Bens new argon laser

Ebay for about 20 bucks aussie delivered. Its a 3.5 in panel meter, and you can get them in voltage or current readout. This one came with a 100A shunt for another project that never eventuated. I need to email the manufacturer and see if I can reset it for voltage, or send it back and tell them they goofed and sent me the wrong one. Seriously tho, I'll just put it aside and order the right one - I've had this on order for a couple of weeks and it finally showed up, only now not having a job to do

Thanks buddy I found this one which looks great:

3.5 Digit LCD Panel Meter Enhanced Version + Back Light on eBay (end time 24-Jan-10 15:36:11 GMT)

Operation video is up (see previous post with videos further up the page). At the time of this post, its still processing via slowtube.

That's one beautiful laser you have there Ben. The fan startup sound always reminds me of an engine starting on a B29 Superfortress.

When I first fired it, i thought the bearings were shot in the fan. But it seems to run fine. of course having the fan crank up like a small gas turbine would make the laser perfect (oh and it being able to light a match!). Once I get it working in current mode, I'll be able to get it to play at 120+ milliwatts, like i experienced while playing with the remote connector once, with a focusing lens. Got a little burn off it. Beam brightness went off the scale, and the air coming out the back was good enough to roast a bbq on, so I quickly removed the probes after sucessfully lighting a match off the beam. Sadly, I didnt video tape this event, and am fearful of doing it again for the tubes health.

edit: another one up - attempted match light (failed) with lights off

I WISH there were auctions for these in the US... Seems like none of them on ebay are US auctions I really like the self contained aspect of this.

Bit quiet in this thread lately. Ben, what exciting stuff are you doing with your awesome laser?

just running it to keep the gas pressure optimal until I get the second one, and a set of scanners. Then I am going to start argon laser psu mk2, which will have its own thread. This will be used to run the second tube in current mode. The existing PSU will be removed to be used for parts (I hate working on smps's)

Ok minor update. Rob is holding the second laser for me while I get some debts out of the way. The bills always come when you don't want them too! Once i pay them then I will send some cash to rob and to Bryce for his Jesu supply and get on with turning my argons into a laser lightshow