It's funny that you would go there. A previous project of mine, which I abandoned because of lose of interest , was an Arduino controlled multi-purpose X-Y table. My plan was to have swappable heads, one being a burning/cutting laser. I finished building the table, complete with stepper motors and Arduino control, and I was in the programming phase when I put it on hold. I was considering returning to it soon.
After some research and some bidding, I quickly realized that the module wasn't worth my time right now; I have too many other projects in the way, unfortunately.
The module was nice, though (I also found another that was 40 watts). Based on a datasheet I found on Coherent's site (it was a Coherent module), you apparently need to drive the module with something like 20-30 amps at less than 2 volts; SAMs laser FAQ didn't talk much about such higher-power lasers and how to power them properly (it was also an 800nm laser - so UV).
I bid both modules up to around $50.00 each (when you add in shipping); I don't know where the winning bidder's high point is at, but likely up higher, maybe much higher if some of the "buy-it-now" prices are figured in on it.
The problem is the power-supply, though; its got to be high current, and controlled, at a low voltage - then you have the heat-sinking needed for the module; oh, and then you have to figure out how to get a multi-modal fiber connection made (or some other method); none of this stuff is cheap with these high-power lasers. Its a project that I am not ready to take on yet (time or money).
It was fun to dabble, though (I thought maybe I could get a module cheap, then store it for a later day)...
