Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

REVIVE LOW PRESSURE UNIPHASE ARGON LASERS- HOW TO

Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
730
Points
0
Just thought I'd share this tidbit with you: What you need is an argon laser head with a high mileage low pressure tube, an oven, a hand held Tesla coil or other HF HV source, thick heat resistant wires, something non flammable like a brick or a box filled with sand, pure lead solder, some high heat connectors, and some guts to risk killing the _already dead_ laser. This only works with CYONICS UNIPHASE HARD SEALED TUBES!

**WARNING THIS COULD COMPLETELY KILL THE TUBE IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER!***

FIRST, determine that your laser tube is at LOW PRESSURE. You can tell a tube is low pressure IF:

1) The tubes heat sink is dark AND it ticks trying to start but as it tries doesn't lase or lases weakly and the hour meter is pegged OR

2) A Tesla coil gets it to start and then it winks out only moments later if you try to turn up the current OR you get it to start and after running it at high current for a couple hours it still needs help to get it to start again when it's cold, but starts fine warm...

3) Is a multiline tube that only lases green and lesser blue lines at INSANE current, AND

4) In all cases where it starts the tube voltage is LOW across it.

Now for the fix, If the tube won't start no matter what you do to it such as Tesla coiling it. First, Remove the tube from it's housing, and remove any plastic parts from it. Then put it in an oven and bake it at 450 degrees for about 2 hours. Turn the oven off and let it cool of it's own accord. DO NOT TRY TO ACCELERATE COOLING, YOU WILL KILL THE TUBE!

NEXT, Take the baked tube and install it connected with the HIGH CURRENT, HIGH HEAT wires jumpered from the head to the anode and cathodes on a non flammable surface. Now try to start the tube. It should start, most likely on the first try. Also, if your tube starts but winks out, get it nice and hot with a heat gun and try starting with the coil until it catches.

Next, measure the voltage, it should be higher than it was. If it still is low then you'll need to do the following procedure. Run the laser at about medium current WITHOUT cooling until either one of these 4 these things happen...

1) The voltage reaches the proper value *exceed it by 3%*.

2) The laser tube gets hot enough to melt the lead solder

3) The beam color in a multi-line tube gets hot in the green lines.

4) The power supply squeals or otherwise protests when the current is reduced to idling.
When one of these things happens immediately cut the power and allow the laser tube to cool.

FINALLY, reinstall the tube in it's housing and enjoy your newly resurrected uniphase tube. What you actually did was cause the buried argon gas to be squeezed out of the metal and bore of the tube and put back into the tube space where it belongs. It may be a bit high pressure when you're done, but not out of startable range. You should be able to get another 500-3000 hours of life from it! Before 0.0mW After, about 37mW @ 8A

Peace, Chris
 

Attachments

  • 488_tubeon.JPG
    488_tubeon.JPG
    45.8 KB · Views: 219





dar303

0
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
104
Points
16
Re: REVIVE LOW PRESSURE UNIPHASE ARGON LASERS- HOW

Thanks, nice to know this if I run inte one some day!
 




Top