Another project red?

[logsquared]

do you have any pics of your setup?

No pics yet. At this point I have only one mirror mount machined and mounted to a scrap piece of plate to test stability i am going to try and machine the rest of the 8 combiner today and hopefully finish it on sunday. i only have 4 LOC + aixiis modules right now. Hopefully the other4 get here soon.

Anyone have a good source for the LOC diodes? Seems like the aixis ebay site has the best deal on the barrels (10 for $25 with plastic) and glass lenses ($5 each). If the 8 banger works well i want to build two 18 or 28 combiners and PBS them together. Need lots of diodes for that!

[hobbybob]

@logsquared:
You just missed a great groupbuy !
5 dollars for a sled containing a LOC diode and mirror.

I am very interested in your build and look forward seeing your pictures !
Especially the 8 or greater number of diodes combined.

[daedal]

Anyone have a good source for the LOC diodes? Seems like the aixis ebay site has the best deal on the barrels (10 for $25 with plastic) and glass lenses ($5 each). If the 8 banger works well i want to build two 18 or 28 combiners and PBS them together. Need lots of diodes for that!

Shameless plug...

See my signature

I do have PBS cubes and drivers as well that will be posted on there by the end of Sunday

--DDL

[hobbybob]

@DDL: any info on the PBSes and drivers ?
PBS: Transmission/reflection losses, for what colors etc ?
Drivers: positive / negative drivers ? Max. drive current ?

looking forward seeing more info on them. Cool addition to your shop !

[p1t8ull]

I have used the 7020H from Roithner before and using a LOC diode got beam with about 3x5mm hotspot area out of it with ~.3mR divergence.
These are AR coated and less lossy than either the acrylic or glass Aixiz, not quite as good as a LENS27 but they are a fraction of the price..
If combining >4 diodes and don't object to using a 3x or 3.5x telescope to correct the beam then these seem like a cheap way to go

[hobbybob]

I have used the 7020H from Roithner before and using a LOC diode got beam with about 3x5mm hotspot area out of it with ~.3mR divergence.
These are AR coated and less lossy than either the acrylic or glass Aixiz, not quite as good as a LENS27 but they are a fraction of the price..
If combining >4 diodes and don't object to using a 3x or 3.5x telescope to correct the beam then these seem like a cheap way to go

But what will a telescope cost ? Dunno what to look for and who is selling them and what prices should be expected ? Then you save on the lenses but spent it all on a telescope ?
Maybe a telescope can be had cheap ? If so, where ?

[shrad]

hi guys

for what I know, as soon as you have more than 4 diodes you'll need a telescope (at least a 2:1) if you don't wand to end up with a fat beam

you can then either buy a telescope, or build one yourself with two lenses

[p1t8ull]

Andy posted a way to get going here with a pair of lenses as a telescope.
If using a 3x or 3.5x telescope with 7020H (.3mR) collimators for example, a telescope is not only required to make a smaller beam but also works out a hellava lot cheaper as the diode count rises.

Back on to the best collimator for the job.. apart from shifting the beam diameter/divergence to a more acceptible specification, when combining > 4 diodes there are other advantages to having longer FL lenses and bigger diameter beams as opposed to the shorter FL LENS27's and CAY046's etc. especially when knife edging them together. For one it's easier to work with the larger diameter beam, secondly smaller gaps between individual beams result in a more dense beam with smaller overall diameter.

The only thing about the 7020H is that being an acrylic I wouldn't like to say how well they will hold up if the LOC's are wound up to silly current, maybe Andy will have some details on these lens' performance as his build progresses

[andy_con]

listen to the man (p1t8ull) he really does know what hes talking about.

[hobbybob]

Thanks p1tbull, will look into the lenses and see what they cost.
What is, by approximation, the distance needed between the lenses for a nice result ?