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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Huge 110v laser

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Jul 1, 2012
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I had a friendgive me a huge frickin laser using a 110v cord aand a key switch on it. Has a nipple on the rear of it also and a photocell on the front side. Came from a piece of equipment but I don't know what it was used for nor how strong it is. Help me out. I can't post pics but I can text them. Info on the tag says
Laser Technical Instruments, inc
Model 77 Laser-Blazer
SERIAL 0920
MFD JULY 1979
120V 60 HZ 0.5A
MADE IN USA

My cell number is 2294252726
Jeremy
 
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Yes looks like a HeNe. I might be interested in it actually, do you have any pics?
 
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Should be noted that no HeNe is worth that much without a. being stabilized, b. VERY high output (30mW+), or c. Being high output 612nm, or 594nm, or a stable IR line.

That being said, I know NOTHING about this brand. It is VERY likely that this is some random company just using an MG, or Uniphase tube. Frequently done, big example being those Toshiba laser disk players.

Text sent,

Quick in-a-nutshell of what you have here.

This is an old helium-neon laser. This is a tube similar in appearance to fluorescent bulb. The outer tube, or "envelope" is filled with around 10:1 He:Ne, and through that envelope is a thinner glass tube known as the "bore". This bore is about 2-3mm thick, with a 1-2mm diameter opening throughout it. On one end of your tube is an anode, and on the other, a cathode. When electricity is applied to this tube, it ionizes the He atoms to plasma, and causes them to collide with Ne atoms. This excited the Ne to undergo atomic transition, and the electrons go up, and fall in their orbits. Releasing photons!

On each end of the tube (in most cases) you have a mirror. Without further testing, we will have to assume your mirrors are coated for 632.8nm. On one end you have your OC, or output coupler, and on the other, your HR, or high reflector. The HR is probably rated 0.1% pass at 632.8, and the OC is probably 1.5-1% pass. This means that that other light reflects back, or resonates, within the tube. Resonation is where one photon travels from it's start position, to a mirror, and back. Allowing the light to resonate allows a large gain of internal power, and also allows for a decent amount of external power passing through the mirrors.

Mirrors are added because at any one moment, there is not enough light to maintain lasing, and a visible amount of light energy.

All you could ever want to know about helium-neons :) That's the intro course :p
 
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I'd be interested if I can bare tube this... but even fully assembled, a regular old HeNe is worth no more than $60
 
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Does anyone know if this can be stripped of its housing? The eBay listing also shows the HeNe in a mount, that would be helpful if you have it
 
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Should be noted that no HeNe is worth that much without a. being stabilized, b. VERY high output (30mW+), or c. Being high output 612nm, or 594nm, or a stable IR line.

That being said, I know NOTHING about this brand. It is VERY likely that this is some random company just using an MG, or Uniphase tube. Frequently done, big example being those Toshiba laser disk players.

Text sent,

Quick in-a-nutshell of what you have here.

This is an old helium-neon laser. This is a tube similar in appearance to fluorescent bulb. The outer tube, or "envelope" is filled with around 10:1 He:Ne, and through that envelope is a thinner glass tube known as the "bore". This bore is about 2-3mm thick, with a 1-2mm diameter opening throughout it. On one end of your tube is an anode, and on the other, a cathode. When electricity is applied to this tube, it ionizes the He atoms to plasma, and causes them to collide with Ne atoms. This excited the Ne to undergo atomic transition, and the electrons go up, and fall in their orbits. Releasing photons!

On each end of the tube (in most cases) you have a mirror. Without further testing, we will have to assume your mirrors are coated for 632.8nm. On one end you have your OC, or output coupler, and on the other, your HR, or high reflector. The HR is probably rated 0.1% pass at 632.8, and the OC is probably 1.5-1% pass. This means that that other light reflects back, or resonates, within the tube. Resonation is where one photon travels from it's start position, to a mirror, and back. Allowing the light to resonate allows a large gain of internal power, and also allows for a decent amount of external power passing through the mirrors.

Mirrors are added because at any one moment, there is not enough light to maintain lasing, and a visible amount of light energy.

All you could ever want to know about helium-neons :) That's the intro course :p

What, no info on start voltages and power requirements for stable operation :p

I'm disappointed, you're slipping.

Actually it was a very nice simple explanation....:wave:
 
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Laser Technical Instruments, inc still manufacturer it and have the mount posted as an option for sale
 
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Just the tube, I suppose a mount can be made out of anythin. TThere's a lot of thread ed holes on the tube
 
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Does the laser work? I'm not too interested unless I can make it back into a nice round dot haha
 
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I'd be interested if I can bare tube this... but even fully assembled, a regular old HeNe is worth no more than $60

I have a handful of HeNes that would beg to differ :p I've seen the length of this tube, it's probably a decent <5mW, even close to 8-10mW tube. I wouldn't know without testing.

Does anyone know if this can be stripped of its housing? The eBay listing also shows the HeNe in a mount, that would be helpful if you have it

All tubes can be stripped from the housing. All depends on what is used around it to hold the tube in.

Some casings are held in by a few splotches of some rubbery substance. Some recommend using a method to pick it all out, such as a coat hanger. Some have used a heatgun, or baking in the oven (look for a proper temp first) to melt it, then pull.

However sometimes the ENTIRE membrane between the tube and casing is rubber filled. These are a bit more of a pain. It's all about how much work you want to put in it.

Also, there's the HP/Agilents. They use a silicone based filling that cannot be heated as silicone's melting point is so ridiculously high. This has to be picked out, slowly, and tediously, over many hours.

I will be doing this eventually to an HP/Agilent 5517A that I have on me doing 50uW. Not sure if I want to or not. It's pretty neat looking as-is.

any more questions? :)

What, no info on start voltages and power requirements for stable operation :p

I'm disappointed, you're slipping.

Actually it was a very nice simple explanation....:wave:

Well to list starting voltage vs stable operation voltages for every laser is beyond my abilities :p That's far too much memorization.

However, the average 8-10in 632.8nm tube will need around 4-5.5mA and between 1500-1800VDC for operation. Your PSU will take care of starting voltage.

Your larger tubes around going to need between around 6.5-8mA, and anywhere upwards of 2.8KVDC for operating voltage. If I had to guess on this tube based on what I've seen. I'd say it needs 6.5mA at around 1800VDC. That being said, it's a self contained tube from what I've seen, and I guess it plugs right into the wall. So PSU for this is no biggie.

Some of these tubes have PSUs with them, however they're normally in a rectangular package like an SP 155A.
 
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