Looking for help with beam combination

[shobley]

I'm looking to combine my two 532nm lasers into a single projector.

Can someone give me some pointers on obtaining the right polarizing beam combiners, and how you go about constructing such a system?

Thanks,
Steve

[sugeek]

I'm looking to combine my two 532nm lasers into a single projector.

Can someone give me some pointers on obtaining the right polarizing beam combiners, and how you go about constructing such a system?

Thanks,
Steve

You can get a 532nm green combiner from gottaluvlasers (ctlasers)
https://www.ctlasers.com/purchases/p...ubes-p-50.html

and use an MM1
https://www.ctlasers.com/purchases/m...ount-p-59.html
or http://www.microlaserlabs.com/index....9vftf3eg4llqq0

Some people physically turn one laser on the side others get they custom made to separate polarization. Another choice is to use a half wave plate, but that would add a large loss. I would talk to Marc of ctlasers he will give you some pointers! It would probably be easiest to use two MM1's so the lasers can sit next to each other rather than in an L position taking up lots of room.

-Adam

[shobley]

Thanks, I bought one of the cubes but I only seem to be able to split my laser 50/50 with them.

I've tried rotating the laser head, but the split seems to remain the same...

Is there some method to making a cube combine beams?

Steve

[allthatwhichis]

You may have a poorly polarized laser then; or you just got a 50/50 beam splitting cube instead of a PBS. What are the polarization specs on your laser?

[Laserman532]

agree allthat, you first need to determine if your laser is vertical...or horizontal...or neither. One way to do it is with a half wave plate but you would need to know the polarization of the plate with respect to its orientation. If you do not have a half wave plate use a pair of polarized sunglasses and look at some glare of splatter of beam. Rotate the sunglasses and you will see it go from dark to bright if bright and your sunglasses wont fit your face its vertical...if it is dark and the sunglasses will fit on your face it is horizontal. If that makes any sense...

[Stoney3K]

You may have a poorly polarized laser then; or you just got a 50/50 beam splitting cube instead of a PBS. What are the polarization specs on your laser?

Maybe the cube's just the wrong way round? I'm not sure if PBS cubes have any specific orientation (have an 'entry' and an 'exit' side), but I'm guessing they haven't and behave like dichros.

Anyway, if you need more power to run your harp, you can always throw in a Bluray to make it cyan. But don't forget I did that first!