Low mount and heatsink for laser diode assembly

Q: Which well-known manufacturers of laser diodes exist?

The leading manufacturers of industrial laser diodes: Nichia (Japan) – market leader for green and blue laser diodes, highest efficiency and service life; well-known models include the NDG7575 (1 W green, 520 nm) and the NUBM series (blue). Sharp (Japan) – strong second source for visible wavelengths; models such as GH05C01B9G (1 W green). Osram Opto Semiconductors (Germany) – broad portfolio from 405 to 850 nm. Sony – mainly for display and show applications. Ushio – industrial high-power diodes. For red and infrared the choice is wider; for green and blue Nichia and Sharp are the dominant sources.

Q: How does beam shaping (collimation) of a laser diode work?

A bare laser diode emits a strongly divergent, elliptical beam – the bare diode does not produce a usable spot but rather a fanned-out cone. For practical use the beam must be collimated – reshaped into a parallel, directed beam. Standard solution: a collimator lens directly in front of the diode, mounted in an M9 × 0.5 housing (brass or aluminium). A single-lens optic turns the divergent beam into an approximately parallel beam. On high-quality collimators (e.g. our Colli-LA) we use an aspheric glass lens with AR coating, 5 mm aperture, focal length approx. 4 mm. For especially round beam profiles, correction optics can be added behind the collimator.

Q: Why does a laser diode need a heat sink?

Laser diodes dissipate typically 50–70 % of the electrical power as heat – only a fraction becomes light. A 1 W laser diode therefore generates 1.5–2 W of waste heat in the semiconductor chip. Without a heat sink the junction temperature climbs to critical levels within seconds and the diode fails thermally. Consequences: drastic wavelength shift (red-shifted), efficiency collapse, irreversible destruction. Rule of thumb: every additional 10 °C in junction temperature roughly halves the service life. Practice: mount the diode in a massive metal holder (brass or aluminium), the holder on a heat sink with thermal compound, and add a fan or thermal convection for &gt; 1 W.

Q: What is a constant-current driver for laser diodes?

A constant-current driver is an electronic circuit that regulates the current flowing through a laser diode to an exact value – independent of input voltage and temperature variations. This is necessary because a laser diode's optical output depends linearly on current, not on voltage. A simple voltage supply would, with small temperature or supply fluctuations, lead to large current and therefore optical-output swings – in the worst case destroying the diode. Good drivers offer: constant-current regulation, soft-start, over-temperature protection, ESD protection and often analog/TTL modulation for pulsed operation. Matching drivers are available in our „Laser drivers“ category.

Q: How is a bare laser diode driven correctly?

A bare laser diode needs a constant-current driver – not a simple voltage supply. Reason: the diode has a very steep current/light-output curve. Even 5 % current variation can destroy the diode. Concrete requirements: 1. Constant-current-regulated supply at the operating current specified in the datasheet (e.g. 1.6 A for Nichia NDG7575). 2. Soft-start (no abrupt current jump). 3. Protection against voltage spikes on the supply side. 4. Adequate heat dissipation via a heat sink (typically &lt; 30 °C junction temperature). 5. ESD protection during handling – bare diodes are extremely ESD-sensitive.

Q: What is a TO-9 laser diode?

TO-9 is a standardized package format for laser diodes – a cylindrical metal can with 9 mm diameter. The package contains the laser semiconductor chip, a protective cap with exit window and the electrical pins (typically 3). Benefits: uniform mechanical interface, good heat dissipation through the metal housing, easy integration into sockets and heat sinks. TO-9 is, alongside TO-5 (5.6 mm) and TO-18 (5.6 mm, older), the most common package for high-power laser diodes with &gt; 200 mW. Examples: Nichia NDG7575 (1 W green), Sharp GH05C01B9G (1 W green). A bare TO-9 diode is a pure component without collimator and without driver.

12-mm Small Diode Block: a flat mounting block for 12-mm press-fit laser diode sockets; it also serves for heat dissipation.

€39.27

Delivery time: In stock

Product number: Diode Block 12mm small

Low mount and heatsink for laser diode assembly

Low-profile mounting block for 12-mm diode sockets: The low-profile version of the precision mounting block for diode assemblies with MediaLas press-fit sockets (12 mm) also serves for heat dissipation.

Flat design for limited installation space
For Pressfit laser diode sockets (12 mm)
Clamping with heat dissipation

Technical Specifications.

Beam exit height:	15 mm
Dimensions:	30 x 50 x 22 mm
Bore:	12 mm
Mounting:	using an M4 screw

Which well-known manufacturers of laser diodes exist?

The leading manufacturers of industrial laser diodes: Nichia (Japan) – market leader for green and blue laser diodes, highest efficiency and service life; well-known models include the NDG7575 (1 W green, 520 nm) and the NUBM series (blue). Sharp (Japan) – strong second source for visible wavelengths; models such as GH05C01B9G (1 W green). Osram Opto Semiconductors (Germany) – broad portfolio from 405 to 850 nm. Sony – mainly for display and show applications. Ushio – industrial high-power diodes. For red and infrared the choice is wider; for green and blue Nichia and Sharp are the dominant sources.

How does beam shaping (collimation) of a laser diode work?

A bare laser diode emits a strongly divergent, elliptical beam – the bare diode does not produce a usable spot but rather a fanned-out cone. For practical use the beam must be collimated – reshaped into a parallel, directed beam. Standard solution: a collimator lens directly in front of the diode, mounted in an M9 × 0.5 housing (brass or aluminium). A single-lens optic turns the divergent beam into an approximately parallel beam. On high-quality collimators (e.g. our Colli-LA) we use an aspheric glass lens with AR coating, 5 mm aperture, focal length approx. 4 mm. For especially round beam profiles, correction optics can be added behind the collimator.

Why does a laser diode need a heat sink?

Laser diodes dissipate typically 50–70 % of the electrical power as heat – only a fraction becomes light. A 1 W laser diode therefore generates 1.5–2 W of waste heat in the semiconductor chip. Without a heat sink the junction temperature climbs to critical levels within seconds and the diode fails thermally. Consequences: drastic wavelength shift (red-shifted), efficiency collapse, irreversible destruction. Rule of thumb: every additional 10 °C in junction temperature roughly halves the service life. Practice: mount the diode in a massive metal holder (brass or aluminium), the holder on a heat sink with thermal compound, and add a fan or thermal convection for > 1 W.

What is a constant-current driver for laser diodes?

A constant-current driver is an electronic circuit that regulates the current flowing through a laser diode to an exact value – independent of input voltage and temperature variations. This is necessary because a laser diode's optical output depends linearly on current, not on voltage. A simple voltage supply would, with small temperature or supply fluctuations, lead to large current and therefore optical-output swings – in the worst case destroying the diode. Good drivers offer: constant-current regulation, soft-start, over-temperature protection, ESD protection and often analog/TTL modulation for pulsed operation. Matching drivers are available in our „Laser drivers“ category.

How is a bare laser diode driven correctly?

A bare laser diode needs a constant-current driver – not a simple voltage supply. Reason: the diode has a very steep current/light-output curve. Even 5 % current variation can destroy the diode. Concrete requirements: 1. Constant-current-regulated supply at the operating current specified in the datasheet (e.g. 1.6 A for Nichia NDG7575). 2. Soft-start (no abrupt current jump). 3. Protection against voltage spikes on the supply side. 4. Adequate heat dissipation via a heat sink (typically < 30 °C junction temperature). 5. ESD protection during handling – bare diodes are extremely ESD-sensitive.

What is a TO-9 laser diode?

TO-9 is a standardized package format for laser diodes – a cylindrical metal can with 9 mm diameter. The package contains the laser semiconductor chip, a protective cap with exit window and the electrical pins (typically 3). Benefits: uniform mechanical interface, good heat dissipation through the metal housing, easy integration into sockets and heat sinks. TO-9 is, alongside TO-5 (5.6 mm) and TO-18 (5.6 mm, older), the most common package for high-power laser diodes with > 200 mW. Examples: Nichia NDG7575 (1 W green), Sharp GH05C01B9G (1 W green). A bare TO-9 diode is a pure component without collimator and without driver.