Start to finish, first HeNe [PIC HEAVY]

So, I recently purchased a red HeNe from Dave, not having a clue what I was getting into. (pardon the writing on my hand, I work sales and for testing a pen, taking a request over the phone, etc. My hand is much more accessible that a pad of paper hidden somewhere in the stock room.)



I took it out of the package, saw three dangly wires, and thought "they're clipped because they're unimportant" (silly right?)

I plugged it in, it didn't lase. Back to square one. I later discovered that it needs a power source, I misunderstood the term "power supply" by a longshot. So today (day after receiving it) my dad and I scrounged around, and did find what we were looking for, a victim

As I opened her up, I discovered an interesting sight, it only had one color coded wire, the ground. The other two looked the same. After some research on my dad's part, we discovered which was the hot and neutral, and I twisted the wires together, electrical taped them, and gave them a test go.

And what do you know? IT WORKED! I had my first HeNe, and it was lasing like a champ. With a PERFECT dot

I then went back to the workbench, proceeded to carefully take apart the tape, then soldered the wires together, electrical taped around them (lacking heatshrink at the moment) then taped the bundle, and a couple other places down the wires to add a "cleaner" look to it.

All in all, I am extremely satisfied with the laser. And I'm hooked haha, I am already making plans to purchase the last red (unless someone else gets to it before me) and a green or two.

:thanks: Dave!!!! You were great to work with, and I hope to trickle a little more fun into your paypal account in the future

Final shot of the completed laser

Welcome to the wonderful world of HeNe's and other gas lasers!:beer:

Get yourself some bare tubes as well. They look great fired up and glowing.

532 with Envy said:

Welcome to the wonderful world of HeNe's and other gas lasers!:beer:

Get yourself some bare tubes as well. They look great fired up and glowing.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much =] I honestly didn't know it'd be this fun, I've wanted a gas one for a year or so, had no idea they could be this cheap (in the beginning haha.)

And I plan to get a GreeNe for that exact reason

Nicely done :beer:

Gas is sexy :bowdown:

Peace,
dave

Glad to see you are experimenting with HeNe gas Lasers.

BTW...If you could limit your Pic size to 800 X 600 pixels it
would not take up almost 2 screens of my computer and it
would make reading your text a lot easier by not having to
scroll right and left for every freakin line of text..


Jerry

lasersbee said:

Glad to see you are experimenting with HeNe gas Lasers.

BTW...If you could limit your Pic size to 800 X 600 pixels it
would not take up almost 2 screens of my computer and it
would make reading your text a lot easier by not having to
scroll right and left for every freakin line of text..


Jerry

Click to expand...

jerry man what size screen do you have ?!!?! i have to scroll too but it doesnt even take up 1 and a half pages on my 12.5 inch screen ........

i agree 800x600 is a good rule though

i was just wondering

Thanks Dave, it feels good to hear that from you :beer:

And yes, yes it is. I hope to eventually tackle a nice argon, that is after all what got me into this mess Saw one and just HAD to get into gas.

And I know, it's bugging me too, I take these with my ipod and quite frankly, not sure how to re-size them without going into an art program and doing them individually, something I have very little patience for with multiple images :/ Is there a script built in to the forum that allows this?

Also, takes up about a fourth of mine....on a 22" .... (geek mode activated)

edit them in photobucket editor its pretty easy :beer: