| Author |
Message |
Proctor
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 2478
Picture(s): 2
Location: Surfing Eta Carinae
|
 Posted: 10/07/06, 9:47 PM Post subject: |
 |
|
| Knight of Myth wrote: |
| OK, I just got a brand new Q-tip and applied a very small amount of 91% alcohol, rubbed the lens lightly in one direction, then flipped the Q-tip around and dried it. The dot looks exactly the same. Could my lens be scratched? What is wrong? |
Dont use alcohol. Buy special solution. At sunglass hut they have the package of the lens solution and a very nice microfiber cloth. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Gadgeteer
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 2304
Location: North Texas
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Proctor
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 2478
Picture(s): 2
Location: Surfing Eta Carinae
|
| Posted: 10/07/06, 9:58 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| Gadgeteer wrote: |
| Any chance that you used too much solvent the first try that could have contaminated the backside of the lens or IR filter? |
Yeah, That sounds right. The backside of the lens got contaminated one when I poured some of the solution in. I let it sit front down and it eventually dried back to normal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Knight of Myth
Nexus Laser
Joined: 29 Aug 2006
Posts: 109
|
| Posted: 10/07/06, 10:00 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| How long did it take to dry? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Proctor
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 2478
Picture(s): 2
Location: Surfing Eta Carinae
|
| Posted: 10/07/06, 10:03 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| Knight of Myth wrote: |
| How long did it take to dry? |
Dont remember, but I just left it there for say maybe an hour and it was fine. Leave it aperature facing down, standing up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gadgeteer
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 2304
Location: North Texas
|
| Posted: 10/07/06, 10:59 PM Post subject: |
|
|
NOOOOoooooo!!!
This is what can cause the "staining" I mentioned!!!
You can not let the solvent dry like that or it basically becomes part of the anti-relfective coating. Ken, you have one hell of a cam there and the optics are very similar so take note.
First dust off the lens with clean dry air (again, canned air, not from a compressor), then with clean and dry hands and a clean microfiber cloth or clean q-tip apply a small amount of solution to the "tool" (cloth or q-tip) and use that to clean. It should be clearly evident that the solvent evaporates in a second or less while cleaning the lens. Otherwise, you are using WAY too much solvent that will and likely cause streaks.
If you do pour a solvent into the end of the laser then the best of luck to you and looks like I have more work coming in for repair. Highly not advised.
The output/focusing lens is not sealed on the holder and contamination of the backside can certainally occur if you are not careful. There is also the IR filter on the opposite side of the holder that is sealed rather well but contamination of that surface will result in the same distortion pattern seen.
_________________
http://gadgeteer.home.pipeline.com/laser/laser.htm
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/gadgeteer_x1/albums |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Proctor
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 2478
Picture(s): 2
Location: Surfing Eta Carinae
|
| Posted: 10/07/06, 11:07 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| Gadgeteer wrote: |
NOOOOoooooo!!!
This is what can cause the "staining" I mentioned!!!
You can not let the solvent dry like that or it basically becomes part of the anti-relfective coating. Ken, you have one hell of a cam there and the optics are very similar so take note.
|
Ok well what do we do in the situation where solution gets in the lens. I let it dry and it appears to be all fine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gadgeteer
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 2304
Location: North Texas
|
| Posted: 10/08/06, 9:39 PM Post subject: |
|
|
You lucked out! Usually it will cause the scattering seen in the pic. The way to correct the issue is to use a lens tissue or q-tip to soak up the solvent and gently smooth and dry away the area where the beam will pass through. This will prevent the microscopic particles from turning into cement and bonding with the anti-reflective coatings.
There is a scratch/dig factor that defines the surface quality of a lens and how smooth the surface is. Small particles can fill these voids and scatter the light. You are exactely right that scattering limits the power that would otherwise be part of the beam.
Water is one of the worse things that can cause staining. Even filtered steam distilled water from a brand new jug can cause water spots on an optic if left to dry on its own.
Something even more evil is fingerprints as the acidic oils will etch right into the coating. Fingerprints should be removed as soon as possible provided that proper cleaning supplies are at hand, nuther words, don't go using the t-shirt and just wait until you have clean cleaning supplies.
_________________
http://gadgeteer.home.pipeline.com/laser/laser.htm
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/gadgeteer_x1/albums |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Proctor
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 2478
Picture(s): 2
Location: Surfing Eta Carinae
|
| Posted: 10/08/06, 9:58 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| Gadgeteer wrote: |
You lucked out! Usually it will cause the scattering seen in the pic. The way to correct the issue is to use a lens tissue or q-tip to soak up the solvent and gently smooth and dry away the area where the beam will pass through. This will prevent the microscopic particles from turning into cement and bonding with the anti-reflective coatings.
There is a scratch/dig factor that defines the surface quality of a lens and how smooth the surface is. Small particles can fill these voids and scatter the light. You are exactely right that scattering limits the power that would otherwise be part of the beam.
Water is one of the worse things that can cause staining. Even filtered steam distilled water from a brand new jug can cause water spots on an optic if left to dry on its own.
Something even more evil is fingerprints as the acidic oils will etch right into the coating. Fingerprints should be removed as soon as possible provided that proper cleaning supplies are at hand, nuther words, don't go using the t-shirt and just wait until you have clean cleaning supplies. |
Yeah, I have a lens that I took to the fair and forgot my UV filter, so I got water on the lens and I still can't get the watermarks off. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gadgeteer
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 2304
Location: North Texas
|
| Posted: 10/08/06, 11:10 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah, and I know it sounds funny for someone to seriously recommend going to a LIQUOR store and buying Everclear for cleaning lens but Walmart does not carry methanol, my solvent of choice. I forget what proof that stuff is, 140 I think and don't keep it around or I would just drink it.... KIDDING!!!
In reality, you need a solvent that evaporates quickly and this is why sometime acetone can be used in a pinch but acrylic lens as in the Pulsar and acetone DON'T mix. Actually they DO!! Turns it into a pile of goo!  so fair warning!!!
I just really wanted to add the quick note that when cleaning, if there are little droplets left behind after gently wiping the face of the optic then you are using to much solvent and it will cause stains just like the one brother Ken mentioned. There should be an obvious evaporation as you move the tissue, tip, wipe. whatever. Do not let the solvent dry on the lens as stated before.
_________________
http://gadgeteer.home.pipeline.com/laser/laser.htm
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/gadgeteer_x1/albums |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rooster99
Phoenix Laser
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 79
Location: Syd, Australia
|
| Posted: 11/09/06, 7:29 AM Post subject: |
|
|
Ok, I just sparked a match from about a cm away and now the dot has a nice round 'haze' around it - Im thinking that some of the powder from the match has ended up inside the arpeture and all over my lens!
Let this be a lesson to you! If your laser cant light the match within an inch, its not worth finding out if can do it at 1cm!
But a lens clean should fix it up right? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Athoul
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 7544
Location: Canada
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Shleong
Elite Laser
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Posts: 217
|
| Posted: 11/24/06, 11:25 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| great post... works magnificently |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
roarg
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 1686
Picture(s): 23
Location: Vancouver, BC, CANADA....home of olympics 2010
|
| Posted: 12/22/06, 8:47 PM Post subject: |
|
|
OOOOOO NOOEES!!!
i couldent find this sticky, and all i remebered was micro fiber, alchohol, and q-tip! so i sprayed the q-tip and rubbed it on the lens, and with the other side i used to dry it!! omfg...but it did reduce the scatter...
*EDIT* ok i just used my oakly goggle bag/cleaner as a substitute... and wow it was like new! i also used the can of air..but that should have been the first thing to do
_________________
Pulsar*- sold to: Laserhigh for $250
Fusion- the truth is out...broken by friend
*plus goggles, dragoncase, Wickedcaps set |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Stratocastinator
Elite Laser
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 144
Location: California, U.S.
|
| Posted: 1/12/07, 12:05 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Hi,
I don't actually have a laser atm it's Call Customer Support'd, but I still have this question as my fusion should be on its way. I told my friend I needed cleaning solution fron sunglass hut and he said he had some and gave it to me, but it doesn't say cleaner. It says Sunglass Hut on the front and then Lens Treatment on the back of it. Is this the right stuff? Or is this for protecting it or something of that sort like a polish? Thanks very much!
*itching to have my laser back*
_________________
OWNER of a NEW, BLACK Fusion 125mW (That has BLOWN MY MIND wide open!!!)
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
