Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Another broken laser - HeNe 612nm. Tube lights fine.. but

aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
So, I received a Melles Griot 05-SOR-851 612nm HeNe laser today. Seller claimed, of course, that it worked fine, "no damages."

Well, try to start it up -- with the internal Melles Griot PS - nothing.

Tried wiring in my Melles Griot PS of the *exact same model internally* (the 'brick' is the same)

and the tube lights, the gas color looks fine but... No beam.

Any ideas?
 





E

ElektroFreak

0
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
5,725
Points
0
better start a paypal dispute..

That's particularly crappy since 612 is such a rare color.
 
aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
Yeah, thats why I jumped at the chance... Any idea what could be up with the tube, if it does light fine but doesn't lase?

The PS that came with it was certainly dead, I was hoping the tube would be OK... Could improper grounding or anything keep it from lasing?
 
E

ElektroFreak

0
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
5,725
Points
0
If the gas discharge looks good, it must be out of alignment. I'm not a gas laser expert, but HeNes are pretty simple.. If the gas glows and the mirrors are right, it should lase. Sealed mirrors are very hard to realign.
 
DJZ

DJZ

0
Joined
Aug 27, 2008
Messages
270
Points
0
I've never seen the insides of that model HeNe, does the cover come off easily? Are the mirrors attached directly to the tube? If so, it will be more difficult to re-align, but it can be done. The only other thing I can think of is the current. When you attached your supply, do you have still have the ballast resistors attached? I've heard, though I've never seen this, that too much current can actually cause them not to produce a beam.
 
aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
I know people have said you can sometimes bend them back into alignment... but with it being sealed, Id ont know. Maybe this happened in shipping. (likely.)

Some images of it...
 

Attachments

  • lsr1.jpg
    lsr1.jpg
    146.6 KB · Views: 882
  • lsr4.jpg
    lsr4.jpg
    112 KB · Views: 424
  • lsr2.jpg
    lsr2.jpg
    129.4 KB · Views: 1,642
  • lsr3.jpg
    lsr3.jpg
    93.8 KB · Views: 476
aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
I am keeping the ballast resistor in line yeah. I can try a lower powered supply, but this is the same supply that came with the thing (external with the same 'brick' this had in it)

Just tried two other power supplies; a 5.0mA, 6.0mA and a 6.5mA one. I know on the PS that came with it there was a "Calibrated Current Output" sticker over a little knob, basically saying "don't turn this". I suppose the externals I have could be too high (but even at 5.0 ma?)
 
Last edited:
DJZ

DJZ

0
Joined
Aug 27, 2008
Messages
270
Points
0
Both supplies are spec'd to put out the same current? If that's the case, then it's most likely an alignment issue. You gotta be real careful trying to re-align them, and know that the tube itself acts like a big capacitor, even with the supply removed, the thing can nail ya, don't ask me how I know! I've used the plastic middle part of a highlighter to flex the ends of tubes like that before. If it's off, I doubt it's by much, just a little flexing of the one side, then the other and you might get lucky.

Just speculating, but lowered gas pressure may be at fault.??
Click to expand...

Tube pressure could certainly be an issue, I'm going by the assumption that it worked prior to shipping.
 
photonaholic

photonaholic

0
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
2,738
Points
63
DJZ said:
Tube pressure could certainly be an issue, I'm going by the assumption that it worked prior to shipping.
Click to expand...


That's giving the ebay seller too much credit...unless they are a known laser seller with 100% feedback, then I am sorry I said that, but in my experience, unless the guarantee NO DOA, I lack the faith to trust them.
 
aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
The guy wasn't a laser guy, but claimed it was "Great condition, well preserved, no damages." I'll try flexing the ends (barely) with a highlighter and see what happens; but i'm not getting my hopes up.

EDIT: Flexing of the ends, no change, no go, nothing.

I am betting that this is as close as I'll *ever* get to a 612nm laser.
 
Last edited:
daguin

daguin

0
Joined
Mar 29, 2008
Messages
15,989
Points
113
Dayum Dood!

You are getting hella used gas laser education hella fast.

With the construction of that housing, you can see that it would be darned near impossible to knock the mirrors out of alignment without damaging the glass. All of the support is on the glass tube, NOT the metal ends.

Since you have it opened, certainly try wiggling stuff around (not too vigorously). If you get it to lase, SWEET! However, I highly doubt that it was lasing when the seller packaged it up.

The plasma color looks good (although the camera often alters subtle color variations). If you are getting a solid plasma (without "clicks" or a "buzz" from the PSU) the PSU is working. Either the gas mixture is bad or the mirrors are out of alignment.

The former you cannot fix. The latter is VERY difficult to fix.

Peace,
dave
 
photonaholic

photonaholic

0
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
2,738
Points
63
Or the seller is a scammer, drop the seller a line, ask for a refund and see what happens.

If the seller refuses to refund, the seller is a scammer.

I got a broken hene not too long ago, the seller reversed the paypal and told me to keep it.

I gave him a A+ feedback. Integrity is everything.
 
aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
daguin said:
Dayum Dood!

You are getting hella used gas laser education hella fast.
Click to expand...

Sure am, Dave! Definitely this got my hopes down though. My kind of "can die happy" laser was a 612nm, and since I bought it a week ago I've been pacing around waiting for it to come... Sweating the moment I tried to turn it on..

And.. nothing. Of course. (my luck.)

No cracks in the tube and i've looked all over to make sure. It hasn't broken free from its mounting.

There are no clicks from the PS. It's lighting solidly. The gas mix, from what I can tell, looks good. Red-orange-pink, not pink-purple.

Just no beam.

I hate feeling so close but yet so far. And it wouldn't surprise me if this was the last 612nm laser "floating around" *anywhere*.
 
lasersbee

lasersbee

0
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
17,622
Points
113
Talk to the Seller fists....
Did the eBay Listing state that the laser lases and.or is guaranteed.
Or did he state AS IS...
If you believe you've been duped... open a PayPal Dispute and escalate it
to a claim if the seller is not helpful or cooperative..

BTW... from the plasma in the capillary tube it looks like the mirrors are
out of alignment...IMO


Jerry
 
aryntha

aryntha

0
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2,031
Points
83
He did not state 'as is'. He stated, "Well preserved, no damages." However, the seller has not been communicative so far , early on when I asked him right out if it worked or not.

As far as the plasma goes - you can tell the mirrors are out of alignment by that?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.




Top