New Argon on its way :)

vk2fro · Jan 24, 2012

Just bought one of Dave's argons. (well waiting for confirmation from him).

Edit: Dave and I have organised the deal. I begin paying for the laser 2 weeks from now.

Some of you will think I am mad buying one from the states and paying the insane shipping ($224) when Rob (timelablasers) has one of the LaserPhysics units on ebay here in Australia.

Dave's is multiline and 3 times the power, and will work out the same price or less with shipping as the LP which is only single line. So I opted for the higher mw multiline. It needs a remote and hose, but those I can source/build.

Heres a photo of it as in Dave's big argon laser sale thread...

Watch this thread for when it arrives.

Things · Jan 24, 2012

Nice! Kind of disappointed my multiline from Dave is on it's last legs, but it had insane hours on it before I even got it, so not too surprising.

Shipping is pretty crazy, I paid about $110US for the head and $170 for the PSU (Seperate).

vk2fro · Jan 24, 2012

Kinda curious, but why did you buy it if you knew it had really high hours?

I will be discussing this and other finer points with dave before I commit.

Things · Jan 24, 2012

Well, that's the difference, it was free, he had 2 which he gave away for the price of shipping. So yeah, I suppose I got lucky in that I at least got to see the beautiful colour.

vk2fro · Jan 24, 2012

what happened to it - did it just eventually die?

ElektroFreak · Jan 24, 2012

Nice head! 160mW ain't bad..

Things · Jan 24, 2012

vk2fro said:
what happened to it - did it just eventually die?

Started out with high gas pressure. Finally got it to strike after hours of ticking.

However, it likes firing down the capillary, and is still a pain in the neck to get started, so I've sorta lost motivation on it.

vk2fro · Jan 30, 2012

Yeah got way too much blue happening here (2 445's, a 473 on the way and now this multiline argon).

Next up I really should invest in a class IV green.

(and a few pairs of eagle eyes saftey goggles, along with a laserbee so my friends and I can play lasers safely).

I also have a NEC 3030 with a buggered filament. I'm keeping it as its a great conversation piece with the wiring removed, and the cover off. The capillary tube is really cool looking.

edit: Forgot I had a green - its a hair shy of 500mw, so its not class IV tho - its a labby with analogue modulation.

daguin · Jan 30, 2012

Things said:
Well, that's the difference, it was free, he had 2 which he gave away for the price of shipping. So yeah, I suppose I got lucky in that I at least got to see the beautiful colour.

I had two of those NEC heads. I couldn't get PSU's for them. They were/are only sold in Japan. I couldn't find any used Japanese sources. I gave them to people who were willing to work at adapting them to other PSU's (without any paperwork on the heads)

Peace,
dave

Things · Jan 31, 2012

Yeah, still glad I got to at least play with one though

I still have it, I just need to redesign the PSU and I might try and fire it up again. It will start and lase, just takes a LOT of messing around before it does, and it's temperamental.

vk2fro · Feb 1, 2012

Well just secured the deal and sent dave a downpayment on the laser for him to hold it.

Should take me 4 weeks to get it paid off, then wait for it to arrive. Will update when I get it

edit: Arduino controller for the JDSU lasers to be made So if anyone wants to help with the sketch on this project, please feel free as I know nothing about programming (well basic stamps dont really count!).

I've downloaded the IDE and set it up on my C:, and have ordered a Arduino Duemilanove - and a 16x2 LCD. I still need some digipots (I think I have some from the basic stamp projector project) and a relay IO board.

The arduino will have to do the following things:

1. Sequence the laser (correct switching for start, run, idle, etc)
2. Listen to pressbuttons and control the digipots / relays
3. Monitor the feedback loop; and
4. Display the results on the LCD, and shut down the laser in an error condition.
5. Store the laser's calibration data in eeprom

For now when the arduino arrives I'll do the initial sketches to learn how to drive it. Really we just need to read some input voltages, do some math, control some pots and switches, and write output to an LCD.

Things · Feb 2, 2012

vk2fro said:
Well just secured the deal and sent dave a downpayment on the laser for him to hold it.

Should take me 4 weeks to get it paid off, then wait for it to arrive. Will update when I get it

edit: Arduino controller for the JDSU lasers to be made So if anyone wants to help with the sketch on this project, please feel free as I know nothing about programming (well basic stamps dont really count!).

I've downloaded the IDE and set it up on my C:, and have ordered a Arduino Duemilanove - and a 16x2 LCD. I still need some digipots (I think I have some from the basic stamp projector project) and a relay IO board.

The arduino will have to do the following things:

1. Sequence the laser (correct switching for start, run, idle, etc)
2. Listen to pressbuttons and control the digipots / relays
3. Monitor the feedback loop; and
4. Display the results on the LCD, and shut down the laser in an error condition.
5. Store the laser's calibration data in eeprom

For now when the arduino arrives I'll do the initial sketches to learn how to drive it. Really we just need to read some input voltages, do some math, control some pots and switches, and write output to an LCD.

I can help you out with the code, PM me (or laserchat, whichever) some of the specs you want to work with and I'll mock something up and go through it with you

vk2fro · Feb 2, 2012

Thanks Things! - I'll get in touch on LC once I get my Arduino board and LCD + relay board. I'll get the electronics working with the intro sketches (e.g. display saying hello world or "LPF rulez", and the relays clicking out SOS LOL) then we can work on the rest

Testing can be done without a laser or PSU - its all watching voltages, satisfying interlocks and making sure silly user (who after a few beers/puffs/insert favourite questionable legality substance) decides he/she wants to turn his controller up to 12A on a 8A max head.

We're basically copying the 2500 remote with a nice backlit display, storage for different laser heads, and preventing the user doing dumb mistakes like starting the laser for 5 minutes then shutting it down completly without running the fan.

edit: typical, my usb sound card (yes I dropped a screwdriver into my live computer and blew the sound card on the mobo) and my LCD 16x2 has shipped from china BEFORE the aussie sold arduino. Come on aussie, get off your fat butt and sent my uC

Things · Feb 2, 2012

Haha cool. Shoulda told me, I have a heap of 16x2 LCD's here

The Arduino language (wiring) is a great thing to learn, you can do so much with it. Even the laser harps are programmed in it

vk2fro · Feb 2, 2012

Any backlit ones? (I have a hard time reading non backlit). If so send one down - the one I'm getting is coming from china.

I can buy it off you or send you my brand newie when it arrives.

LaserCo · Feb 6, 2012

vk2fro said:
Yeah got way too much blue happening here (2 445's, a 473 on the way and now this multiline argon).

Next up I really should invest in a class IV green. (and a few pairs of eagle eyes saftey goggles, along with a laserbee so my friends and I can play lasers safely).

I also have a NEC 3030 with a buggered filament. I'm keeping it as its a great conversation piece with the wiring removed, and the cover off. The capillary tube is really cool looking.

edit: Forgot I had a green - its a hair shy of 500mw, so its not class IV tho - its a labby with analogue modulation.

What is the matter with its filament?

New Argon on its way :)

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