Seeing red.............

[MechEng3]

Now some company needs to allow me to test a set of Nd:yag and LBO coated for 457nm. I will supply a driver,TEC controllers, and machine the laser head. The laser seen here was at SELEM......now they are nearing completion.

[ElektroFreak]

what wavelength red is that?

[MechEng3]

660nm all the way. 4 LOC's ,TEC cooled. AR coated output optics. Only one of 2 built. If I build another it will be on the multi-watt level......maybe.....but I wouldn't hold my breath. Sorry for the upside-down LC pic. There was a bit of headroom at this level....but why push the issue. 3/4 watt is plenty.

[gogu]

That looks nice MechEng, any chance of some pictures of your setup?

[300EVIL]

OH WOW! Almost a watt! Nice work Mike. That head you made sure is tiny too.

[MechEng3]

This was taken during a few test sessions using anamorphics coated for 780nm to 1064nm. I have a couple of sets coated for 628-670nm.... Melles G.... on the way. This should wrap these up. The waste beam from the cube is not that bad...something near 8mw...the fog makes them look more than it really is. Everything can be made smaller...even these. Only thing is my fingers are big and stupid around tiny objects....I can't afford manipulators for everything.....so the saga of old age and dexterity continues.

[Laserman532]

Nice setup, how is your spot overlap far field, it appears your knife edges or PBS have no movement ability?

[MechEng3]

This is true. Fixed alignment. I have always admired the Lightwave concept of mounting optics on a glass plate inside the head. Small footprint and no user servicable parts inside. So they thought. They used Torrseal to lock the optics in place after the multi armed alignment fixtures had located the optimum spot for each piece in the ring resonator. If all the major thermal issues are dealt with....is it not safe to assume it will work well? It has for several of my lasers...even a 473 that has undergone a major rebuild....inside projector at work. So it must be safe to employ in home-made lasers? I have had no issues. And for the far field spot with no optical correction it is about 15mm diameter. I hope to see a 4mm beam at apeture and 8 to 10 mm spot at 40'. I can't find a better medium between optics loss and beam quality than I have set up on these. Again it is DIY at home/work. Not a manu that makes lasers all day long. Just me playing with whats in my head again.

[Laserman532]

no, dont get me wrong, if fixturing and jigging are mechanically sound the glue method should be successful. Just the thought of building a 5 aixis micro manipulator is cost prohibitive in low volume production environment. If your spots are overlapped at 40 feet you have accomplished no minor task. My quad design (slowly leaking out of my brain and on to paper and flowing out to the garage) should be available for review in a week or two. It is a very difficult thing to do correctly. There are so many variables to consider. Even after the mechanics are solid...ya still got to overlap them damn spots...ARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG!

[sbk]

Nice job!! Always great to see a quad setup

Sometimes I tell myself I should begin a 8 or more diode setup, but remembering the multiples headaches my quad already gave me, right stop me in my enthusiasm...