How to make a Co2 laser?

Spyderz20x6 said:

Well, c02 lasers are WAY to expensive. And i can't find an argon over 30mW.

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It's probably gonna be expensive aswell :

Spyderz20x6, you went to all this trouble to post all these questions about CO[sub]2[/sub] lasers and you only just figured out they are expensive...

http://www.justusegoogle.com/

Spyder --

This has gone far enough. How much power are you expecting from a gas laser? They are very specialized and will cost more than a couple gum balls and half a sandwich.
Do your own homework now.
Mike

Sorry :-[
I guess people don't take questions very kindly...
I was just asking where i can get an argon laser...

Spyderz20x6 said:

Sorry :-[
I guess people don't take questions very kindly...
I was just asking where i can get an argon laser...

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argons are not going to be very high power unless you get into some REALLY huge lasers (we're talking 3 phase power requirements here)
HeNe lasers also don't come much above 20mW or so since they get physically large and have been replaced by diode lasers

Ok, c02 it is!

Spyderz20x6 said:

Ok, c02 it is!

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You mean 'CO[sub]2[/sub]' Not sure why you have the c lower case

And may I suggest you don't get a CO[sub]2[/sub] laser. Laser pointers are kiddy toys compared to the power of CO[sub]2[/sub] lasers. All these questions and queries about these lasers don't give me much confidence in your abilities to handle one of these machines.

At the VERY least I hope you are over 18, because otherwise you are committing fraud by buying a CO[sub]2[/sub] from those eBay sellers.

Sometimes you can find argon lasers on Ebay for under $500, but as noted in other posts you'd be lucky to get more than 50mw. The multi-lines seem to have more power, at least the ones I've seen listed.

The lowest power CO2 laser you will usually see is 20 watts, which is what I have. I didn't build or assemble it - I found it for sale on Ebay brand new and complete. But even that one has a trigger voltage of 20kilovolts. Probably not something you'd want to fool around with if you aren't 100% of what you are doing.
I worked at a laser machine shop where a man was electrocuted while working on a 30kilovolt C02 laser - but he was foolish enough to attempt to do some adjustments on it while it was running....if you do undertake the building of a C02 laser just be mindful that the voltage is lethal. I'm not suggesting that you would work on a laser while it was powered up, but I do know that the industrial-type CO2 lasers retain a lot of voltage in the capacitors even when turned off. I don't know if the smaller home-built ones are like that or not. Also, an argon laser can pack enough voltage to kill you as well.

I have made a TEA laser before. I am actually pretty experienced with most lasers, but i have questions occasionally.

C0[sub]2[/sub] lasers own!!

Spyderz20x6 said:

C0[sub]2[/sub] lasers own!!

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That's 'CO[sub]2[/sub]'. It is the letter 'O' not the number '0'. Geez...

Your experience with lasers doesn't seem to extend to proper research and aptitude.

You should only ask questions when they're so specific you have a hard time finding anything. : Well, on a forum, at least. :-/ Anyway, Cyparagon's multiline Argon runs at over 3W, that a bit above 50mW don't you think? ;D I think he got it from heruursciences. :-/

That it does, and that I did.

Argon tube voltages range from 100-220V and current ranges from 3A to 60A or more.

Multilines output more because... well, more lines are lasing. A single line argon CAN run multiline with the proper optics. Expect the 30mW to go for $200-500, the 100mW to go for $400-700, and the 1.5W-10W to go for $3000 to $20000. many (and all over 200mW) require 220V power.

Well if you live in Europe you're fine.Don't know about the 50A figure though, I recall standard european outlets being 20A max. :-/ Anyway, I guess 100V and 3A is still plenty enough to kill you I think a multiline is more fun having around the house.

220V and 50 AMPS That's 11,000 watts to produce 3watts of laser light!
.......
and I thought yellow lasers were inefficient.

Razako said:

220V and 50 AMPS That's 11,000 watts to produce 3watts of laser light!
.......
and I thought yellow lasers were inefficient.

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A friend said he knew someone that wants to get rid of a medical laser and all he knew was the power requirements. I came up with 10,800 Watts! I haven't called him yet.

Razako said:

220V and 50 AMPS That's 11,000 watts to produce 3watts of laser light!
.......
and I thought yellow lasers were inefficient.

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Lol