Diode Laser ---Under the Hood 14

Stacking 2 diode laser beams onto the same spot before they entered the lens was how I anticipated power doubling (and thus intensity doubling) would be achieved. What I found was significantly different. This is only one brand of diode head, other may be designed differently. This one certainly poses some interesing challenges and offers the possibility of changing its performance in many different ways.
Hang on...this is not going to be just a boring power doubling upgrade!!

[@jeanbarbier9448]

Hey Russ, once again a nice thought provoking experiment.
As I wondered previously, I'm not really clear on how to mix the 2 beams without excessive loss in the beam combiner (I thought of very selective multilayer combiner with differing wavelength lasers). Your experiment tends to show that one laser beam is more absorbed than the other when combined...
I will wait with impatience for the next chapter...
Many thanks, Jean

[@wadhamga]

Yesterday I made 3 boxes 20mmx20mm in lightburn as a test grid. Each one different line spacing and same settings for power and speed for each. On my laser (20w), 120sp/60power. 0.1 spacing, 0.25 spacing and 0.5 spacing. I ran the grid cross grain. I then raised the laser from std height to 6mm more upwards and repeated the grid. The colour shade and depth of cut made some interesting outcomes.

[@MrOiam]

Thank you for this series,,, i have a Laser Pro Mercury 3, RF tube needs recharge. Diode or CO2 Glass has been a parallel thought. Was waiting for the 40W to be available, but with your observations, a 5 or 10 may be satisfactory.. concern is also the weight of the larger module (40w) and speed of movement (acceleration and deacceleration). Looking forward to next time,,, Thank you , Wally