The Blue Laser Diode

Due to the recent introduction of laser technology in projectors, the 445nm blue laser diode has been created. The projectors contain an array of 24 of these 5.6mm high-powered 445nm laser diodes. These diodes have the product names: XJ-A140 and XJ-A130. This 445nm diode was ground breaking for laser hobbyists. Not only was it a new wavelength for diodes, it was very inexpensive and very powerful.

If you are looking to experience this beautiful laser wavelength without having to go through the trouble of building your own, check out this:

I own one and it is great. It has a very bright visible laser beam even in the daytime, and it is more than powerful enough to burn objects. Be careful!

How Powerful is the Blue Laser Diode?

The 445nm blue laser diode is unlike any other visible wavelenth laser diode in terms of raw power. It can be pushed to output over 2 Watts of beautiful blue light, but most are run at more conservative power levels for longevity. The 445nm blue laser diode is very robust, but needs to be properly heatsinked for a long healthy lifespan.

How are the Beam Specs of the Blue Laser Diode?

The 445nm blue laser diode has a multimode beam profile. That means the shape of the “dot” is actualy rectangular, and the beam will have poor divergence. Thankfully the diode makes up for this with its emmense power. Even though the beam is divergent and the dot is rectangular, it still is extremely bright and will burn through anything that is put in front of it.

How Much Does a Blue Laser Diode Cost?

The 445nm blue laser diode is very inexpensive and can be found for around $50-$60. When these diodes hit the market, they allowed hobbyists to construct handheld 1-2 Watt lasers for under $200. Before these diodes, this was unheard of. A 5mW DPSS blue laser cost well over $300 and you would paying over $1000 for a 1 Watt green laser.

It is important that if you use one of these high-powered blue laser diodes that you have a good understanding of laser safety practices and own laser safety goggles.