The LS-532 CB/fiber Optic Laser Collimation Tube Assembly

These are the build instructions for my LS-532 CB/fiber optic laser collimation tube (at least this is what I call it)

The labeling serves a great purpose also, LS-means laser system, 532-means 532nm (green laser) CB-means collimation bandpass filter installed (532nm).

Step 1: 12vdc LED Assembly

I got a bunch of these assemblies from http://www.allelectronics.com, real cheap, they are UV (405nm) and they come in handy for all kinds of stuff, in this particular instance, the LED housing itself worked perfect as the aspheric doublet lens holder, which fits in place in the eyepiece assembly inlay where the 8mm lens use to sit.

You can either use the lens that comes with the 8mm telescope eye piece of purchase them yourself for a reasonable price (depending on the application and quality you are looking for,) @

http://www.thorlabs.com/

http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/l1865d.html

Step 2: Cutting the Wiring Harness Off

Use a pair of side cutters, wire cutters, to cut the wiring harness and associated parts from the lens holder so it looks like this.

Step 3: Pushing the LED Bulb Out

Please, use an impact hole punch it will do this job cleanly in one movement (timesaver.)

Step 4: These Are the Only Drill Bits You Will Need

Step 5: Showing the Drilling Direction

Step 6: Shaping the Forward Facing End

Step 7: Final Shape of Lens Holder Assembly

Step 8: The Lens Itself

This is the lens that you will carefully place in the beveled face of the holder, I used a "magic cloth," lint free, on a padded surface and placed the lens in the beveled groove and pressed it firmly in place.

Depending on how careful you were in preparing the face, it may drop in "too" nicely and you might have to appy a tiny fraction of acrylic glue to the inside edge and let the lens dry in place.

The most critical aspect of this step is perfect alignment! The lens to operate correctly, must be parallel to the farthest exit and closest opening, to avoid any reflective aberrations.