higher output, and change to an analog projector, using the same box and scanners, etc.

I just bought this from Laserguy216: dual 445nm 700mw & 638nm 400mw with flexdrives v3 --- images:


..which gives me to nice sized Red and Blue diodes for the transplant, as well as analog drivers.

My only part now to solve is the green. The Laserworld PRO700RGB and PRO1300RGB both come with DPSS Green.

Laserguy216 also sent me the 500mw DHOM 532nm dpss with driver, but it's HUGE -- much to big to fit in the PRO700 case (even without the driver!), so I can't use that for this project.

My question is what power Green would you suggest I put into this project? Go for DPSS or diode?

And of course, any other suggestions you can offer would be helpful, as this is my first real projector "build". I hope to have this done by SELEM.

thanks,
-Hank

[HankLloydRight]

Oh, I also have this from Laserguy: 900mw 445nm dr.lava build with flexdrive v3 but then I'm not sure what to use for red or green.

[kecked]

Dual 120mw greens or a 500mw green. 1w green as well but need to size match beams. The green and blue will match but not the red.

[Bradfo69]

I think you need to think about a 520 diode green versus dpss. For a couple reasons. One is just like the DHOM, I think you're going to find most dpss are going to have a rather large driver and that one for the DHOM is actually pretty small as far as they go. (I think I have one.) Also I think a diode green is going to give you more closely matched beam diameters. You can always get one of the 700mW 520 diodes and run it at a lower current to get it closer to 500mW. Then again.... I don't know squat about lasers.

[flecom]

brad is spot on, for that small space a 520 setup with an analog driver should do nicely

[SaltyRobot]

I would want to see the beam shape of the Red and Blue you have. If you buy the 700mw 520 green it will not be a pin point beam in my experience so you will need to have some beam correction. They also tend to have spray in one direction. If you go with two 120mw green and PBS cube them the beam will be a better shape. The shape may be just right for the red and blue or it might be too small. I agree that most likely the red is going to have the fatter shape.

Is your plan beams or graphics?

[HankLloydRight]

brad is spot on, for that small space a 520 setup with an analog driver should do nicely

Thanks, Frank! Any suggested brand/power level to match the 400mw red and 700mw blue? And where/how do I get a mount and flexmod to match? Is DTR the best place for this?

I would want to see the beam shape of the Red and Blue you have.

When I get them running, I'll post some pics in a week or two.

If you go with two 120mw green and PBS cube them the beam will be a better shape. The shape may be just right for the red and blue or it might be too small. I agree that most likely the red is going to have the fatter shape.

The box is pretty small, I'm not sure if I have enough room for that, but I can look into it.

Is your plan beams or graphics?

Both. General purpose, really. Since I think the parts are readily available, I want to turn this 700mw TTL box into a 1+ watt analog projector by swapping out the lasers and drivers, and leaving everything else in place, although I also might try to put the dicros on MM10s instead of the screw mounts they're on now.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

[Datsurb]

The 700mW diode from DTR is really powerfull, and if you use a proper piece of software, you can reduce the output power as a part of the calibration. Then you also will have a nice powerful beam box when you need it. ( Same as Brads suggestion.)


For rgb balance, the PLP520-B1 will be just a litte to short on power to fulfill. Two of those ether knife edged or PBS would be perfect. Quite tight and probably giving a fairly similar beam path as the 445 you have. As for the red 638 you have, i don`t know what diode you have and cant say for the beam profile. Some correction should be counted for.

If you are planning doing mostly beams, i would not care to much about the beam profile, and go for the 700mW green diode from DTR.

Espen

[HankLloydRight]

For rgb balance, the PLP520-B1 will be just a litte to short on power to fulfill. Two of those ether knife edged or PBS would be perfect. Quite tight and probably giving a fairly similar beam path as the 445 you have. As for the red 638 you have, i don`t know what diode you have and cant say for the beam profile. Some correction should be counted for.

Thanks. So to do this, I'd need two diodes, two heat sinks and mounts, a PBS cube and mount, and an analog driver for both diodes. Can anyone please suggest what analog driver I can use?

From DTRs site, I assume G-2 glass is better/best?

[SaltyRobot]

Can anyone please suggest what analog driver I can use?

From DTRs site, I assume G-2 glass is better/best?

I really like Dave's drivers from lasershowparts. They are dual channel so you would only need to buy one. They take about 3 weeks to come from AU and are a little expensive but always in stock AKA reliable. I have also used simpledrive from BBE they are cheaper and in stock most of the time but not always. Sometimes he has dual drivers sometimes they are single channel and once I saw a 4 channel version. I only buy the dual channel drivers when they are in stock but that is just my preference. I have also used Flexmods but was not satisfied YMMV.