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FrozenGate by Avery

My first Argon laser

AUS

AUS

0
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
565
Points
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Very happy with this, just got home with it and had to post it..

Cyonics Uniphase 2212 with a beautiful 488nm beam, Argon's are fairly rare in Australia.

The iPhone didn't quite capture the colours as well as the Cannon. The last two shots of the tube plasma show the differences, it looks blue on the iphone and purple on the camera (closer to its real colour).

The beam is a true 488nm and closer to the paler blue beamshot. Note the "Apple" symbol projected onto the wall in reverse in one of the pics from the back of the iphone.
 

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Very nice.. The beam is so beautiful in these, you just can't explain in words..
 
I can't tell from the picture.
Is your "dongle" adjustable?
Can you turn the power up and down?

Peace,
dave
 
AUS said:
Yep, sure is there is a pot on the DB 25
Click to expand...

Will it turn as high as low as you want, or does it stop a preset high/low setting?

Beautiful laser, I cannot wait to add an argon to my collection :D
 
It's awesome. My girlfriend said "yes but what does it DO?, what is it FOR?"

The pot is a multi turn one, I haven't looked yet but probably 10k, the power supply is for models from 1mW to 100mW so it probably has some scope. The book says it gives 1mW per mV accross the britness pins from zero to 15V. I don't have an LPM but it has a power meter reading available from the remote connector. I will be doing some experimenting soon, gotta get ready for work now it's 7:10am and I'm running late.

I said I've always wanted a gas laser sinse I was in high school 20 years ago and Scientific American published a how to build your own HeNe.
 
Awesome!

I wish I could have just driven to melbs to pick that up.

Need moar beamshotz! :D

Lase
 
Had more of a play tonight and took some more beam shots, which I will post after my daughter gets off Facebook and I get the pc back!

The tube is a 4mW model and I can run it indefinitely at this power level with a 6" muffin fan and "plumbing fitting" duct that I got with the unit. I can turn the power up until it is VERY bright, but then the interlock trips after about 2 minutes (heat I presume). From very dull to very bright is about 5 turns or so of the 10 turn pot.

If I have time at work tomorrow I'll make a DB25 breakout and measure the tube current and power output. It should be about 6A at 240V according to the manual.

I'm thinking of building up an LCD and controller on a pic axe or arduino so I have a true output measurement and don't have to mess with a pot.

Note that no smoke (or mirrors!) we're used in these pics, the beam is visible with the lights on.

The money shot:
IMG_0403%20%28Medium%29.jpg


Another beamshot:
IMG_0406%20%28Medium%29.jpg


The interlock details:
IMG_0419%20%28Medium%29.jpg


Beam spot, about 6mm (1/4") at 6m (25' ish I guess):
IMG_0408%20%28Medium%29.jpg


The cooling fan details:
IMG_0431%20%28Medium%29.jpg
 
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Power readout is 0.1V/mW between pin 8 and 22. Current readout is 0.1V/A between pin 9 and 22. It is wired for constant current (rather than constant power). That means it will top out somewhere around 10-12A which is rather bad for the tube. Run it 8A or lower if you want decent tube life.
 
Hehe, wish my argon would still run properly. I think a mini-LEM is in order at some stage :)
 
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