I ordered a cheap laser cutter on ebay that said it uses a 405nm 500mW laser diode. It appears to cut through paper going around 100mm/Min. I bypassed the laser with an analogue current meter and measured 2A being sent to the laser!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/500Mw-Deskt...ng-Logo-Picture-Marking-Printer-/252004276014
I've looked up similar 405nm 500mW laser diodes sold separately through eBay, and they call for ~400mA typical. This either means that the diode was being overdriven by >4x, or that I was actually shipped a 2000mW laser diode??
Curiously, when I hook the diode up to a FlexMod P3 set to deliver 400mA, it won't cut paper like it does with the original driver. So I guess my question would be, just how far above the "typical/recommended" current can these diodes be driven? Was I shipped a laser cutter that would have self-destructed after some hours/days of use?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/500Mw-Deskt...ng-Logo-Picture-Marking-Printer-/252004276014
I've looked up similar 405nm 500mW laser diodes sold separately through eBay, and they call for ~400mA typical. This either means that the diode was being overdriven by >4x, or that I was actually shipped a 2000mW laser diode??
Curiously, when I hook the diode up to a FlexMod P3 set to deliver 400mA, it won't cut paper like it does with the original driver. So I guess my question would be, just how far above the "typical/recommended" current can these diodes be driven? Was I shipped a laser cutter that would have self-destructed after some hours/days of use?