Need to upgrade from DHOM

[planters]

I have a 1 W DHOM 532 and I am looking at alternative 532 sources @ 2W. The spec sheet for the Laserwave shows a beam diameter of 4mm with the typical 2mrad divergence. Hmm... Any comparisons between DHOM, CNI and Laserwave? They all cost approximately the same. The dimensions will all fit. How about beam specs,modulation, stability and I guess I should ask, reliability?

[kecked]

Only experience I have is DHOM and Laserwave. Laserwave modulation blows. DHOM is pretty good. They drift a little with temperature as expected. I'm very happy with my DHOM. If you really want GOOD modulation I have found only an AOM will do. I have one of the iris systems as well but never tried that so that might also work. I'll sell it if you want it. Brand new never used. I think I paid $800.00 for it. Also the beam on the DHOM is a lot smaller than 4mm. More like 2mm and fits my mirrors fine. Divergence while not measured is like this. 20 feet away the beam matches a corrected 445nm diode laser pretty well. Say 4-5mm on the wall. At 100 feet it is more like a 2" circle. If I use a beam expander than the beam is under 1" at 100 feet. I can't say enough about the laser I really like it. Once the direct 1 watt greens come well its gone but until than.

[buffo]

I just bought a pair of 1 watt CNI greens, and the beam characteristics are quite nice. I estimate ~ 2mm beam diameter at around 1 mrad, though I need to take some more accurate measurements to be certain.

I haven't done any modulation testing yet (just got them last week), but from what I've heard, they are at least as good as the DHOM's, if not better.

Don't know if that scales to the higher 2 watt models, but I would think the chances would be good that they would.

Adam

[planters]

Winni is suggesting the Laserwave is superior to the CNI in beam spec and modulation, but then sends a Laserwave spec sheet with 4mm beam dia and when I asked her about this she says the Laserwave has a smaller diameter than CNI?!

Buffo, if you can get some idea of the modulation and the ACTUAL power output of the 1 W then I will look at the CNI. This 4mm beam scares me a little bit.

[Shawnb]

i have a 2 watt CNI im very happy with

[buffo]

Buffo, if you can get some idea of the modulation and the ACTUAL power output of the 1 W then I will look at the CNI. This 4mm beam scares me a little bit.

I took some readings when I unboxed them just to ensure they worked. They pegged the lasercheck (natch), so I hooked up the thermal meter (old Kenom-meter design from LPF) that DZ built for me. That meter is notorious for reading low, however, yet it still registered 1300 mw or better for each unit. (As an aside, this is why I was so interested in the thread about those bare Ophir thermal heads, and yes, I bought one yesterday.)

I should have some time this weekend to do some more testing with the CNI's I've got. I can get you a better divergence reading for sure, and I can check power at various points for modulation linearity as well...

Adam

[badger1666]

Hey planters
I just got an 2w oem laserwave green from winni fired it up its doing 3w and a 3mm beam
Very happy with it not checked the modulation yet though ,but for $1400 i dont expect its perfect

[planters]

Buffo,
Thanks. How about the beam dia and divergence?

badger,

Thank you too. Any idea on divergence?

Kecked,

Ditto. How did you look at the modulation on the Laserwave? What was the problem/limit?

[badger1666]

No idea on divergence yet ,will fire it up and let you know

[kecked]

Was all by eyeball. It was very temperature sensitive and non linear. They all have a heal/knee in the curve we know that but this one had multiple places where it would drop power as the crystal heated or cooled or the day was warm or cool. Was just a mess. I now run a larger laser and stay under the knee in the temp/power curve and its linear all day. It is easier on the laser running lower power as well. They last longer. Again though none of them is perfect and I am comparing them to aom's in terms of modualtion. If it has a tail then I don't like it. If it isn't linear I don't like it.

What is funny is the only time I was satisfied was Ar/He pair on a pcaom. Just had too much power use, noise, and lack of actual usable light. So I compromised. I am now looking at quality and less power again and appreciating what an ion laser can do. I was praying that the all diode build would yield happiness but I have not gotten there yet.