It is also possible to buy from private individuals on-line via classified ads in USENET newsgroups, other discussion groups and bulletin boards, auctions, and private Web sites.
Where actual manufacturer's model numbers are listed in the catalog or on the Web page, it is a good idea to confirm that the specifications actually do match. Inaccuracies in catalog entries are very common (like a HeNe laser listed as 5 mW that turns out to be only .5 mW, oops). Similarly, it would be disappointing to say the least if you blew a visible laser diode because the driver board actually required a regulated input when the listing claimed otherwise. :-(
Compare prices as well. There can be a wide variation in the price of the identical system or component among the various surplus houses or other suppliers. Haggling (at least with private individuals) may get you a better deal especially if you can identify lower prices elsewhere. More expensive items may be in better condition or newer, but not always - and it may not matter for your purposes. Consider using COD (Cash On Delivery) for payment if available (instead of a check, money order, or credit card) when dealing with a company for the first time or when in doubt about their integrity. For purchases from individuals, in addition to COD, a partial payment arrangement (e.g., 50% percent up front, 50% after receipt and inspection of merchandise) shouldn't scare off someone who has nothing to hide if they can verify *your* integrity. The latter shouldn't be a problem if you are a regular contributer to USENET newsgroups or frequent buyer and/or seller on eBay! :)
A commercial supplier should know how to pack and ship fragile merchandise to prevent damage. However, when ordering from a private individual or if you should need to send laser parts through the mail, or via UPS, Fed-X, Airborn, etc., packing should be done such that the box can withstand being drop-kicked from a 10 story building. Four inches of bubble-wrap or styrofoam peanuts on all sides should be considered a minimum with adequate protection between items as well. Insurance is also a worthwhile expense though successfully filing a claim could be an ordeal. Stickers marked 'Fragile' and 'Do Not Drop' may just make the package a more inviting target. :-)
Then, when you receive your merchandise, make sure you actually were sold what was expected. Confirm that it behaves as advertised. I have received HeNe laser power supplies marked with reversed polarity, for example. Honest (or otherwise) mistakes in packing and labelling do occur. And, of course, DO NOT open the inner packaging or attempt to power an item that was shipped in error as getting a refund may be much more difficult if the seller can honestly claim you damaged something.
Also see the sections: Laser Sales and Service Companies and Laser and Optics Manufacturers and Suppliers for sources of mostly expensive laser products. However, some of those companies may have overstock and surplus sales as well as items like diode laser modules that are more reasonably priced.
Obviously, for a model that is still being sold, the manufacturer's literature or Web site will often provide enough info. User and service manuals may also be available as well as for older lasers that they still support. In addition, there may be many variations on a given model depending on the type of optics installed and possible tube replacement or upgrade.
Unfortunately, few manufacturers maintain detailed specifications or other information readily accessible (e.g., on-line) for older models. After all, why should they help you fix the laser that you've been happy with for the last 5 years for only $500 when they can sell you a shiny new and improved one for $20,000! :(
There are a variety of other places to look for specifications but their accuracy can vary based on the objectives of the provider (e.g., honesty, vested interests, optimism, technical knowledge).
Just keep in mind that these are items for sale so power output ratings must be taken with a sliver of optical glass (at least for lasers like ion and ruby/YAG where output power is adjustable).
Optlectra's Product Search may be able to locate specifications for helium-neon and many low and medium power argon ion laser heads and tubes from multiple manufacturers. These include internal mirror as well as Brewster window and flat window types. (Unfortunately, for some reason the search results don't include the manufacturer. One way to at least increase the odds that a model number applies to your tube is to compare the physical dimensions.) These are based on manufacturer's specifications so they should be accurate (but of course there is no guarantee). However, even with over 500 models of HeNe lasers in their database, the coverage of the search is still somewhat limited.
Also see the section: Buyer Beware for Laser Purchases.
Note that there are some multi-mode (non-TEM00) HeNe tubes with wider bores and a different mirror curvature that produce up to perhaps twice the power output for a given tube length. However, with multiple axial modes, these are not suitable for many applications like interferometry and holography. They are also not very common compared to single-mode TEM00 HeNe tubes.
Also, the power output of non-red HeNe lasers - green (543.5 nm), yellow (593.9 nm), and orange (611.8 nm) - will be only about 1/10th to 1/4th that of an equivalent red (632.8 nm) one. Thus, a 20 inch green laser head is good for about 2 mW (compared to 8 to 15 mW for red) and a 10 inch head, perhaps only .2 mW (1 to 2 mW for red). As with normal red HeNe lasers, there is no way to boost power and the CDRH sticker rating is normally much greater than what is actually possible. However, the beam WILL look a lot brighter mW/mW compared to red due to the response curve of the eye, which can be misleading to sellers and buyers alike.
And, just because the male Alden connector of the laser head fits into the mating female socket of a randomly selected power supply doesn't mean they will work together! HeNe lasers of all sizes usually use the identical connectors! (Many people have been known to throw out perfectly good HeNe tubes and heads if they failed to start or operated erratically when in fact, power supply compatibility was the real problem!) On the other hand, don't assume compatibility just because the laser tube or head and power supply were supposed to work together - many of these same people have no idea what this means and make the assumption that because the laser worked once (if that), it would be fine forever. The life of the HeNe tube and/or power supply may be shortened and/or power output may suffer.
Finally, HeNe laser heads in like-new condition that show up as surplus or on eBay without end-caps (output aperture and Alden connectors) were probably manufacturing rejects pulled from the line before being completed since they didn't meet spec in any of a number of areas including: output power value, stability with warmup, mode cycling percentage, polarization ratio, or other aspects of beam quality. Thus, what you end up with may have undisclosed problems. This is also likely true of bare HeNe tubes (often without any identifying labels) - especially 'other color' (than red) types in pristine condition but where the locking collars or mirror adjusters are loose and the seller suggests that "alignment is all that is needed to make them lase and then you will have gotten a great deal". Note that it is likely that some of these have found their way to resale via less than legitimate channels - especially if the serial numbers have been removed! Even if they do work or can be made to work, items like this have trouble written all over them. And, don't believe claims that tubes were "purchased new and used very little" if they don't have any labels. A tube sold as a tube (not part of a laser head) will almost certainly be labeled with model and serial numbers at the very least, usually with a sticker on the side. Similarly, a laser head should also have a similar label. It's the law in both cases. And, even the manufacturer can't tell specs by inspection! :)
Having said all this, a used or off-spec HeNe laser may still be just fine for many purposes as long as you understand exactly what you are getting. For more information on HeNe laser sizes and power output, see the sections starting with: Internal Mirror HeNe Tubes up to 35 mW - Red and Other Colors.
Also see the section: Expected Output Power and Used Ion Lasers.
Where an entire SS laser head or complete laser is offered, the only way to really know what is can do is to check the manufacturer's specs or test it. In most cases, the seller isn't able or won't do this so you're on your own.
Attempt to determine what is actually possible - don't take the seller's word for it. You can't confirm actual output over the Internet or from a catalog but at least you will know that you aren't likely to get 5 mW from a HeNe laser head only 10 inches long or 300 mW from a surplus ALC-60X argon ion laser without a meltdown!
Many people also claim that the lasers they are selling have low hours or were only used briefly a few times ("only driven by a little old lady to church on Sundays."). In most cases they actually don't have a clue and such claims carry about as much weight as the campaign promises of politicians. :) Unless the laser was originally purchased new, they (or you) may have no real way of determining how much it was used. For HeNe lasers, this may not matter that much since if the laser works when you get it, it will probably continue to work for as many hours as you are likely to care. But for ion lasers, you could be getting a low pressure tube that is on its way out. While there is usually an elapsed time meter present on ion lasers it isn't a reliable indication of past use as the tube may have been swapped or a mechanical meter may have recycled back to zero (more than once!) and like automobile odometers, can be reset. With other types of lasers, it may be even more difficult to determine the amount of use. High power diode lasers and diode pumped solid state lasers may have a life expentancy of only a few thousand hours and the one being offered may be near the end of useful life. And, if any of these were abused at any time, all bets are off!
Finally, here are some other common statements paraphrased from various eBay offerings:
The only real way to protect yourself from deceptive or exaggerated advertising claims is a combination of getting the detailed specifications, buying from a reputable supplier, and obtaining a purchase arrangement that includes a binding money back guarantee in writing or some other way of cancelling a deal for merchandise that turns out not to be or do what was claimed!
Of course, once you receive your laser, the only way to be truly sure of the output power is with a laser power meter or by comparison with another laser of known performance.
Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You aren't likely to be the only one to have 'discovered' a bargain - if no one else has bid it up at eBay there is probably a very good reason!
Also see the section: Equivalent Brightness Ratings and Laser Pointer Visibility since this is another area where the real and the imaginary are often jumbled together!
Having said all that, I did a very scientific test with one of my dead Spectra-Physics 084-1 barcode scanner HeNe laser tubes from which I had already cannibalized the mirrors. This is about 10 inches long with a spider supporting the bore (the most fragile part in an HeNe tube subjected to mechanical shock) at about the halfway point. I used about 2 to 3 inches of bubble wrap all around and stuffed it into a worn cardboard box about 5" x 6" x 13" 'sealed' with an elastic band. I then abused this package to every way possible short of using a nuclear bomb (which were temporarily out of stock): tossing it across the room, dropping on various sides and corners with and without spin from 7 feet onto a concrete floor, kicking it through the uprights, sitting on it, etc. The mirrorless tube survived just fine - the bore was well supported. What does this mean? Probably not much except for this particular model HeNe tube and it is still possible that the bore shifted slightly within the spider. There is no way to know that for sure without testing on a live tube (but it can also generally be corrected). However, in all likelihood, the typical HeNe tube would work just fine if packed in this manner (or better) even after all the abuse OOPS could dish out. :) Of course, an entire external mirror laser would likely be a much different story, especially one with a long plasma tube. And even if the glass parts survive, circuit boards and structural components can fracture from relatively low G forces if not well supported.
Of course, the general rule is: If you ship a dead laser wrapped only in a single layer of brown paper, it will arrive in perfect condition. But, if you ship a functional laser in 6 inches of foam inside a box inside 12 inches of bubble wrap inside another box inside a crate, it will arrive in a thousand pieces. :)
Note that no matter how well packed a laser is, shipping companies may give you a hard time about insurance claims and point to some disclaimer in their contract printed in 2 point type that disallows any coverage for lasers and other scientific apparatus. Some don't even consider the manufacturer's original packaging to be adequate even for computer monitors, let alone lasers. Further note that the seller may have simply sent you a broken laser. :(
(From: Steve Roberts (osteven@akrobiz.com).)
I carefully build crates around my lasers, and insulate the lasers from shock with spray in foam that self hardens. Its a wonder how two of my crates have been reduced to kindling lately. One arrived sans crate! A third CO2 tube marked for special fragile handling by UPS (often pronounced OOOPS) didn't make it, it's been reduced to scrap glass. Same for an incredibly well packed 50 mW HeNe laser last year. I specified and paid for FedEx, but the seller used OOOOPPS to pocket the difference and ended up paying for my dead laser as a reward.
As for the broken CO2 tube, I'm driving 250 miles each way to replace it for the customer to keep my sanity, and my truck has a good suspension. According to a local driver, all OOOOOPPPSS packages drop 6 feet into a rotary sorting bin. I've had a few customers spec OOOOOPPPPSSS lately because FedEx was too expensive. Never again!
I've had good luck with FedEx, only one package ever got smashed. Delta Air Freight also has done a decent job for me.
For small air-cooled lasers I've used the U.S. Postal Service, sent 'registered', so it's hand carried and locked up each night in a safe. I Had remarkably good results with the snail mail folks - slow, but it gets there in one piece. A little pricey, but competitive.
Some suggestions:
At the very least, you will need to provide an invoice to the shipper (e.g., USPS, UPS) listing the item(s) to be shipped and the declared value. So far, I've shipped 2 or 3 small HeNe lasers overseas without incident. I just put "barcode scanner tube" (for the SP-084) and "particle scanner tube" (for the one-Brewster Climet 9048) with a declared value of $0.00 on the invoice and on the little green Postal form, marked them as a "gift". These weigh next to nothing so they don't attract the attention of overworked customs inspectorss and there's nothing illegal about shipping these lasers to most foreign countries anyhow.
(Portions from Steve Roberts (osteven@akrobiz.com).)
On a simple unstabilized cheap HeNe laser there are no export controls as far as I know. I have never heard of any regulations on anything that did not have strategic importance, especially if you're only shipping one. Were it a dozen then I would be concerned. Several U.S. HeNe laser manufacturers have sold entire state of the art HeNe production lines to China. Don't loose any sleep over it.
Besides, it's importing things where customs is concerned with lasers. And unless it deals with drugs, murder, or white collar crime, the U.S. is never going to extradite you. :-)
However, for high power diodes lasers or parts of lasers, green YAGs, lasers over a few watts, lasers that can be used as weapons, lasers that stabilize themselves, lasers that can blind pilots, LIDAR, something like research picosecond or Terawatt lasers, and lasers that can be used for semiconductor or uranium processing, one has to be careful. These need approval from the State Department. In addition, shipping to laser or other high tech equipment or parts to certain specific countries will raise red flags with the Government so you will have to do your homework to avoid a serious hassle or worse.
The listings below are mostly in alphabetical order, domestic (US) followed by foreign. Their position or even their existence on these lists does not imply anything about my impression of their quality, reliability, or integrity. However, there may be additional specific comments included in the description.
They still offer nice thick free catalogs which are a must-have. All ordering is via the Web, telephone, or snail mail.
Offerings include new, used, or surplus lasers and laser components. Quality and prices may vary quite widely - check them out before ordering!
This site is one of the best kept secrets of the Web. It is definitely worth checking out since there is so much there!
Check out their Blue Light Argon Lasers for low cost Cyonics/Uniphase systems and laser heads. They may still have a limited quantity of very inexpensive ($50) argon ion laser heads that could be weak, in need of mirror alignment, or near end-of-life but are still good for things like ion laser power supply testing. Some may be repairable. Send email to info@mi-lasers.com.
One person who bought a red laser rated at 5 mW said that what they received was an apparently new in box, bare HeNe laser tube made by "The Shanghai Institute of Laser Technology" (S.I.L), whoever they are. Though marked 8.5 mW, it probably didn't output more than 5 mW. He recommends against buying Bull's supposedly compatible power supply as it may fry if used with tubes larger than about 2 mW (as he found out after 10 minutes). (However, I didn't see any HeNe laser power supplies on their lasers page.)
This company is of the 'I thought I died and went to heaven' variety (whether you believe in that stuff or not) if you are need specialized high voltage rectifiers for your HeNe, CO2, or other laser or general high voltage power supply projects. They have an on-line catalog with complete specifications and offer to send a print catalog as well as free samples. I don't know to what extent this includes free samples to hobbyist types who may not be ordering $1,000,000 worth of merchandise. They say: "qualified OEMs only" which suggests not but it may still be worth a try if you only need a little diode or two, or will then need to buy 100 more. You can never tell when a company will consider the possibility of a referral or future loyal customer to be worth a modest initial investment! However, please don't abuse the privilege if they are accommodating.
(From: Kim Clay (bkc@maco.net).)
I live in West Palm Beach, Florida & there aren't any surplus or discount electronics places close but I have found some nice sources on the web. Like
(To get an idea of what Kim has been putting together, see the section: Kim's Mid-Size HeNe Laser Power Supply (KC-HL1). --- sam)
This place is definitely worth an 'at least check out their Web site'. Much weird stuff including specialized parts (as well as plans and complete kits) needed for the laser and other projects in the two Iannini books [2] and [3] (though cheaper alternatives using readily available components may be available). Laser related products include HeNe, diode, and DPSS (green) lasers; laser pointers, mini-light shows, laser listeners and communicators; CO2 and YAG lasers; and some parts like power supplies, rods, and flashlamps. Many are available as plans, kits, or completely assembled and tested systems.
Most of the products they offer in areas like lasers and high voltage seem reasonable (though claims may sometimes be shall we say, a bit optimistic), if you are interested in something in one of their more way-out departments like anti-gravity, realize that the laws of physics haven't been repealed on their site and you shouldn't be disappointed when the item that arrives isn't a fully operational "Back to the Future" hoverboard. :)
(Note: I don't know if this outfit is still in business. While they did eventually reply to my email about their status claiming to just be very behind due to other obligations, I have no idea if or when they will complete some of their unfinished videos or even if they will honor orders for what they currently list.)
Note: Plans and Kits has gone through some twists and turns over the laser year or so including legal proceedings likely due to questionable dealings or something worse. I do not have any details. Much of what they sell is of limited value at best and should probably be avoided like a laser beam to the eye. This place has gotten multiple thumbs-down in its former life as Unlimited Underground Electronics (UUE) for exaggerated, way out, conflicting, unrealistic claims (I'm being generous), and shoddy merchandise - everything else is unknown. However, in all fairness, there have been satisfied and repeat customers as well, perhaps those who are knowledgeable about what they are buying and can inspect (and possibly select) the merchandise in person. This site is amusing to visit but anyone who knows more about technology than a ripe carrot will realize that much of the blurb on their site has to be bogus.
There is also a chatroom and bulletin board/discussion group on the site which might provide some additional amusement (for a few milliseconds, anyhow) especially as some technically knowledgeable people attempt to clarify, correct, or dispute some of the claims. If you think about buying anything from them, realize that what arrives may bear little resemblance in appearance, function, or performance to what is described on their Web site. Terms like "Ready to go" and "Perfectly matched" may have different meanings that what you might assume. :)
PKU also offers a set of plans for using a HeNe laser tube to build a high power mercury vapor ion laser. I assume this is supposed to be similar to the one described in the chapter: Home-Built Helium-Mercury (HeHg) and Other He-Metal-Vapor Lasers and represents a tantalizing shortcut if it can be made to work. See the section: Using a HeNe Laser Tube in a Home-Built HeHg Laser? where I speculate on how such a conversion might be done.
This may also mean high prices for many items (at least compared to what you might have expected) so you should be sitting down when you are browsing the catalogs or Web sites of these suppliers. However, there are exceptions.
Lasers and optics as well as many bargain priced new and surplus scientific items. The new research quality items are expensive but there are many reasonably prices parts, kits, and just plain old fascinating stuff.
Their catalog is a must even if you never intend to purchase anything. I remember fascinating trips to their retail store stocked with bin-upon-bin of interesting and unusual (and sometimes unidentifiable!) optical and electronic items. I do not know what it is like these days.
High quality new and used optical equipment and components. Check this company out if you are really serious about optical experiments (or need to equip a medium size optics research lab).
Other possibilities: Companies clearing their 'dead storage' or excess inventory, or going out of business, and auctions and liquidation sales.
You can often find small lasers and laser parts at high tech flea markets and hamfests. Sometimes intact research lasers will show up there but often they are so old that the tube is gassy and usless (unless you are into regassing).
CAUTION: What you may end up with is/are one or more BIG lasers in unknown condition. These are extremely dangerous on all fronts - especially electrically and should they work, from the high power beam! You MUST do this in a responsible manner both for your own and others' safety as well as to not abuse the fabulous opportunity that a successful outcome can provide.
Old lasers may be available from biomedical sources like hospitals and clinics. These places buy the latest, work them to death or until something better comes along, then puts them in storage and eventually sells or gives them away for scrap. If you do find an offer of one or more of these, you will need transportation (e.g., a truck or large minivan - they won't fit in the back of a Honda Civic!) and some buddies to do the heavy lifting.
WARNING: Where the laser came from a hospital or clinic, you must assume that the business end at least (the articulated beam guide) has probably been in all sorts of places you wouldn't want to go and may have collected all sorts of stuff you wouldn't normally eat or use for bathing! Yes, they were supposed to have been sterilized but given that the laser may have been put into storage because it failed, such procedures may not have been performed. You MUST clean the entire thing except for the actual interior of the laser head with a disinfectant such as alcohol as noted below. Take care - there is going to be sharp sheet metal and other hazards - open wounds and biomedical waste are not a happy combination!
The most likely type of lasers available from biomedical sources will be old but could very likely be serviceable or repairable. Most common types are CO2, but you may end up with a high power YAG or Ar/Kr ion type. For the latter, it is quite likely you won't have the power feed required to use them without serious effort and expense as high current 230 VAC three-phase is often what is used. The 'smaller' CO2 units will run on standard 115 VAC, 15 or 20 A.
Thus, think several times before actually taking these recommendations seriously - you could end up with a major headache or a major bonanza depending on your negotiating skills, technological abilities, and LUCK!
The following approach has worked for me quite a few times. Mostly you get dead units but to quote Clara Peller: "Partz is partz".
Call your local hospitals. Tell them you're looking for old lasers for parts and make sure they understand you're going to demedicalize them, Ask for Biomedical or Clinical Engineering - get past the secrteary and and talk to a tech or engineer. Avoid talking to accounting or materials management if you can, they want money. Make sure you tell them your end use is a home made engraver. If they are reluctant to let you have it, offer to smash the delivery arm in front of them with a sledge. These people are used to getting such calls, mostly from companies that recycle medical gear.
Don't be shocked if you hear, "Be here in 15 minutes with a truck and some people to help you load it." Ask for units by Coherent or Sharplan. You WILL need the pickup truck or a decent sized minivan. Take a complete set of allen wrenches including the larger sized ones and tools/socket set to partially dismantle it. Expect to be told the unit will be free or low cost - you're helping them dispose of a 200 to 500 pound monster. Use gloves when you take it apart as most CO2s are used for gynecology. When you get it home, scrub it down with alcohol except for the tube assembly. Take plastic sheets, tarps, rope and trash bags.
If they don't have one, still ask for their address to send them a letter or business card so they can reach you in the future. If they ask you to take a skid or two of other scrap do so. Also ask if they know of other biomed guys with units laying around.
(From: Bob.)
Hospitals would be the first and best place to look. Although nice letters may be the formal polite way of locating equipment, all the people I know who have had any luck getting any lasers from any hospital did so by wearing out their telephone. It seems as though the fellow responsible for getting rid of the hospital's equipment is always a busy harried individual who is willing to let an average Joe get a laser because he offers to make it as painless for the hospital person as possible. In other words, he doesn't have to make any telephone calls, you just show up with a truck and the manpower to load something he considers garbage. Also keep in mind that you may talk to 10 people at the same institution before you actually talk to the fellow responsible for their surplus equipment. It's much easier to get passed down the chain if someone you call can simply tell you over the phone "you need to talk to Harry at ext. 234" than if you send a letter that places the responsibility onto someone else to actually see to it that your letter gets to the right hands, possibly several someone elses. Other sources of lasers might include local businesses (i.e., read the Sunday want-ads for advertisements of auctions, especially if you have any aerospace or other high tech industry in town. You may also want to try large print shops, occasionally universities will excess equipment, and naturally there is always the Net - eBay and other places are gold mines for used equipment but you need to spend the hours in front of the computer screen to find them and you better know the value of what you bid on so you don't get the short end of a bad deal.
(From: Robin S. (lasernerd@hotmail.com).)
I work in the machine shop at a cancer research hospital. There's a huge 4.5 W argon/2.5 W dye laser in the back they didn't even know WAS a laser. You may want to find the machine shop/work shop if you go hunting. Personally, I'd go in person. Some people may be inclined to help you, and some may be too lazy (the phone makes it very easy to be lazy). Be VERY nice, and food ALWAYS helps! Bring a 6 pack of doughnuts or something. You may not get anything, but they'll be willing to talk to you.
However, you will probably not get the power supply since the they are usually not replaced when the laser heads die. Therefore, before pursuing this, realize that a power supply will have to be bought ($300 to $1,000 or more) or built. The latter is a non-trivial undertaking. See the chapters starting with: Argon and Krypton Ion Lasers.
(From: Flavio Spedalieri (flavios@ihug.com.au).)
I have managed to get two air-cooled argon lasers free of charge. Argon laser are used in industrial high-speed printing machines. If you contact your local companies, you may get lucky.
Some companies that deal with these types of printers are Xerox, Dainippon Screens, and Ricoh.
My lasers came from Dainippon Screens. The lasers worked well. One of the lasers is multi-lined. The company was throwing them out, but as I called in earlier, and left my name, they actually thought to call me back.
If you speak with the technical repairs department, and mention that you are requiring a laser to teach a bunch of students, then you could be lucky.
Please be aware that in these printers, the lasers are usually tuned to 488 nm (bright blue). Some laser heads may have a line tuning prism on the back and these are tunable to any of the 8 or so argon ion wavelengths.
The following alternatives are most often offers from private individuals (though not always - buyer beware) and are in addition to the zillions of companies that have Web sites. There are varying amounts of risk in not dealing with a well known reputable company. Prices can vary from dirt cheap to way out of line. So you MUST know the value of what is being offered. Unlike companies which compete with each other, some of these people may start with a very high price and hope there is a least one sucker out there!
In addition to honesty and ethics concerns, once you settle on a price, make sure the seller knows how to pack your (often fragile) equipment properly. It is amazing how much abuse can be inflicted by package shipping companies like UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. If it costs you a couple of dollars extra for a larger box and more bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts - and shipping insurance - it may be well worth it!
Offers of inexpensive lasers, laser components, and other related items may also appear from time-to-time on various other discussion groups. See the sections: Laser (Email) Listservers and Laser Discussion Groups and Technical Forums. One that sees a fair amount of this type of traffic is:
It allows both private and commercial postings for buy, sell, trade, wanted, employment opportunities, announcements, etc. This is where you might find your next BIG laser!
Here are some specific laser related searches to get you started. These are designed to return serious laser related items without being inundated with laser pointers, laser printers, laserdiscs, laser engravings, and countless other common things with the word laser in their description:
Note: Since the eBay search engine appears to distinguish between singular and plural, if you don't include both (as I've done above with laser and lasers), you might miss that opportunity of a lifetime to buy 1,326 argon lasers. :) Also, for some of these, it may be useful to cut and paste the search string directly into the eBay Smart Search Page to modify or add options or exclusions which can cut down on the amount of unwanted garbage returned by these searches.
And, for the home-built laser enthusiast:
Note that the current eBay search facility places an annoying gyrating banner Ad at the top of the results page. The previous one didn't do this and was thus faster loading. Too bad about greed. However, it appears as though disabling Java in your Web browser - which is a good anti-virus measure anyhow - gets rid of the Ads and speeds up loading but screws up the photos in some listings.)
However, make sure you know the true market value of the merchandise and limit your maximum bid to what you consider it to be worth TO YOU! Avoid getting carried away in the excitement of last minute bidding - there will be other opportunities. Also, where the seller is actually a surplus dealer or other commercial enterprise, check out their Web site or catalog - the same item(s) may be listed there for a fixed price which may be much lower than where the bidding ends up. I've seen auctions where the identical item went for more than twice the catalog price on eBay!
In addition to checking out the seller's feedback profile, here are some things to watch out for:
I would suggest avoiding these sellers unless the item is so unique that a similar one won't likely show up again from someone else without the attached strings. If you really can't live without bidding on an item which includes significant handling charges, just treat them as part of the bid price when determining your maximum bid.
There is no guaranteed way to prevent sniping other than by using an unrealistically high maximum bid or by doing it yourself. I actually think the rules should be changed so auctions end when there hasn't been a bid for some specified amount time (say 1 minute) after the official ending time. This would be a bit better for the seller, only slightly more traumatic for the bidders, and would eliminate sniping. (There have been some suggestions to the effect that this is how eBay auctions actually work but I've never seen any evidence to support this.)
Look over the bid histories of the seller's previous auctions - if the same name or names show up as second high bid or with bid retractions in multiple auctions, be suspect. Or, if an item you thought had been sold, reappears from the same seller without explanation (though this may not mean much as many buyers do back out despite the bidding contract, which is rarely enforced. New stricter rules for bid retractions are supposed to make this more difficult though). Shill bidding is also likely if while bidding on an auction you notice the bid price creeping up to your maximum bid and then just exceeding it by the minimum possible increment. If you then submit another bid, it may not be countered and you will be stuck with it - intentionally. And the seller gets a higher price than would have been likely without the shill's involvement.
There are also sites appearing that are a cross between regular on-line auctions and good old flea markets or swap meets. Compared to eBay, the traffic on these is microscopic but it could be a growing trend. I don't know whether there is enough - or any - laser related stuff on these currently but they are probably worth watching. The most well known is probably Webswap.com but there are at least a half dozen other major swap sites at this time (August 2000).
Of course, regular low-tech industrial auctions may also turn up some laser related equipment and prices could end up being quite attractive where other bidders are more interested in things like steel shelving, NC machine tools, and front-end loaders. :)
And, the U.S. Government (and others), businesses, and universities, may auction or sell unneeded equipment or excess inventory periodically or continuously. While this is more likely to be beat up office furniture and obsolete PCs, laser related items may also be present. For example, the University of Utah Surplus Property Page lists several pieces of laser and optics equipment. The general public may get to pick over what is left after those connected with the University buy what they want but who knows? You could end up with a 10 kW CO2 laser for $10 if no one else bids on it. :)
(The following is mostly from: Jonathon Caywood (sarlock@twcny.rr.com).)
Experiences with on-line auctions vary. I've done some dealing on eBay and have had very good experiences in selling and buying with no problems. However, I am aware of people who have had unfortunate experiences buying from certain people. There are always going to be some bad apples with something like this. I usually will dig into someone's profile a bit before I will purchase from them. I check their feedback (indicated by the number which follows their account name, click on the number) and look to see what type of feedback they have. Needless to say, someone with 100+ comments, and no negative feedback is usually good to deal with. But people selling what you want don't always have such high feedback.
A few useful things to check on:
DISCLAIMER: Product and service descriptions and claims are from the company literature or Web sites. This listing is NOT necessarily an endorsement of what they offer! Listing is in alphabetical order by company name.
Industrial lasers (cutting, welding, drilling, scribing, and marking), scientific research lasers (argon ion, erbium, helium-neon, ruby, etc.), laser show and entertainment lasers (argon and krypton ion). Optical test and measurement equipment, laser and optical components, vacuum equipment, electronic test equipment, accessories, more.
Ion laser repair and refurb including rebuilt or replacement plasma tubes, power supply repair, gas correction, realignment, system upgrading, as well laser system/equipment rentals.
Laser repair including supplies and accessories. Cavities, rods, krypton and xenon Lamps, mirrors, water Filters, and other optical components.
China based supplier of laser optics and other related components and kits. Includes vanadate and YAG crystals, non-linear crystals, and optics for DPSS lasers. The authorized distributor for CASIX in the U.S.A. is U-Oplaz Technologies, Inc..
Creative Technology is also the U.S. representative for ELECTRON CO., LTD.
Distributors of laser pointers, diode laser modules (including DPSS green and low cost red models) and laser beam profilers, and providers of related optics and electronics consulting services.
Laser and optics components, eyeware, system integration, more.
Ion tube and complete system rebuilds for Ion Laser Technology (ILT) lasers. New and refurbished argon and krypton-argon laser tubes for and sales of used lasers ILT. (DZ acquired the entire inventory and manufacturing line of ILT when they got out of the laser business.)
While not actually a major manufacturer of lasers (they may package a few with their name), Edmunds Scientific is so well known that I didn't feel right about leaving them off of this list. They do resell a variety of HeNe lasers, an argon ion, diode laser modules, DPSS green lasers, laser pointers of all types, laser accessories. They are a major supplier of industrial optics and, of course, popular scientific gadgets of every conceivable description!
Solid state laser parts, accessories, repair. They are also a laser marking and engraving job shop.
General electronics consulting as well as the repair of small argon ion, helium-cadmium, and Nd:YAG lasers.
Ion laser cleaning, alignment, repair, and tube refurb; and ion laser power supply repair for systems from most major manufacturers.
Their Web site also includes a significant amount of information on ion laser tube and power supply adjustment, alignment, failure modes, troubleshooting, and repair. Unfortunately, most of this did not work with Netscape V3.04. Perhaps, it will work with your browser and/or the problems have since been corrected.
They provide ion laser service including tube replacement, sales/rentals of refurbished systems, and also offer a regassing service for CO2 laser tubes.
Laser safety services, laser displays, laser service and refurb, more.
Sales, service, and repair of argon and krypton ion lasers, supplier of new plasma tubes, etc. Also, buy and sell laser systems.
New and used helium-neon, argon and krypton ion, and CO2 laser tubes, heads, power supplies, and accessories. Also some Nd:YAQ and other solid state lasers; laser show, welding, and medical laser systems; optics, scanners, and more. Get your ion laser tubes refilled as well!
High quality used lasers for the scientific, industrial, and laser show markets. Ion laser repair including complete ion tube refurbishing.
I have been told that HHR does cut deals for hobbyist types. Although there have been unconfirmed reports of some problems with one laser sold by this company, recent reports have been positive.
Ion laser resale, repair, refurb; rental and sale of HeNe and other laser equipment; laser marking and scan control software, laser show software and equipment; holography consultation, more.
Laser gun sights, laser pointers, laser diodes, laser diode power supplies.
New and refurbished lasers and laser show equipment and software. System rentals. Ion laser tube reprocessing.
Sales, service, and support for Coherent and Lexel ion lasers including plasma tube repair.
Ion laser tubes (new and rebuilt); medical and surgical lasers, industrial and scientific lasers; microscopes and slit lamps; parts and accessories, service, etc. Also, laser light show equipment and software.
Distributor, developer, and manufacturer of all sorts of lasers and laser equipment including gas, diode, and solid state lasers; laser rangefinders, night vision systems, CCD cameras, gyrostabized binoculars, and much more.
New and used scientific, industrial, medical and surgical lasers, components, and optics. They also auction laser equipment and parts via eBay (ID: zlasers).
Appear to be supplier of argon ion, carbon dioxide, copper vapor, helium-cadmium, and other laser systems. The will provide custom configurations and consulting services as well. However, it's not quite clear if they are selling lasers or Web design. :)
Remanufactured Industrial CO2 Lasers with 1 to 3 year warranties, third party service for Nd:YAG and CO2 Lasers, and a complete inventory of spare parts for the lasers we sell. Their Web site includes a laser chat room.
Lasers and laser systems (surplus and rebuilt), surplus electronics, buy-sell-trade. Also, low cost DPSS frequency doubled green laser kits including Nd:YVO4 and KTP crystals, and instructions.
Argon ion, helium-neon, and Nd:YAG lasers and diode laser modules.
Lasers and related equipment, components, and software for laser show and other applications. Includes: DPSS and other lasers, scanning modules, small laser display systems, PCAOM devices, optics, etc.
Ion laser repair, reprocessing, manufacture, and design.
ThorLabs used to have useful technical information on their Web site but it has apparently disappeared in favor of strictly commercial interests.
It is still possible to obtain a print copy of their complete catalog which may include "Thor's Guide to Laser Diodes" from their web site or by writing to Thorlabs at the address shown in the section: Some Laser and Optics Manufacturers and Suppliers.
Also see: K3PGP's Laser Diode Manufacturers and K3PGP's Laser Diode Specifications maintained by K3PGP (Email: k3pgp@qsl.net). (This is a listing of the database that used to be on the Thorlabs Web site.)
Major laser diode manufacturers are now putting detailed specifications on the Web. For example:
Here's one from which you may be able to get free samples:
For suppliers of mostly high power laser diodes, see the section: Sources of Special Parts and Supplies for the Home-Built DPSS Laser. Also see the section: Laser and Optics Manufacturers and Suppliers.
DISCLAIMER: Product and service descriptions and claims are from the company literature or Web sites. This listing is NOT necessarily an endorsement of what they offer!
Design and manufacture of diode pumped solid state laser and nonlinear optical conversion technologies for our affordable, wavelength selectable, laser products.
Distributor/integrator of high power and pigtailed laser diodes, and CO2, argon ion, and Ti:Sa lasers. Their Web site includes specifications for all products (some with prices).
Aerotech used to manufacture HeNe lasers and components. They are now primarily involved with positioning mechanics, linear motors, rotary motors and drives, motion controllers, and laser interferometers. The helium-neon laser product line of Aerotech was acquired by the Laser Group of Melles Griot. These products include power supplies, laser heads and unique, patented single frequency adapter technology.
Aerotech is listed here mainly for reference should you come across one of their HeNe tube, laser heads, power supplies, or other related items.
Optical crystals, glasses, coatings, and scintillators.
Supplier of optical materials and precision optical components: fused silica, quartz, sapphire, calcium barium lithium magnesium fluoride, sodium potassium chloride, nonlinear and scintillation crystals, infrared and bullet-proof glass, more.
Manufacturer of nonlinear-mirror modelocked lasers and advanced diode-pumped solid-state lasers (modelocked, CW and Q-switched). They are also a supplier of a large selection of optical and laser components, and laser accessories.
Argon and krypton ion lasers, power supplies, accessories.
Note from Steve Roberts (osteven@akrobiz.com): This site (new as of end of 1998) is confusing because they are recycling model numbers and what they call a 60X now looks nothing like what most of us own. It is probably sealed mirror, so unless they state otherwise, that model number list may not correspond to older units. Also they underrate the power that these units can produce. Most lasers ship with 35 to 50% greater then their rated power.
AMI designs and manufactures a wide range of analog electronic products primarily for the laser and electro-optics industries. These include power supplies for laser diodes, arc lamps, and flashlamps; Pockels cell drivers, sensor amplifiers and pulse stretchers, fiber optics links, and rangefinder receivers.
Manufacturer of high power laser diodes, diode laser modules, and systems, in the wavelength ranges of 650 to 680 nm, 900 to 980 nm, and 1.8 to 2.1 um.
Design and manufacture of single and multimode VCSELs and VCSEL arrays. Wavelengths include: 760, 850, and 950 nm.
Supplier of high power laser diodes and fiber coupled diode lasers, DPSS lasers, laser diode drivers, green laser pointers, IR cards, and PZT micropositioners.
Compact, rugged, solid state lasers.
Manufacturer of optics, electro-optic instruments, and diode lasers with integral beam correction microlens - Circulaser(tm).
Diode lasers, PIN photodetectors, DPSS lasers, customized products. Spec sheets are available at their Web site.
High power laser diodes, drivers, fiber lasers, fiber Raman amplifiers, low noise green modules, visible-to-IR flexible DPSS modules, more. Boston Laser was formed in January, 2000 from the Laser Diode Division of Polaroid Corporation.
Manufacturer of precise scientific instrumentation for laser test and measurement, surface imaging and measurement, and nanometer-scale positioning and alignment.
Manufacturer of a broad range of closed loop galvanometer-based optical scanning components and systems.
Manufacturer of advanced laser crystals including SBBO, KBBF, KLN, optics, and silicon avalanche photodiodes.
Manufacturer of femtosecond lasers for micromachining and spectroscopy.
Manufacturer of non-linear and electro-optic crystals and devices.
CO2, tunable-dye, ion, CW, YAG, YLF, ultrafast, diode, and diode-pumped solid-state lasers (and high power diode arrays), for science, medicine, and industry.
Other divisions of Coherent, Inc. include the Auburn Group (Coherent-Ealing, Optics, and Instruments), Medical Group (lasers and fiber optic delivery systems) and Lambda Physik (excimer and dye lasers and laser dyes).
Tunable single frequency lasers in the 2 um range: 2047 to 2059 nm for Tm,Ho:YLF, 2008 to 2018 nm for Tm:YAG, and 2020 to 2030 nm for Tm:LuAG. Laser based eyesafe IR dopppler radar and other remote sensing systems.
Standard and custom-designed solid state laser systems for a variety of applications in science, industry and medicine.
Optical engineering and supplier including: Stock and custom design optics, optical System Design, fiber optics supplies, holographic systems, laser diodes, mechanical mounting and positioning equipment, optical testing and measurement equipment, HeNe and HeCd lasers and power supplies, experiment and demonstration kits, technical assistance.
Convergent Energy is a full-line manufacturer and marketer of industrial lasers and laser systems for a wide variety of applications in the automotive, aircraft and aerospace, electronics, and metal fabrication industries.
Manufacturer of cost effective ultra-compact diode-pumped crystal lasers.
Solid state diode-pumped laser technology,
Provider of high damage threshold optics for laser applicationsd including polarizers, waveplates, beam steering optics, focusing lenses, cavity optics, neutral density filters and opto-mechanical assemblies.
High voltage power supplies including those for CO2 and HeNe lasers and capacitor chargers for pulsed solid state lasers.
Manufacturer of continuous, pulsed, super-pulsed and Q-switched, sealed-off, RF-excited, diffusion-cooled CO2 lasers and associated electronics.
Laser systems, components, and sevices for materials processing.
Standard and custom diffractive optical elements, as well as diffractive optics macros for Optical Research Associates (ORA) Code V optical design software.
Manufacturer of Diode Pumped Solid State Lasers. Formerly, part of Liconix.
Manufacturer of ion laser power supplies including the Aurora 40 single-phase air-cooled "Spectra 265" replacement.
Manufacturer of laser systems (CO2, CO, and other far-IR), analytical instruments, and sensors.
Manufacturer of all sorts of opto-electronic products including flashlamps and arc lamps, photomultipliers, and other sensors. Perkin Elmer appears determined to erase all traces of the well respected EG&G name so this link will probably change in the near future. :(
Supplier/manufacturer of DPSS low to medium power lasers including green laser pointers and systems up to 150 mW or more. May be importer for laser systems and/or components of Far East origin.
Tunable diode lasers, laser amplifiers, accessories, LabView programming system. Note: This company may not longer exist as their Web domain has been sold.
Designer and manufacturer of advanced solid-state lasers and systems for medical, micro-welding, and other applications.
ESC Medical, Ltd. includes ESC Medical, Inc., Luxar Corporation, and Sharplan, Inc.) as wholely own subsidiaries in the USA. They manufactures a wide range of laser based products for medical applications.
Manufacturer of precision optics. Large catalog of standard items with custom fabrication available.
Manufacturer of over 100 dye laser dyes.
InGaAs photodiodes, and InGaAsP lasers for fiberoptics, and HgCdTe detectors for imaging and sensing applications.
Manufacturer of optical fibers for mid-IR (4.0 to 16.0 um), core/clad and unclad fiber, optical losses less than 0.5 dB/m (at 10.0 micron), maximum power up to 50 W. Includes IR fibers for CO2 laser surgery, IR fiber sensors for IR-spectroscopy, photothermal radiometry, etc.
Design and manufacture of pulsed Neodymium lasers and turn-key holography systems.
Merger of General Scanning and Lumonics. Laser based systems for manufacturing (drilling, welding, machining, marking) using CO2, excimer, and solid state laser technology. Also, optics and fiberoptic components.
Manufacturer of photomultiplier tubes, image intensifiers, light sources, microchannel plates, fiber optics plates, photodiodes, position sensitive devices, LEDs, electron sensitive devices, mercury-xenon lamps, more.
Manufacturer and supplier of all sorts of specialting lamps including laser flashlamps and arc lamps; infra-red emitters for process heating; UV lamps for tanning, disinfection and germicidal applications; excimer, deuterium, reprographic and curing lamps, and more.
Laser diodes, diode laser modules and pigtails, DPSS lasers, photodiodes.
Manufacturer of high power visible and IR laser diodes. These include single emitters and bars in open heatsink, packaged, collimated, and pigtailed configurations. Standard and custom parts available.
Manufacturer and supplier of standard and custom integrated circuits including several types for CW and pulsed/modulated laser diode drivers. Their laser driver product info and datasheets may also be found at the iC-Haus Laser Drivers Web site. Roithner Lasertechnik is one distributor of iC-Haus parts.
Manufacturer of laser optic materials, optics, components, electro-optical products and radiation detection devices from gamma ray to far infrared wavelengths.
A supplier of laboratory benchtop instrumentation for laser diode control, fiberoptic Test and laser measurement application
Manufacturer of laser diode bars, arrays, modules, electronics and related products.
Manufacturer of semiconductors for industrial and consumer applications including sensors and high power CW and pulsed laser diodes. (Formerly Siemens Semiconductors. Main office: Infineon Technologies AG, Germany.)
Institute
of Inorganic Chemistry Laser and Optoelectronics Crystals (Russia)
Molybdate and tungstate crystals for laser and optoelectronics applications.
Manufacturer of IR and UV opticcal components and materials including CaF2, BaF, quartz, sapphire, Ge, CdTe, ZnSe, Si, KBr, KCl, NaCL, and more.
Laser, non-linear, and other crystals including Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4, BBO, KTP, LBO, and LiNBO3. Crystal polishing and repolishing services.
Manufacturer of precision optical components including lenses, windows, and prisms made from a broad range of crystalline and other exotic materials.
Jodon, Inc.
62 Enterprise Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI
Phone: 1-734-761-4044
Fax: 1-734-761-3322
Email: johng@wwnet.net
Web: http://www.jodon.com/
Manufacturer/distributor of medium and large helium-neon lasers (visible and IR), non-contact gauging systems, diode laser modules, and holography instruments and supplies.
Kaiser Systems, Inc.
126 Sohier Road
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: 1-978-922-9300
Fax: 1-978-922-8374
Email: applications@kaisersys.com
Web: http://www.kaisersys.com/
Manufacturer of high voltage systems for medical and industrial X-ray applications, capacitor chargers for laser and pulsed power systems, standard products and customs design services available.
Manufacturer of a wide range of solid state laser components specializing in pretested systems, subsystems and customized laboratory laser systems. Site include many references to solid state lasers (but they do not appear to be on-line).
Manufacturer of excimer and dye lasers, and laser dyes.
Manufacturer of solid state industrial pulsed Nd:YAG laser sources primarily for welding, cutting, and drilling of metals.
Supplier of lasers, optics and fibre optic equipment. (Other divisions in France, Germany, and Belgium may be found through the Laser 2000(UK) Web page or directly at the Laser 2000 International Homepage.
Manufacturer and supplier of lead-salt Tunable Diode Laser (TDL) IR (3.3 to 25 um wavelength) sources and systems.
Manufacture, and design of laser optics for the infra red, especially high power CW and pulsed lasers. There is a pictorial guide to Aspheric Surfaces and Conic Sections at this site. They also manufacture and stock spare parts for most European, American, and Japanese lasers.
Manufacturers and/or distributors for fiber optics, IR/UV components, laser optics, optoelectronic measurement, visible and NIR laser diodes and detectors, far IR (lead salt, 3 to 25 um) diode lasers.
Inporter/distributor of components for a wide variety of laser and electro-optic systems spanning the ultraviolet (UV) to the far infrared (IR). Includes laser diodes and modules, optics, detectors, more. (Closely associated with Laser Components GmbH and Laser Components UK, above.)
Non-linear laser crystals and optics supplier in the area of the former USSR. Types include LBO, BBO, KTP and many others.
Fiber optic transmitter and receiver products, GaAs pulsed lasers and GaAs high power CW lasers.
Manufacturer of large multi-bar laser diode arrays with CW power output from 100 W to over 1 kW and QCW power output from 500 W to over 5 kW.
Manufacturer of power supplies for Helium-Neon, argon ion, and carbon dioxide lasers, and tungsten and gas discharge lamps.
Laser consulting services - cutting, welding, heat treating - process evaluation, system design, process improvement.
Manufacturer of green, red, & infrared laser diode modules & products, including DPSSFD green lasers, laser aimers, laser light show, and laser pointers, as well as fiber optic components and products, including pigtailed and receptacle communication laser diodes and VCSEL diodes as optical transmitters, connectorized photodiodes, and integrated optical transmitters. They also supply laser diodes, photodiode detectors, diffractive optics, diode driver circuit boards, and laser safety goggles.
High quality diode laser modules.
Beam benders and other optical components.
Air cooled argon and krypton ion lasers.
Laser Optics, Microlasers and Technologies, from .2 um to 20 um.
CO2 laser optics.
Manufacturer of Diode Pumped Solid State (DPSS) Lasers, power supplies, and accessories.
CO2 laser lenses and/or mirrors fabricated from zinc selenide, germanium, silicon, molybdenum.
Laser Science, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a variety of compact lasers, dye lasers, and doublers providing sources of low cost laser light from UV through IR. Products include pulsed nitrogen and nitrogen pumped tunable dye lasers, carbon dioxide lasers, and laser accessories.
Supplier of laser consumables, spare parts, optics, OEM laser sources and marking systems.
Manufacturer of DPSS lasers including IR, green, and blue.
Formerly part of Siemens. They sold their line to Zeiss, then there was a management buyout.
Products include: CO2, Diode, and HeNe laser systems and equipment, distance measuring equipment, optical components, vision systems and illumination; sawmill, steelmill, mining and paper industry, and medical lasers, sensors, and equipment; surplus equipment, optics and lasers.
Green laser pointers and DPSS laser modules, more.
Design and manufacture of CW and Pulsed Nd:YAG lasers for OEM use.
Ion, dye, ultrafast continuous wave and mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser systems.
Manufacturer of HeCd lasers.
Manufacturer of Diode Pumped Solid State (DPSS) Lasers.
Collimated and fiber coupled high-power-diode-laser-modules, refractive beam correction optics, micro-optics for research and development, accessories.
Manufacturer of synthetic crystals (rods and slabs), electro-optics components, high temperature superconductor substrates.
Manufacturer of Diode Pumped Solid State (DPSS) lasers.
Manufacturing process controls but includes a power supply for the Spectra-Physics 170 and other large frame ion lasers.
Manufacturer of coaxial flashlamp pumped dye lasers.
Manufacturer of opto and photo-electronic components including low and high power laser diodes, LEDs, photodetectors, LCD displays, gas tube devices, and light pipes.
Laser systems, related accessories and other electro-optical products. Major markets include the medical market, particularly dermatology and plastic surgery, and the growing conservation and laser cleaning market.
Manufacturer of devices for measuring and analyzing the power output of laser devices including low cost (IR) viewing plates, power meters, and spectrum analyzers.
Design and manufacturing of quality optical thin film filters.
Manufacturer of polarization control devices - polarizers, retarders, liquid crystals, spatial light modulators, mounts, more.
HeNe lasers, laser diode systems and sub-assemblies, optics, accessories, components, coatings, much more.
Copper vapor, gold vapor, and dye laser systems, equipment, and components.
Manufacturer and supplier of low cost high volume high quality optics and opto-electronics including diffractive pattern generators, beam splitters, diffusers, custom patterns, microlens arrays, MEMS systems and integration, adaptive optics, more.
HeNe and diode lasers and components, educational lasers/kits, optics, bar code scanners.
High performance diode laser systems featuring: circular, gaussian beams, extremely low wavefront error, various beam sizes and shapes, and diode laser modules to laser optical sub-assemblies.
Optical materials including CVD silicon carbide, zinc selenide, and zinc sulfide.
This joint venture, a spinoff of Uniphase Corporation (now JDS Uniphase Corporation), has developed and is marketing DPSS microlasers using a passive saturable absorber Q-switch and optional frequency multiplier crystal to provide visible green and UV output.
Major manufacturer of air-cooled ion laser systems using permanently aligned internal mirror tubes, replacement ion tubes, conversion kits available to install their tubes in laser heads from UP, SP, ALC, MG, ILT and NEC.
Acousto-optic components for lasers including AOMs, PCAOMs, as well as industrial systems and volumetric display devices.
New Focus is a supplier of photonics tools for laser applications. Products include narrow-linewidth tunable diode lasers, ultrafast photodetectors (DC-60 GHz), electro-optic modulators, wavelength meters, mechanical positioners, motorized positioners, and high-performance optics.
Design and manufacture small high performance Nd:YAG laser systems.
Precision components and systems used for development and application of laser and optical technologies.
Manufacturer of excimer lasers and micromachining workstations.
Manufacturer of standard and custom crystals and optics.
Gradient index optics including the SELFOC lens for fiber optic communications, medical imaging, and document reproduction.
Manufacturer of diode laser modules, drivers, optical power meter, optics, laser pointers, more. Includes a very compact IC based laser diode driver. Supplier of IR and visible laser diodes. Some major electronics distributors like DigiKey carry NVG's products.
Old Omnichrome contact info (may no longer be valid):
13580/13620 Fifth Street
Chino, CA 91710
Phone: 1-909-627-1594 (probably sales)
Argon/krypton ion and helium-cadmium lasers, power supplies, accessories.
Manufacturer efficient, compact, and widely tunable solid-state laser systems based on Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) technology.
Manufacturer of custom precision optical components UV-VIS-IR applications. Sizes up to 1 meter, prototype through volume production.
Laser diodes, modules, controllers, optics, laser power meters, accessories.
Lasers and accessories for research, development, and the whole industry. Argon and krypton ion lasers and power supplies, HeNe lasers (including green, yellow, orange, and IR in addition to red) and power supplies, Sealed CO2 laser tubes and power supplies, diode laser modules and drivers, accessories. Includes external cavity HeNe and argon ion tubes, mirrors, other components, more. Their Web site includes a searchable database of helium-neon and low to medium power argon ion laser heads and tubes from multiple manufacturers.
High-power diode lasers, diode laser systems and integrated stacks, and fiber-coupled diode lasers.
Oriel Instruments manufactures over 4000 components and instruments to make, move and measure light. These include UV-IR CW and pulsed light sources; nitrogen, HeNe, diode and solid state lasers; monochromators and spectrographs; detectors and detection systems; FTIRs; CCDs and PDAs for spectroscopy; fluorescence measurement instruments; optical components; fiber optics; micropositioning equipment; optical mounts and much more.
Laser diodes (including high power single emitters, bars, and modules), LEDs, and lamps and lighting products of all types.
Manufacturer of laser based systems for high speed imaging, micromachining, forensics, spectroscopy, UV light generation (by frequency doubling), entertainment, more.
Manufacture and re-gas CO2 lasers and laser tubes (DC excited, sealed or slow flow) for medical & industrial applications. On-line laser tube specifications and prices.
Visible and infra-red laser diodes, laser light sources, bidirectional devices, LEDs, detectors, collimators, attenuators, more.
Laser beam profiling instruments. They have some application notes on laser beam characteristics available upon request that may of general interest.
Distributor of all laser diodes, laser diode modules, and related products.
Manufacturer of pulsed blue diode lasers, sub-ns pulsed blue/green LED sources, associated devices, titaniam sapphire laser kits, more.
Manufacturer of piezoelectric actuators, nanoautomation, high throughput piezo flexure stages, vibrometer systems, and a variety of scientific lasers including: pulsed Nd:YAG, dye, Ti:Sapphire, excimer, CW Nd:YAG, tunable diode lasers, more.
Diode lasers and modules, accessories, diode pumped Nd:YAG lasers, HeNe power supplies, more.
Manufacturer of photonics instrumentation, from components to complete fluorescence systems. Their Web site includes on-line operation manuals for some of their products including N2 and dye lasers and a frequency doubler.
Effects development, components, and systems for the laser show and laser lighting industry. Fiber optic system, optical components, electronic components, diffraction gratings, LaserCAD Software.
Manufacturer of copper bromide lasers for industry and medicine.
Manufacturer of DPSS lasers.
Manufacturer of an innovative line of diode-pumped solid state lasers and carries out contract research and development on advanced solid state lasers and associated nonlinear optics.
Manufacturer of high power solid state lasers and laser systems for the scientific, semiconductor, medical, and industrial markets.
Non-linear optics, pulse pickers, noise eaters, modulators, regen systems, EO systems, HV drivers, complete systems.
Manufacturer of dye lasers and accessories, dye seeded OPOs, frequency doublers, laser optics, energy detectors, Raman cells, and more. They also overhaul excimer lasers.
Manufacturer/supplier of non-linear and electrooptic crystals and elements.
Commercialization of compact frequency-doubled blue lasers as well as special nonlinear optical components such as phase-conjugating cells and crystals.
Coated and uncoated optical components and a comprehensive line of HeNe lasers including 5 line tunable types. Standard and custom products.
Manufacturer of electro-optical assemblies and systems design, development, and manufacturing.
Manufacturer of high power industrial lasers with 25 locations worldwide. Products includes DC and RF excited CO2 lasers (1 to 22 kW CW), diode and arc lamp pumped Nd:YAG lasers (up to 2.7 kW CW and 120 J/pulse), and BIG diode lasers (up to 2.5 kW CW - yikes!), as well as complete laser marking systems.
Supplier of laser diodes and laser diode drivers, modules, pointers, solid state laser and non-linear crystals, accessories, VCSELs, LEDs, UV photodiodes, night vision devices, tritium light sources, CO2 laser components, laser power meters, filters, IR detector cards, a few medical lasers, laser safety devices, more.
Optics of all types from A to Z as well as HeNe lasers, diode laser modules, microscope components, positioning devices, and assistance with optical problems and selection.
All kinds of optical components. Their Web site wouldn't work with my browser so no more info.
Manufacturer of packaged single stripe high power laser diodes - 635 to 975 nm, 150 to 2,400 mW. Also, high performance laser diode driver and temperature controller.
High power laser diodes, subsystems, and accessories.
High power semiconductor diode lasers. SLI is also a supplier of laser diodes for rewriteable DVD and other optical drives, 630 to 650 nm, up to 40 mW.
Manufacturer of laser beam diagnostic instruments including optical spectrum analyzers, sensor cards, beam profilers and power and energy meters.
DFB & Fabry-Perot laser diodes, linear and area photodiode arrays, line scan and 2-D CCD cameras, 2.2 um and 2.5 um photodetectors.
French manufacturer of high energy excimer lasers, ultra-high resolution spectrometers and spectroscopic ellipsometers for both R&D and production.
Manufacturer of laser diode chips, chip-on-carriers, and complete fiber pigtailed modules, with high kink free powers and wavelengths in the 980 nm pumping window for EDFAs.
Manufacturer of semiconductor lasers, laser based systems, and fiber-optic related technology.
Manufacturer/supplier of DPSS lasers, optics, crystals. (May be distributor for CASIX.)
Manufacturer of Nd:YLF, Er:YLF, KNbO3, fluoride crystals, and UV and IR optics. Standard and custom parts.
Lasers and laser systems, optics, and optical instrumentation for OEM, science, and industry.
Major manufacturer of Nd:YAG lasers and sealed tube CO2 lasers.
High power helium-neon lasers, sealed CO2 lasers, laser power supplies.
Manufacturer of laser systems for structured lighting, specialty optical fiber, and Lasiris phase masks, in addition to other lighting products.
Laser, non-linear, EO, AO, FE, and birefringent crystals; IR windows, thin films, targets, etc.
RF-excited sealed CO2 lasers.
Manufacturer of scientific lasers including diode-pumped, ultrafast, tunable, and PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) lasers, optical sensors, and industrial cleaning and marking lasers.
High power laser diodes based on their 1 cm bar, laser diode modules for gas sensors and instrumentation, and custom optoelectronic functions for space and avionics applications.
Optomechanics, optics, optoelectronics, laser diodes, and fiber optics. Includes glass and plastic optical components, diffractive pattern generators, laser diodes, laser diode drivers, more.
Supplier of green DPSS laser modules and other laser products.
Manufacturer of high power CO2 and YAG materials processing lasers and systems.
Manufacturer of tunable, injection locking, amplifier diode laser systems and frequency doubling systems. Includes direct blue tunable diode laser covering 388 to 430 nm.
Non-linear crystals and optics. Current U.S.A. distributor for CASIX.
Supplier of customized high power diode laser systems.
Manufacturer of sealed RF excited air-cooled CO2 lasers.
Manufacturer of high precision flats, windows, substrates, prisms and lenses. Materials include fused quartz, crystal quartz, sapphire, Si, Ge, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, rutile, strontium titanate, BaF, CaF, MgO, spinel, and alumina ceramics.
Manufacturer of diode laser modules and accessories, sensors and detectors, communications systems.
Manufacturer of laser gain materials such as Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, and ruby; non-linear crystals, including KNbO3 for frequency doubling; and polarization optics such as quartz waveplates, rotators, and thin film polarizers.
Manufacturer of high performance laser diode drivers and thermoelectric control products.
Ultra high-power diffractive optics, laser power meter, optical design software, more.