Various Things

One:

Seeing Randall Munroe’s comic for the MIT Class of 2013, I was inspired to create this meme.

Two:

I got my Blu-Ray diode and now my laser is finally working!  Pics coming soon.

Three:

I went to test the power output of my lasers on Thursday, but the results were… well odd, to say the least.

I brought my 6 lasers with me: 1 50mW green pointer, a “5mW” green that was measured in October to be 55mW, an actual ~5mW green, a Blu-Ray driven at around 120-125mA, a $2 red pointer, and finally, my 300mW SKYlasers portable.

I started by testing the 55mW greenie.  With a Scientech 362, the laser reported only around 20mW.  This worried me, so I tried using a Scientech Astral calorimeter, also in the lab.  Similar results.

That was perplexing, to say the least.  I tried my 50mW pointer from LEDshoppe and got the same result.  I then tried the 300mW SKYlasers laser and got only about 75-110mW.

Even my Blu-Ray, which, in theory should be lasing at around 80-90mW based on the current it is driven at, reported around 40-50mW.

The conclusion?  Both meters were horribly inaccurate.  Alone, the fact that a pointer that was rated in October to be 55mW was now reporting 20mW could suggest two things: the meter was in accurate or the diode was dying.  However, there has been no appreciable drop in brightness or burning capability (yes, it can burn!).  Furthermore, the fact that the Blu-Ray diode (without a lens, even) was reporting far less than it should be outputting given the current it is being driven at really is a strong indicator that these meters have been calibrated incorrectly.

I am currently talking with the original owner of these calorimeters to see what to do.  I will also try to get access to other meters that are used more often.  In the meantime, I apoligize for the delay.