thermal protection?

[Grimm]

hey guys, i just got my first medium power Green laser when i went to FRY'S in Portland. I really like it and its very bright (visible beam and all) but it seems to get a little warm and then cut power down. if its outside the cool air helps prevent this bit it seems like it does it more often indoors.
can i possibly get a better housing that will help cool it down better?

here is the one i bought: FRYS.com | TREND SOURCES

thanks for the help guys

 

[itsmei]

I would dissasemble the laser, get a good looking flashlight from DX and then get a big aluminium or copper heatsink. I got a green laser pointer and the duty cycle was about 1min so I got a nice big heat sink. I can now run it for about 5min without any heat. Remember if you put a new heat sink remember to make sure that the laser module is tight against the heat sink or add some thermal paste or heat will not travel as well.

 

[Grimm]

Thats what i was thinking, but where would i find a heatsink for the internals?

 

[itsmei]

You can either may your own on the lathe out of aluminium, or you might be able to ask a member on the forum if they can supply you with a heatsink. Just give somebody the measurments and they will do it for pretty cheap.

 

[Ash]

A heat-sink will cost over $20 to have made (unless you have your own lathe and aluminum stock).
I have re-housed a few pen-sized lasers and I have found it easier to just buy a host that is already made for green modules (12mm x 56mm) rather than getting a flashlight, and have a custom heat-sink machined by someone.
They are only ~$18 (including shipping) and they make the laser completely waterproof (well to about 3-meters) and do a great job of dissipating the heat. Really, the only thing you need to do is extract the module from the pen laser, solder a jumper across the button-switch, then press-fit (using a vice) the module into the new host.
The waterproof hosts can be found here: www.rayfoss.com

 

[itsmei]

That is a good idea Ash, it may just be cheaper to buy a good host which is purpose built for lasers. You can always get a host which is for a normall 5.6mm diode and drill the heatsink with a pillar drill to fit the green laser module but getting one suistable for a green laser module already will be easier.

 

[Grimm]

after taking this one apart some, i see the module does not look like many of the ones here, its got a large brass backing with the crystal mounted to the middle on a post while the lens is on a plastic tube that screws into the backing brass. i may just have to leave this one as is and buy some proper components :yabbem:

 

[Grimm]

also, this one has a plastic insert that holds the circuit board up in the housing, how do i get this out? it wont fit past the threads for the battery tube...