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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Suddenly I own a ULS-25E

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Aug 19, 2011
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Someone just gave it to me.

It apparently has a dead tube. Right now I can't do much as it weighs so much and is in my car, and is probably going to live in there for a day or two till I can get it out.

Does anyone know anything about these things? Honestly my plan is to use it for its chassis and put a 40w watercooled co2 laser in. Is it possible to patch into the existing control cards, or do I need to get a new set of those, too?

I don't know how the high voltage lasers (like the ones on ebay) work when it comes to things like rastering. I'm very new with this type of laser.

IMG_20140211_150530_415.jpg
 





ARG

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Someone just gave it to me.

Where are these people? Best I've gotten for free was a very old 5MHz scope :p


<removed wrong infos>
All the other motor controls should be good to go :)
 
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Looks like a synrad CO2 tube... You scored big! That's an RF excited tube, very good quality and will outperform a water cooled CO2 tube by miles.

And look what I just happen to have...

http://laserpointerforums.com/f43/probably-most-expensive-laser-forum-85841.html

We're brothers!

I can walk you through step by step to see if you can fix the tube... If it is what I think it is, and one of the RF boards are fried (common problem with people that have fluctuating mains line voltage) you will need to source a new board or buy a new tube. Shamless plug... I happen to be selling my synrad tube.

-Adrian
 
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Oh man, glad I found help!

Tomorrow I'm going to partially disassemble the cutter and move it slowly into my house for work, then eventually somewhere else for use.

It lived in a school, so as you expect, it was not taken care of and the optics are.. shot.

So you think the tube is okay? Or there is a chance of that? What is the difference between a RF tube and one of those 40w 200 dollar tubes on ebay?

EDIT: and if you are being reasonable about the price and it is the tube then you may have a customer once I get the rest of the machine going.. =)
 
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The tubes are pretty robust... They cost >$11k brand new. So they are decent quality.

The laser cavity is a sealed aluminium square tube, so it is pretty much impossible to damage unlike the watercooled counterparts. However, any damage to the output lens or to the electrodes can cause the tube to die.

I am 90% sure that it won't be a problem with the tube, but more likely to be an electronics problem. The input caps are probably first to blow... Then if the damage extended down further, it might be the high power components on the RF boards. If you check my youtube videos you can see I found some serious scorch marks in my tube from a previous RF board malfunction. But that board was swapped out for a new one.

When you get around to it, drop me a PM and we'll organize a skype session and we can figure this out.

I can also give you schematics for a test controller board that will output a signal to run the tube without the lasercutters OI board (remote controlled practically).

-Adrian
 
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Sure thing. Tonight I'm gonna pull as much as I can off of the back of the machine and get it laid out on my workbench to see what I can do. Thank you very much for the help!
 
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update: Got the laser out of the damn thing. It's heavy. No idea if it works, will try tomorrow perhaps.

IMG_20140212_021505_850.jpg


IMG_20140212_024328_245.jpg


IMG_20140212_024337_225.jpg


IMG_20140212_024346_014.jpg


IMG_20140212_025812_842.jpg
 
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update on the machine: Laser remains untested, however the rest is fully functional. =D
 

ARG

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The motors and frame alone are valuable. Regardless of the state of a laser you scored big time. Wouldn't be hard to stick a cheapo ebay tube in there if you can't get the laser to work.
 
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That's my plan if the synrad is dead. I found the configuration to turn the tickle off, and then I'd just get a 40w watercooled laser + high voltage driver thing for it and hook it all up.

The last thing it needs is optics. They are shot. I assume I can get normal optical parts though, should be pretty standard?
 

ARG

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You'll need a special focusing lens though, ZnSe. Most lens' will just absorb the 10.6um wavelength and you'll be left with a melted lens :p
 
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Yup they are all standard parts, but hopefully you can replace the lens in the holder without breaking it.... can you?

A lot of companies do not use removable optics... so you may need to break the lens and clean it up, then reglue a new one to the sled. If you buy a new one I would suggest a 1.5" focal length lens for very fine intricate engraving/cutting. But for general purpose cutting go with a 2" or a 2.5".

How are the mirrors? Top mount mirror is probably fked... how are the other 2?
 
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I actually don't seem to have the two moving mirror mounts.. They must have fallen off before this unit was given to me. Judging by the images though I might be able to 3D print these.

The lens looks like crap. It needs to be replaced. The mirror right next to the laser is in perfect condition.
 
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Looks like crap and damaged is two different things....

If the machine does not have flushed optics then you might just be seeing burned dust or sediment. Try clean it with industrial optics cleaner (try a camera store) and see if it will come off. If you see cracks in the lens... time to replace it, simple as that.
 




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