S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) *Now with video*

*added videos*
I was playing around with the 168 some more in my garage yesterday and decided to take some video of the startup procedure and the running of the laser. I'll get some 'burning' videos soon, for those of you who are into that sort of thing

Here's the videos! My camera ran out of memory half way through so there are two videos, only about 30 seconds passed between the two. here ya go!

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj71/GooeyGus/?action=view&current=000_1397.flv

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj71/GooeyGus/?action=view&current=100_0031.flv






Well I finally got off my lazy keister and hooked this baby up. This usually requires 3-phase 208V industrial power and is water cooled. Its rated at 5W nominal and can go as high as 8W. I've posted a few pictures before that were taken with my iPhone, but now I finally got some GOOD pictures of this thing running at my house.

Enjoy!! The glasswork is beautiful....

Warming up.....





This thing really is a work of art...



*crosses fingers and hits the start button*

The tube starts!!! No lasing... but after a quick alignment we have light!!!



This next picture looks very similar to a picture I've already posted, but it was taken with my good camera and taken today! Just came out very similar looking















Let me know what you think!  

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

I don't believe I've seen the insides of an argon before. Tis intense!

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

wow nice pics . i think i need one of those

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

How did you get 208 3-phase in you house? i dont know of too many people with 3-phase in their homes.

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

charleytown55il said:

How did you get 208 3-phase in you house? i dont know of too many people with 3-phase in their homes.

Click to expand...

Wash & dryer machine use these plug!?

i think theyre 240V, normal outlet are 110v
The one in my home are so huuuuge....
-Greg

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

charleytown55il said:

How did you get 208 3-phase in you house? i dont know of too many people with 3-phase in their homes.

Click to expand...

He used a rotary phase converter.

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

Rangedunits said:

[quote author=charleytown55il link=1239571148/0#3 date=1239579164]How did you get 208 3-phase in you house? i dont know of too many people with 3-phase in their homes.

Click to expand...

Wash & dryer machine use these plug!?

i think theyre 240V, normal outlet are 110v
The one in my home are so huuuuge....
-Greg[/quote]


unless it is a very big dryer, it will be single phase, which most houses have. 3-phase is usually found in larger facilates.

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

MarioMaster said:

[quote author=charleytown55il link=1239571148/0#3 date=1239579164]How did you get 208 3-phase in you house? i dont know of too many people with 3-phase in their homes.

Click to expand...

He used a rotary phase converter.[/quote]

Bingo

7.5hp rotary phase converter.

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

How high can you take it before the voltage drops too low?

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

Cyparagon said:

How high can you take it before the voltage drops too low?

Click to expand...

Honestly I blow the breaker way before the voltage sags ;D

The phase converter has a bunch of big capacitors to help out the artificial leg so that I think that may be one of the reasons that I'm not seeing a lot of voltage sagging.

Also the 30A breaker limits me.... I think I can get around 3W before the breaker blows. I need to put in a 50A...

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

Wow, I bet just a little fog and that beam would be blindingly bright! And I mean the beam not the dot.

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

I have a serious crush on your laser. She is absolutely Beautiful!!

TW

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

you use it for laundry? :

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

looks like something you could smoke out of.. ahahhah
but that is seriously beautiful

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

I wish I had one like that... How much did it cost?

Re: S/P 168 (3-phase, 5+W argon) alive on house po

Cappernicus said:

I wish I had one like that... How much did it cost?

Click to expand...

A lot  


You can buy one in 'unknown' working condition on ebay for around $1200 with god knows how many hours on it. Usually around $1,500 - $2,000 for a 'turn key' setup with head and PSU that works.These are super super super super fragile. I had two more before this that broke in shipping. I was SUPER lucky that I found this one locally. I just had to drive about a half hour to pick it up, and we started it up to make sure it worked before I handed over any cash.  There are actually two full setups on ebay right now for $750 buy it now, head and PSU included, shipping is $155. Actually a pretty darn good deal if they are working. The lasers in the auctions are 164's (or 165's) which are exactly the same as a 168 as far as the plasma tube goes, they just have a different resonator. There's also a 168 + PSU for $1750 that looks pretty nice.


Mine only has 525 hours on the tube