One weak tube and one that lights up but no output. Please advise.
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:03 am
I have a small 4'x4' laser system that I recently built that makes use of an import 40W CO2 laser tube. Knowing that there have been issues with tubes from China I went ahead and purchased 2 tubes and 2 power units and unless I am doing something very wrong there is in issue (a different issue) with each tube.
Problem 1
The first tube has very poor output power. I can't make it all the way through 1/8" acrylic in one pass even with up to 25 PSI air assist and feed rates of 5 IPM (which is the setting for 10W lasers according to most generic CO2 laser charts). It appears I am getting less than 10W output.
The machine is steel frame, very rigid and capable of moving very quickly with great precision and no mirror or nozzle vibration. The alignment is spot on (pun intended) and was checked at all 4 corners, center and various positions on the machine. Visible laser was used to get the initial alignment and bronze backed paper targets were used at all reflection points and the nozzle outlet (before lens install) to insure the beam was dead center.
In all the 40W charts I have checked they report that you should be able to glide through acrylic at a minimum of 27 IPM. The cut speed I am having to use is recommended for a 10W CO2 laser unit! At this rate I would not even dream of 1/4" cuts (which is what the unit is rated at).
It lights up with what appears to be a nice purple glow and doesn’t make any odd noise. I even tried the backup PSU and the results were exactly the same.
Can this be a lens issue?
Problem 2
Since I bought 2 tubes I decided to try the backup tube to check if the first tube was a dud. The second tube lights up the ubiquitous purple albeit a bit brighter but will not fire a beam. I can put paper directly in front of the output and it won’t even make a spot.
I have inspected the tube and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong. The output lens looks good, there are no cracks and no indications of other visible problems.
Any idea as to what could case a laser tube to light up but not fire?
With having 2 for 2 problems I have to assume I have done something wrong but I can’t figure out what this may be…
Thanks in advance for anyone who can offer help with this.
Problem 1
The first tube has very poor output power. I can't make it all the way through 1/8" acrylic in one pass even with up to 25 PSI air assist and feed rates of 5 IPM (which is the setting for 10W lasers according to most generic CO2 laser charts). It appears I am getting less than 10W output.
The machine is steel frame, very rigid and capable of moving very quickly with great precision and no mirror or nozzle vibration. The alignment is spot on (pun intended) and was checked at all 4 corners, center and various positions on the machine. Visible laser was used to get the initial alignment and bronze backed paper targets were used at all reflection points and the nozzle outlet (before lens install) to insure the beam was dead center.
In all the 40W charts I have checked they report that you should be able to glide through acrylic at a minimum of 27 IPM. The cut speed I am having to use is recommended for a 10W CO2 laser unit! At this rate I would not even dream of 1/4" cuts (which is what the unit is rated at).
It lights up with what appears to be a nice purple glow and doesn’t make any odd noise. I even tried the backup PSU and the results were exactly the same.
Can this be a lens issue?
Problem 2
Since I bought 2 tubes I decided to try the backup tube to check if the first tube was a dud. The second tube lights up the ubiquitous purple albeit a bit brighter but will not fire a beam. I can put paper directly in front of the output and it won’t even make a spot.
I have inspected the tube and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong. The output lens looks good, there are no cracks and no indications of other visible problems.
Any idea as to what could case a laser tube to light up but not fire?
With having 2 for 2 problems I have to assume I have done something wrong but I can’t figure out what this may be…
Thanks in advance for anyone who can offer help with this.