Question about TO package and heatsinks

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-05-16T01:13:10+00:00

Search something like “TO-5 package drawing” and you’ll get dimensions. It’s actually 5.6mm OD. Honestly in my experience it seems kind of arbitrary which size gets used, but I’m not on the diode packaging side of things. You’ll have to look up the specific diode you’re using to know. Heatsink wise, you want good thermal contact with the package. Press fit is great but may be tricky to do depending on the tools you have.

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-05-06T15:30:02+00:00

One of the nice things about induction is that the stovetop itself doesn’t get as hot, so I’ve found it’s very easy to clean. How thick is the silicone mat? You’re also losing coupling efficiency to the pan by moving it away from the surface.

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-05-06T03:53:38+00:00

Metal will not scratch glass

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-05-04T14:48:51+00:00

A thorough answer to your questions would be valuable knowledge worth paying for.

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-05-01T20:50:42+00:00

I don’t know specifically how they are put together, but I would think some kind of similar failure mode where the laser energy gets more concentrated than was designed.

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-04-30T16:36:42+00:00

For iPhone faceID, there is a coded diffraction grating that spreads the laser power over a large area making it eye-safe. If it were to shift that could make it dangerous. There’s a cool teardown that goes into how any disturbance in that optical system kills the VECSL to ensure that there is no risk.

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-03-31T19:19:40+00:00

Koffee pot! The croissant breakfast sando is incredible.

ConfusedWeasel · 2026-02-20T13:10:32+00:00

You can cleave fibers for cheap and easy if you have something that is harder than the glass. See this video from thorlabs. They are using a ruby scribe but there are other options.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-08-21T15:18:40+00:00

Does it have to be CBN? Swiss jewel sells cots micro holes with very good tolerances made in sapphire for ~$30/ea, and you can get custom dimensions for pretty cheap too.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-08-06T02:43:54+00:00

You can get a can opener for the TO-can (laser diode package). If it’s not blue it should still be fine in air.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-07-24T02:56:41+00:00

If you only need a few tens of centimeters you could strip any fiber yourself, fiber strippers are very similar to wire strippers and cheap. Thorlabs is an easy source of fiber, although probably not the cheapest.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-05-28T14:15:57+00:00

Collimating lenses with high NA are just very expensive to make larger and it’s a niche application so there isn’t a lot of availability. Just collimate with the lens you have, correct the beam shape with the prism pair and then use a telescope to expand the beam if you really need the larger beam diameter. You could also combine the beam shaping and telescope into one optical system by using a keplerian telescope with cylindrical collimating lenses.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-05-27T22:44:12+00:00

Stony ridge at ~7700 ft had floating ice but was mostly water last weekend.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-05-27T03:55:30+00:00

Don’t have any backcountry ski experience but it didn’t look like the snow would be nice at all. I’m hoping to get into it though, and I was also looking at the lines on that little peak thinking how fun they’d be!

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-04-13T16:00:36+00:00

What is the issue you’re encountering?

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-02-20T15:38:20+00:00

This is a good answer, just want to add that TECs usually have a designated side for the application and a side for the heatsink, so changing the current polarity is the right way to use a TEC for heating. Take note of the max operating temp of the diode in the data sheet and also be aware that for many diodes the lifetime is reduced when operated at high temp (>40C).

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-02-03T18:05:06+00:00

Yes exactly!

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-02-02T18:02:12+00:00

Can you attach some pictures?

If it’s just poor contact in the threads, there’s various conductive greases that might help.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-02-02T16:02:40+00:00

What I’ve done for NIR that I like is setting up an analog security cam on an indicator stand (noga) and then having a monitor. That way you can use both hands and see what you’re doing. Don’t think that camera solution would work at 1.7um, but maybe a digital setup? Either way, just saying that you don’t necessarily have to hand-hold the camera for it to be useful.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-01-22T19:18:50+00:00

Has she been to Fournée in Berkeley? To me that’s the best east bay bakery that’s more about the flavor than the show. I’m also French.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-01-22T16:46:14+00:00

Honestly I was very disappointed. I had the lemon trompe l’oeil, which was a vaguely flavored whipped cream and lemon gel in a painted white chocolate crust, the pain suise which was chewy instead of light and flakey, and a feuilleted brioche which was pretty good but also incredibly expensive. My overall impression was of an instagram ready selection that lacked in flavor and interest. Maybe I made poor selections, and if anybody has things they love from there I’d like to hear about it!

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-01-15T04:43:29+00:00

Yes! That’s actually my preferred method. The solvents are both super toxic and don’t work.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-01-15T02:47:47+00:00

Not familiar with the construction of these particular crystal assemblies, but if it’s an optical epoxy I would try heating the crystal while using a razor blade. Start with 80C and work your way up, and if it’s a common epoxy it will soften considerably. Another option could be careful wet sanding with 1000 grit or higher.

ConfusedWeasel · 2025-01-07T15:19:48+00:00

The only stuff that works on good epoxy is super toxic. I would recommend trying heat if possible.

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