Recent content by LightStick

A general NooB question. Lasers, by definition, generate coherent light. But all the lab builds and kits I see on this site (I might be wrong here) use a lens. What is the purpose of the lens, if the light beam is already tight? Thanks.

Thanks to all for the "welcomes" and helpful info for this noob. I just picked up a 532nm pointer and I want much more. The intense blue of the 445nm diodes looks great too. I will probably build a bench version before I get into a mod.

laserbee, thanks for the good info. I plan to lurk here for a while, absorbing everyone's experience and knowledge, before I attempt a project.

This looks like a cool site. My hope is to learn enough to build a cool laser (what an original thought, eh?) What really intrigues me, tho, is how you guys are able to build these things that put out hundreds and hundreds of milliwatts from diodes that seem to be rated much lower. I have much...