Co2 gas ??

Hi, I just have a question : Are the tubes need to be powered by Co2 gas or Is already gas in it ???

Bro if you are asking these kind of questions I would respectfully suggest you stay well away from CO2 lasers.

The gas is already inside the CO2 tubes, they are fired using huge voltages to get the gas to Lase (produce a beam). I mean no insult but if your working knowledge of CO2 lasers means you need to ask this kind of question then you are quite likely going to get harmed or worse by such a system.

cheers

Dave

at the risk of getting a detail or two wrong, being flamed, labeled an amateur and risk rejection by the community at large, I can add that the CO2 tubes sold on ebay are empty of CO2. The CO2 is pumped in, at low pressure (beverage industry grade is suitable.) They're typically water cooled and operate on some rather dangerous high voltages. On top of that, the beam is invisible and not anywhere near as exciting to look at or play with as the visible spectrum lasers.

The laser community is similar to the general aviation community . Every time there is an accident and someone gets hurt, we all suffer by more restrictions, negative attention and press, higher prices and government involvement.

CO2 lasers may be the most dangerous kinds of lasers out there. Their use is specialized. Casual inquiries about CO2 lasers may be met with the same dubious suspicion as those about child pornography or slavery.

I can add that the CO2 tubes sold on ebay are empty of CO2

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Tubes are always prefilled at the manufacturers factory my friend, then sealed before sending out.In general it's not possible to refill them if they leak or are emptied. There are exceptions (from EXlas) but in general terms glass DC excited CO2 laser tubes are sealed units.
RF CO2 laser tubes will come unfilled on occasion but the gas blend required to fill them can cost between £2,500 to £4,000 per fill depending on where you have them done.(that said when the gas is expired they can be refilled, glass tubes in general cannot)

CO2 lasers may be the most dangerous kinds of lasers out there

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pretty much, apart from Masers, most other highly dangerous lasers are out of the civilian price range or are restricted to military use.

Casual inquiries about CO2 lasers may be met with the same dubious suspicion

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For me I guess it's a judgement call, when I see questions asked about CO2 lasers I have no problem with the usual kind (how long will my tube last @ XXmA, is there an optimum temperature to run them at, will replacing the output coupler cause me leak issues on an XYZA tube etc etc etc) as those kind of questions do need some knowledge of how they work to even ask them in the first place BUT when I read questions that display an obvious lack of pretty much ANY knowledge of what could be a potentially fatal item to muck about with both me and others in the industry I'm in end up with concerns mostly for the safety of the user. Restrictions rarely affect industrial users so that isn't so much of a concern but the last thing I'd want to see is a lack of knowledge hurting a over keen enthusiast with little command of what they are doing.

I appreciate we all have to start somewhere, jumping straight into things that can kill you likely isn't the greatest launch point though

I look at it as a duty of care, if I can prevent somebody getting hurt ...I have a moral duty to do so.

best wishes

Dave

Okay, :thanks: guys, I know my questions are stupid but its new for me and im studing all I can on Co2 lasers to be ready to build it, thx for reps

what NaNot3ch may be confused about are the project tubes that are sold for science projects for those that want to start from scratch. those can be used for experimenting with the types of gases, length of cavity, types of mirrors etc. any knuckle head can hook up the tube to a power supply and water pump. I asked a million questions before I did it and did a lot of reading myself.

THE ONLY DUMB QUESTION IS THE ONE NOT ASKED BEFORE PROCEEDING!

any knuckle head can hook up the tube to a power supply and water pump

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yup, but few will check the input current and will assume it's safe for the tube they have purchased simply because it says 40 watt on the tube and 40 watt on the supply

I will always maintain that building standalone CO2 gassers is unwise in anything more than smaller experimental powers unless you have quite a bit of general physics experience or use of higher powered lasers. The chances of injury are simply too high.

If I get chance I'll rig up the 200 watt GSI I have here tomorrow in a lab format and video what it does at what range.

cheers

Dave

Spooky said:

yup, but few will check the input current and will assume it's safe for the tube they have purchased simply because it says 40 watt on the tube and 40 watt on the supply

I will always maintain that building standalone CO2 gassers is unwise in anything more than smaller experimental powers unless you have quite a bit of general physics experience or use of higher powered lasers. The chances of injury are simply too high.

If I get chance I'll rig up the 200 watt GSI I have here tomorrow in a lab format and video what it does at what range.

cheers

Dave

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thats true.. I bought the tube and supply together as a package so they were mated for each other. I have a stand alone however the beam is reflected down like a drill press for freehand work. the tube is way back on the bench, behind something and grounded after it bit me ONCE!! But then again I have been around other dangerous shop equipment and have a respect for it and still all my fingers and eyes O-0

the tube is way back on the bench, behind something and grounded after

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Amen brother

cheers

Dave

Sealed glass co2 laser tubes are pre filled with the nitrogen , helium and co2 gas required for there operation , plus maybe some water vapour and stuff .

Flowing glass co2 lasers need a mixture of the helium , co2 , nitrogen in the correct ratios and are usually found in high power systems in the Kw range

thank you trussmonkey25

You get too many newbs that see a 5 mw power of a regular laser and they think like Tim from tool time. Bigger is always better .

So they see a 40 or 80 watt CO2 gas and want to start with that.

For example:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f43/time-enter-big-leagues-84771.html

I've been messing with gas lasers for quite a few years and I have an IR handheld I keep locked away just for me.

But, CO2 lasers aren't toys and I think some of the 12-20 years olds (and up) view them that way -
Most of them have NO experience with High power, or Gas laser, or IR beams or Liquid cooling or High Voltage

All wonderful ways to maim and hurt you badly.

OK done with RANT!

I just don't want to see anyone blaming the forum for them going blind or killing themselves, because they read on here you could build a 40w laser and light matches or pop ballons

Light a match with 40 watt? You could light your finger!!!! Or pop a basketball.

trussmonkey25 said:

Light a match with 40 watt? You could light your finger!!!! Or pop a basketball.

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Or permanently blind anybody standing nearby with an unexpected specular reflection from a beam that is invisible to start with. Laser pointer companies make a big thing of the power figures of lasers , the whole "bigger is better" mentality, that's all fine but when stuff in the 40 to 200 watt range is available for not a hell of a lot more money things can get silly very quickly. My insurance means I cannot have anybody under the age of 21 in my workshops, the HSE have told me under 18's in there *could* be a crime and that's all because of the lasers (that are enclosed inside machines)

God help us the day some chimp points one at an aircraft!

cheers

Dave

trussmonkey25 said:

Light a match with 40 watt? You could light your finger!!!! Or pop a basketball.

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Which is my point!