5mW is a very standard maximum rating for the laser diodes typically used
    in laser pointers. They work quite well at 5mW at reasonable temperatures
    but don't last very long above that.

Um, how do you change the output power produced by one of those laser
diodes, anyway?  I thought they were all the sort where you essentially
detected output via the built-in photodiode, and didn't let the current
climb any higher than that?  Wouldn't that make the actual output wholely
dependent on the laser diode itself?

BillW

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