Ready to push the button and buy a laser....

[AndrewMawson]

Yes I noticed your mention of the lens before - are they asymmetrical then ?

[Davek0974]

yeah, flat one side and convex the other, from what i have read so far the flat side should face the work but they always put them in upside down in China :)

[AndrewMawson]

Presumably that shifts the effective place that the lens is sitting in the optic path by a bit ? Did you do before and after spot size comparisons on test burst, and if so what were the results?

[Davek0974]

Nah, should have probably ;)

I'm going through the whole lot now anyway so i'll finish with a focus ramp test.

[Davek0974]

Sorted out a few issues :)

Cutting ok now, just waiting for my power meter to see just how little there really is.

Test job :)

[AndrewMawson]

Didn't you have fun !

[Davek0974]

Damn right :)

I know a lot more now too.

I need to modify the head mirror mount as the tension screws are binding in their holes so the angle adjusters do not work properly, the tube mounts need slotting.

Tomorrow i'll be replacing the death-trap 'universal' sockets on the back with IEC ones - milled out a nice aluminium plate tonight to mount them in the original holes ;)

Hopefully my power meter will arrive soon and i can prepare to be disappointed with just how little power this tube is pushing ;)