Laserscope collimation (or lack thereof)

Thanks to everybody (especially Jon) for the tips and photos throughout this thread!

For reasons of cost, complexity and divergence, I have decided to build the aerial beam projectors on to the Laserscope optical tables, with some very sturdy trusses to lift them! >:) I will probably use Jon or Pat's idea to move or replace the collimating lens to up-collimate a little for 10mm beam with lower divergence. 10mm aperture Eye-Magic galvos arrived just as I was typing this post!

I'm still interested to fiber couple some other projectors, and I would like to be able to repair them, so I have decided to have a go at terminating fibers myself. I see your point about buying kits because the process looks very involved, but I have a steady hand and the tools are not very expensive to try. If it turns out to be too tricky then I will buy kits from PPFX or OSLS.

FYI, I found Thorlabs seems to have an OK price and a good range of suitable fibers.

Best regards,

weartronics

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Originally Posted by weartronics

Thanks to everybody (especially Jon) for the tips and photos throughout this thread!

For reasons of cost, complexity and divergence, I have decided to build the aerial beam projectors on to the Laserscope optical tables, with some very sturdy trusses to lift them! >:)

I'm still interested to fiber couple some other projectors, and I would like to be able to repair them myself, so I have decided to have a go at terminating fibers myself, it's not very expensive to try. If it turns out to be too tricky then I will buy kits from PPFX or OSLS.

FYI, I found Thorlabs seems to have an OK price and a good range of suitable fibers.

Best regards,

weartronics

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I am not a huge fan of connectorized fibers with the yag. With every other laser i am, but not the yag. I prefer to divide the beam in at least 2 parts but 4 is better and go with 10x microscope objectives and a standard Newport fiber launcher. It is easy to strip and cleave a 100 micron glass fiber and chuck it up in 5 minutes. Polishing and so forth should be reserved for lower power lasers where time is allowed to get it dialed in.

if you dammage a connectorized fiber it is a PITA to get it going in a hurry (if necessary) It really sucks to burn your fiber 30 minutes to show go, connectorized fibers cant be repaired in 10 minutes...well that would be rushing it.;)

Hey Pat, that's another good idea I hadn't considered. The 10X objectives I have seen are NA 0.25, but that's too big for NA 0.22 fiber, right? Or is there a trick I missed... :D

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Originally Posted by weartronics

Hey Pat, that's another good idea I hadn't considered. The 10X objectives I have seen are NA 0.25, but that's too big for NA 0.22 fiber, right? Or is there a trick I missed... :D

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hhhhhmmm it might have been a 20 x but I dont think so:confused: depends on what fiber you are using of course. Pick a fiber, match the NA;)

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Originally Posted by dsli_jon

... In fact, I'd bet you could just rig one of these dye heads up-to a 532-deck (maybe an over-under config) and DIRECT-pump it (lose the fiber, and you'd also have-to do a little minor optics-rework in the dye head...) with 30+ Watts, and see 8-10W of Red!!...Imagine that...10W of 629nm!!! :eek::D

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Here I have installed the dye laser cavity onto a KTP yag and have achieved 14.6W of red with excellent beam quality and dye life. The dye circulator is behind the front door of the yag. I can split off green to mix with red creating yellow, orange, etc.

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Originally Posted by Photonbeam

Here I have installed the dye laser cavity onto a KTP yag and have achieved 14.6W of red with excellent beam quality and dye life. The dye circulator is behind the front door of the yag. I can split off green to mix with red creating yellow, orange, etc.

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nice job! Looks Great!:)

That looks interesting ! What's the origin of Your dye cell ?
Running just plain Rhodamine 6G in water/alcohol mixture ? Any boosters ?
Piotr.K

16.4watts of red.... wow

Where do I have to go to see a show with this red?
Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Photonbeam

Here I have installed the dye laser cavity onto a KTP yag and have achieved 14.6W of red with excellent beam quality and dye life. The dye circulator is behind the front door of the yag. I can split off green to mix with red creating yellow, orange, etc.

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Please post pics of that baby kicking ass !!