FINALLY Got my little lasos argon working... (cool pictures inside!!)

Finally! I've had this laser for about 6 months... I knew it was gas intact but I've never gotten it to work. I tried hooking it up to another PSU (which I think may have been too weak for this head) and never got it working.

Well I finally had a chance to fix the umbilical cable (it had the wrong pinout for the PSU I want to run it on) and I got it working!!

The starter circuit for the head still doesn't work... I measured a short across the big ceramic capacitor so I think it needs replacing. No big deal though, I just used my BD-10A to start it (Oudin coil).

Now, you may be thinking "Gus, you already have big argon lazors that do like 8W!!! Why are you so excited about this little 40mW head?!"

I'll tell you why... it's one of the only small 120v air-cooled argons that I've seen which has a glass end bell, where the cathode and argon 'plasma glow' is in full view while the tube is operating.

Here are some pictures, enjoy!!














Pretty neat, huh?

Oh yeah, it DOES lase, and quite well. I just didn't get a chance to get any beam pictures because the head was running without a fan, so I only had a few seconds to get the shots.

That is sooo adorable. Just how big (or small, if you prefer) is the unit?

It's the same size as your 'typical air-cooled argon laser', so about a foot long and maybe 5-6" wide.

Rated at 40mW... not sure how much it actually puts out

Make sure it has sufficient cooling. That HOT cathode is HOT. Good man, getting it to light up.

Mike

That's super pretty. Thanks for sharing

look at her glow

that sure is one cool looking laser ! :drool:

Best Regards Pyro...

... i must say honestly... i have never actualy seen an argon laser before... i've only dealt with you know, diodes and c-mounts. i see it lighting up... but where exactly is the laser... does this device shoot a beam? or is it just not finished yet? just curious thats all.

Awesome stuff, gooey!!

I'd never seen the insides of a lasing gas laser before like this, thank you



(I see a dead pixel line in the third quadrant... or is it a hair ?)

nikokapo said:

Awesome stuff, gooey!!

(I see a dead pixel line in the third quadrant... or is it a hair ?)

Click to expand...

I see it too.... Its the same in a few of the pics

BTW.....Very nice argon

Darkarmyofone said:

... i must say honestly... i have never actualy seen an argon laser before... i've only dealt with you know, diodes and c-mounts. i see it lighting up... but where exactly is the laser... does this device shoot a beam? or is it just not finished yet? just curious thats all.

Click to expand...

Argon lasers emit a beam just like regular lasers, anywhere from UV to a bluish green. It's not in those pictures since the focus is more on the transparent part of the plasma tube than the beam itself

Here's a beam for ya... coming out of my *slightly* larger argon laser. The light that the spot is making is actually drowning out the beam... :evil:

is that the 8 watt:drool:

jamilm9 said:

is that the 8 watt:drool:

Click to expand...

Sure is !

Not doing 8W here though, right Gus ?

That is one very nice little argon laser you have there! :beer:

These argon lasers truly are works of art in their own right. The glass work showing through the rear is simply amazing. Must be the coolest mood light one could find, aside from the power consumption.

I still dream of the day I will have an argon laser of my own, yet here in Europe they seem to be a rare commodity for any reasonable sum. I keep checking e-bay Germany, which has them from time to time, yet they usually go for quite large sums of money, which I can't seem to justify spending.


Thanks,
brtaman

This is cool, always wanted to have an argon laser, but never saw an occasion to buy such thing here (in my city) ;/

Just gotta keep an eye open for deals That seems to be the trick to gas lasers. Paid $240 for my new Uniphase.