Why buy our lasers instead of AAA lasers that claim the same output?

The module inside a laser pointer is what you’re paying for – not the body tubing, not the pushbutton, not the storage case. Introduce 3 volts between its casing and the spring and it’ll make a laser beam. The module is, essentially, the lifeblood of any portable laser.

Here’s the module of our lasers (click to zoom)

It has well supported driver board with LED indicator which powers a 500mW diode, which in turn creates infra-red radiation that’s passed through a series of crystals and lenses to create a well-focused beam of green light. The potentiometer is never altered from the factory position, the circuit board is well supported from shock, and the optics casing is housed in a large aluminum heatsink. This assembly fits snugly inside a thick aluminum body tube.

Here’s the module of a AAA laser to the right (click to zoom)

The module of any AAA laser will be roughly like that, whether it’s a <5mw $50 eBay laser or a 120mw $350 laser from an authorized distributor. That $300 price difference is all in the module. The difference between the aforementioned examples is that the 120mw module has a higher output diode than the <5mw module, has better quality optics and crystals that collimate the light more efficiently, and possibly adjustment of the potentiometer for a higher current than the factory specs. However, their physical layouts are the same. They both have an unsupported, free-floating driver board, and they both have a copper optics casing, which is threaded into a decorative cap, which is in turn pressure-fitted into a thin copper body tube.

Heat dissipation is very important for laser operation. A laser diode generates heat, and if that heat is not safely dissipated into the rest of the module, outer body case, and into the air or the user’s hand, the diode will be damaged or destroyed by heat buildup.

Our modules have a very bulky aluminum heatsink directly attached to the diode and optics casing. This heatsink fits snugly into the outer aluminum body tube, which is five times thicker than that of a AAA laser. All this provides a much superior pathway for heat removal from the diode, which allows our laser to run for much longer without the danger of overheating.

The physical structure of a AAA laser, however, is very poor at removing heat from the diode. Its module is very small, and thus has a low heat capacity. After the heat goes into the module, it find its way into the body tube by the sole means of a pressure fit cap, of which only about ¼” is in contact with the body tube. The module’s outer diameter is much less than the body tubing’s inner diameter, so there is no physical contact between them other than the cap. On top of all this, the body tubing of a AAA laser is made of very thin copper, itself not a good heat conductor. A 3,000-hr expected diode life is drastically diminished if the diode overheats and is damaged.

Great heat dissipation, accurate optics, an affordable price, and a higher regard for the physical durability of the laser is what makes Lucent Optics lasers stand out from the crowd.

Testimonials

The unit took not even two days to ship(USPS works great) and was in perfect shape. I was a first worried about there being no manual but I think I've read every post on CPF on EnVee to know what to do. Inside the dot is bright during the day and at night the beam is fantastic and the dot almost too bright to look at from 25 feet away.

Outside(after checking for aircraft or people -- 3rd floor balcony) I could easily see the dot on tree branches at least 200 meters away at night. I'll have to look at Google Earth to get some better measurements. I'm using the E2 Energizers and seem to work great in the unit.

Brett Tanes, March 08, 2007

I received the laser Wednesday. Very bright and very solid. I am glad I went with Lucent and not wicked lasers or destructive gear. Thank you very much.

Matt Smith, March 18, 2007

The beam is amazingly consistent, and with the E2's I was able to pop a red water balloon in a drinking glass, through the glass at 15 feet away. Very pleased with the product, and thanks for the otterbox.

Dan Vaage, May 09, 2007

Great product, fast shipping, if you are going to buy a laser get it from these guys.

Aaron Berger, May 14, 2007