Combining lenses for red dot pointers

[Gene Uselman]

I have used the LightObject combining setup which has the red dot laser in the shaft that supports the lens- a separate unit from the Mirror #1 adjustment assembly. The new laser I am setting up has the more conventional Combining lens incorporated into the #1 mirror assembly and I have never liked it, it produces two dots down stream[mirror stream] and neither is really very focused. The lens also reflects a red beam to the downstream side [onto the door covering the tubes]- I don't believe the LO setup does that, at least I have not noticed it in the 4 years I have been using it- it is no longer operational while I rework it with an new tube. I bought a different red dot LED and it makes no difference, and I have two tubes in the machine and they are both the same twin dots.
Does anyone else have experience with this type of mount? I am considering ordering the setup from LO to try it out. Thanks Gene

I found a pict or the LO unit:

beam combiner lens mount.jpg

[Gene Uselman]

Well, I got the LO mount and installed it- the red dot beam is definitely better [using the combining lens that came with the laser] still not optimal- I am going to try the lens from my old laser and see if that is better. I am still getting a split beam.

I am afraid that with the long distances on this machine four foot deep and six foot to the far side that it may not be possible to keep the red dot focused well enough.

I read somewhere which way the lens should go in- there is a small mark on one side of both these lenses- anyone????

[Pete Cyr]

Make sure to place the flat side down towards the working platform when reassembling, curved side
always faces the laser beam.

lens.pdf

[Pete Cyr]

laseraim_detail.png

You could buy a chap diode laser and mount it on your laser head -align to point instead of fighting with the beam combiner.

https://hackaday.com/2018/11/09/the-how ... er-aiming/

i saw a similar setup some years ago - the guy printed a light weight mount he incorporated into the laser head and was able to use it as a pointer for alignment. - you can buy cheap laser dots or cross hairs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012V ... UTF8&psc=1
Focusable 650nm 5mW 3-5V Red Laser "Line" Module Diode w/ driver Plastic Lens (2 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH ... UTF8&psc=1
farhop Focusable 650nm 5mW 3-5V Red Laser Dot Module Diode w/Driver Plastic Lens (2 Pack) with Clamshell Packaging

[Gene Uselman]

Thanks Pete- your idea may be the way to go... but if you can make it more complicated... story of my life.

The combining lens is flat on both sides BTW.

[Pete Cyr]

The combining lens is flat on both sides BTW.

LOL - sorry - I would put the flat side down:)

[Cad Jones]

Hmm, don't know about LO, was thinking of getting CloudRays.
Here's MW laser video on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh1ZSW4hMSs

[Gene Uselman]

That is the setup that the new laser came with [2 of them] and I could not get it [either one of them- two tubes] to not send two beams [split] down the beam path- resulting in a weak beam out of the head- I ordered the housing from LO and that is better- using the combining lens that came with the laser and even better using a lens out of my old laser which I got from LO many years ago. I believe the LO setup is easier to adjust as the red dot fires straight up the stem and the lens is adjustable. I have found that there is no standard with much of anything in Chicom lasers- it is a crapshoot. What works on one machine may not on another. Maddening.

In fairness- a lot of my problems are because of the huge cabinet size- I suspect there is a reason you do not see these very often- normally it would be a flatbed with the tube[s] on the gantry, which would make the distances the beam travels much shorter.

[Cad Jones]

Interesting, as your X is almost double his 700, so might be affecting it.
It might be the 130w, as I understand the pass-thru to only work on certain beams.

Can you post pics of how the LO setup works.

You mention straight up the stem? Are you saying there isn't a combiner, it uses the same mirror as the Tube, and red dot shines thru the tube?

[Gene Uselman]

If you look at the disassembled picture you will see wires coming out of the stem- the red dot fires straight up and the combining lens is positioned similar to the mirror in the laser head, IE- not like mirror 1 & 2- in the horizontal plane. My original laser was also a 130W [EFR] and I had the same setup on that for 4 years with not even an adjustment. Very solid setup.