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My laser won't light!

furret

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Sep 1, 2011
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Ok let me set the scene...

I am involved in a company that uses laser systems to measure the thickness of stents and such. Everything worked fine up until last week...

Assumption: when a laser blows it emits a dull red glow.

The laser in my system is not showing anything at all- no light is being emit. If I put another laser in the system it works. I'm aware I could change every single laser on the system, but that, due to realignment would take forever and a day. Therefore, I was wondering what does it mean if the laser is not emitting any light what so ever? Assuming my assumption from before, that blown lasers still emit a dull glow, what do lasers that emit nothing actually mean? Are they just broken or blown or what?

I really don't want to buy more lasers, so though I'd come on here and see what a none emitting laser diode actually means- if it is broken.
 





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Ok let me set the scene...

I am involved in a company that uses laser systems to measure the thickness of stents and such. Everything worked fine up until last week...

Assumption: when a laser blows it emits a dull red glow.

The laser in my system is not showing anything at all- no light is being emit. If I put another laser in the system it works. I'm aware I could change every single laser on the system, but that, due to realignment would take forever and a day. Therefore, I was wondering what does it mean if the laser is not emitting any light what so ever? Assuming my assumption from before, that blown lasers still emit a dull glow, what do lasers that emit nothing actually mean? Are they just broken or blown or what?

I really don't want to buy more lasers, so though I'd come on here and see what a none emitting laser diode actually means- if it is broken.

Why not call the company that makes this system ? Perhaps the system is still under warranty ?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
17,622
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Ok let me set the scene...

I am involved in a company that uses laser systems to measure the thickness of stents and such. Everything worked fine up until last week...

Assumption: when a laser blows it emits a dull red glow.

The laser in my system is not showing anything at all- no light is being emit. If I put another laser in the system it works. I'm aware I could change every single laser on the system, but that, due to realignment would take forever and a day. Therefore, I was wondering what does it mean if the laser is not emitting any light what so ever? Assuming my assumption from before, that blown lasers still emit a dull glow, what do lasers that emit nothing actually mean? Are they just broken or blown or what?

I really don't want to buy more lasers, so though I'd come on here and see what a none emitting laser diode actually means- if it is broken.

Not enough info...

1) No power rating of the Laser when it was working..
2) No mention of Wavelength of Laser
3) No mention of Power source
4) what is a stents...:thinking:

First thought since placing another Laser in the system
works...
The Laser is dead and the Power Supply works..

Solution....
Change or repair the defective Laser... :beer:


Jerry
 
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furret

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Sep 1, 2011
Messages
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Not enough info...

1) No power rating of the Laser when it was working..
2) No mention of Wavelength of Laser
3) No mention of Power source
4) what is a stents...:thinking:

First thought since placing another Laser in the system
works...
The Laser is dead and the Power Supply works..

Solution....
Change or repair the defective Laser... :beer:


Jerry

1) 5V
2) 640 nm
3) powered by a DC power supply
4) Stent - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (although this isn't important)...

is the laser being dead the same as the laser being blown? Why is there no dull red glow to it?

Many thanks.
 
Joined
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Is there any indication that the laser is DPSS (diode pumped solid state)?

Is it NOW emitting a red glow or is it NOT emitting anything (your OP and posts are contradictory).

Pictures help immensely.

Why is there no dull red glow to it?

Some times lasers go into a state we like to refer to as "LED" where the laser has blown or been damaged, but part of the laser die still emits light. It is usually of very low intensity. But other times they can completely blow and no light is emitted.
 
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
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it would be better to get the mfg out there if it wouldn't break your bank. i don't think you will be able to just swap out 1 laser for 1 laser. especially in a measuring machine. all lasers vary a little due to manufacturing processes. so the laser you swap in would need to be precisely aligned.

michael.
 

furret

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It is no longer emitting a red glow. Thats the issue. However I think you are all right and it has just blown. It was just the fact that previously when ive blown up lasers, theres always been the red, dull light emitted- but the fact that this time there was nothing emitted at all had me stumped.

Many thanks.

x
 
Joined
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Messages
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1) 5V
2) 640 nm
3) powered by a DC power supply
4) Stent - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (although this isn't important)...

is the laser being dead the same as the laser being blown? Why is there no dull red glow to it?

Many thanks.


You must have read that DPSS Lasers when no
longer Lasing at their proper wavelength will glow
dim red. That is IR Radiation and can be very
dangerous without proper Eye Protection..

Your Laser is not a DPSS Laser. It no doubt uses
a single wavelength Laser Diode.

When they get damaged they are usually DEAD or
very weak.

5 Volts is not a Laser's Power rating..
Laser Power ratings are in milliWatts or Watts...

A picture of the Laser would help...:)


Jerry
 
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 5, 2008
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Wow you people are really confusing this poor man.

Ferret, you've said your laser is red. If the laser isn't producing even the faintest glow, that means the circuit is not fully closed, i.e. you've got an open connection somewhere.

Which means, your laser is not drawing current.

Could happen that a driver is gone bad or leads which you possibly use are broken, just that you've really given very low amount of information.

Now, this could be a case where diode is blown - if the diode is drawing a large amount of current, tiny leads within the diode can literally burn out like a fuse, resulting in open circuit.

Now, since this is some sort of measuring or whatever laser, I'm betting the diode is not insanely powerful so the idea is out. So diode is probably fine, but something else is causing the problem.

You've said that when you put other "laser" it works. What part exactly do you consider to be a laser? While also technically incorrect, "laser" as used here is considered a fully enclosed and complete unit capable of producing laser radiation.
Word itself is an acronym for a process of producing such a light, but that's irrelevant now.

If you could provide some sort of pictures of better explanation of what you mean, we would be able to help you.
 
Joined
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Wow you people are really confusing this poor man.

Ferret, you've said your laser is red. If the laser isn't producing even the faintest glow, that means the circuit is not fully closed, i.e. you've got an open connection somewhere.

Which means, your laser is not drawing current.

Could happen that a driver is gone bad or leads which you possibly use are broken, just that you've really given very low amount of information.

Now, this could be a case where diode is blown - if the diode is drawing a large amount of current, tiny leads within the diode can literally burn out like a fuse, resulting in open circuit.

Now, since this is some sort of measuring or whatever laser, I'm betting the diode is not insanely powerful so the idea is out. So diode is probably fine, but something else is causing the problem.

You've said that when you put other "laser" it works. What part exactly do you consider to be a laser? While also technically incorrect, "laser" as used here is considered a fully enclosed and complete unit capable of producing laser radiation.
Word itself is an acronym for a process of producing such a light, but that's irrelevant now.

If you could provide some sort of pictures of better explanation of what you mean, we would be able to help you.

It seems that you are confused...

That has already been mentioned..

He has already stated that changing out the laser for another
one solves the problem. That would indicate the Power Supply
running the Laser in question is good... I assume that the test
equipment uses an external power supply.

The Laser that he mentions could easily be just a Laser Head
without an internal power supply. I'm pretty sure they don't
use Laser Pointers in test equipment...


I guess a response by the OP and some pics could clear that
up....:)


Jerry
 
Last edited:
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About diode being blown and that being mentioned, Jerry, I'm trying to say that this is NOT a possibility, since to get the diode's internal wiring blown open you need insane currents, like we shoot over amp and half into 445nm diodes so sometimes that happens.

And no, I'm not confused, why would you say that?
All I'm saying is that a guy asked for a help in a case of very likely bad connection or driver, and you guys started about DPSS problems, blown diodes, and not sure what else that does not apply here.

Bobhaha also mentioned something about his posts being contradictory, as far as I see his posts are consistent, he's getting no light out and he's asking what could it be, noting that he's done some reading and that blown diodes usually emit light, which here is not the case (kudos for reading up).

We're not even told what kind of laser setup is it or how exactly is it used, but I understand that if the laser head is seperate from the module, or has any moving parts, those wore out leaving a broken connection. Cable fatigue maybe, or bad solder joint somewhere, or somebody spilt some coffee on the laser :p
 

furret

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Hello.

I didn't mean to cause this much of an uproar...

The laser head is indeed seperate from the module, and the external power supply I can confirm works. This I know for a fact.

I think it may be a case of the wiring, as suggested, so I'm going to run a multimeter over the casing to see if it's an open circuit or not. I also have bought some more diodes to be fitted and see if they work.

Many thanks.
 
Joined
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Messages
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Hello.

I didn't mean to cause this much of an uproar...

The laser head is indeed seperate from the module, and the external power supply I can confirm works. This I know for a fact.

I think it may be a case of the wiring, as suggested, so I'm going to run a multimeter over the casing to see if it's an open circuit or not. I also have bought some more diodes to be fitted and see if they work.

Many thanks.


@ Eud...
Wow you people are really confusing this poor man.

And no, I'm not confused, why would you say that?
I didn't feel that I confused anyone... and I assume I
am people...:D


As I assumed... the head is separate from the Supply
an the supply is functioning correctly as tested with
another Laser Head.

The problem is definitely in the Laser Head and we have
no idea of what is inside... Anything from the input
connector to the Laser Diode itself could be at fault..

I still have not seen a photo of this mystery Laser...:whistle:


Jerry
 
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I didn't mean you specifically, I meant "people" as in actual sense of word, i.e. everybody who replied before I did. But in any case, if you feel offended in any way Jerry, I apologise.

Anyhow, we still do not know one thing. Is the power supply a constant current source for the laser diode, or is it a voltage source for the laser driver which may or may not be integrated into the laser head?

My bet is the latter, makes more sense to have driver and diode assembly in one piece, critical connections are there.

So if it's a driver's fault, it can be easily repaired.
 




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