I have a water cooled Lexel Excel 3000 argon ion laser that wont start. She started fine a few months ago after being in storage for some time but due to a plumbing issue only ran for about 5 minutes before we had to shut her down. Then she wouldn't start after that and with other projects in the mix has unfortunately sat for another 6 months or so.
All voltages to and from the cathode and anode are as they should be. The spark is working as confirmed by looking down the bore while starting (brewsters obstructed of course). The filament does not appear to be sagging nor does the ohmmeter show it open or making a connection with anything else. Removing the water jacket to spark with an oudin coil is just too tedious a job for this model and best left to the professionals in my opinion. This leads me to believe that the laser and ballast are overpressured due to outgassing from the walls but im not sure?
If so my prescription was going to be to build a Styrofoam box around the head unit of the laser, bypass the cooling to the head and leave the power supply cooled so that only the head cover interlocks need bypassing. Then baking the entire head at say 150 Fahrenheit or so with a heat gun and a Variac transformer for two or three days then trying to start the laser.
Any input on this issue would be greatly appreciated!!! THANKS
All voltages to and from the cathode and anode are as they should be. The spark is working as confirmed by looking down the bore while starting (brewsters obstructed of course). The filament does not appear to be sagging nor does the ohmmeter show it open or making a connection with anything else. Removing the water jacket to spark with an oudin coil is just too tedious a job for this model and best left to the professionals in my opinion. This leads me to believe that the laser and ballast are overpressured due to outgassing from the walls but im not sure?
If so my prescription was going to be to build a Styrofoam box around the head unit of the laser, bypass the cooling to the head and leave the power supply cooled so that only the head cover interlocks need bypassing. Then baking the entire head at say 150 Fahrenheit or so with a heat gun and a Variac transformer for two or three days then trying to start the laser.
Any input on this issue would be greatly appreciated!!! THANKS
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