Class IIIb 120mW 640-670nm laser assembly from AGFA xray film developer

[madskaizer]

Hi all

This is my first post on the forum and this is also my first laser equipment. I am an high voltage enthusiast who mostly uses 4hv.org.

This equipment all came from a laser scanner head that a part of a Agfa CompactPlus developer machine for large xray photos.

The housing itself was not something I was able to bring with me, so I only have the interior parts: optics, lenses, lasers and some PCB.

I would like a few pointers as where to start on getting this into something useful, like a CNC laser engraver.

Optics are pretty much useless and just brought them home for fun, lenses are properly just fine, whole interface to the lasers I am not sure about if its easier to start from scratch with just the diodes. The laser diode assembly itself is still intact, I did not want to ruin the alignment if it could be used as is, despite it is a little bulky.

Looking forward to your suggestions and ideas

 

[RedCowboy]

Interesting pics, what is the laser's output?
Is it just a small red laser, I don't see any x/y slides or any easy way to repurpose this.


I see a cube in the red circle, what are these in the green circles? Are those laser emitters or receivers?

What does this say? I can't make it out, there's not enough resolution.

 

[madskaizer]

I made some cutouts from the pictures or you can see all the full resolution pictures here: File archive | Kaizer Power Electronics

I have no idea which is a emitter or receiver, they might both be emitters as the setup in the developer was laser scanner -> xray film -> long lines of optic fibers -> bundle of fibers directly into a photo multiplier tube (that can also be seen in the above link)

I only know about the data on it from the sticker on the front.

[edit]

I found the correct description of what it was used for on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_radiography

"Imaging plate (IP) or Flat Panel Detector (FPD)
The CR imaging plate (IP) contains a photostimulable storage phosphor layer (typically 0.1 to 0.3 mm thick), which store the radiation dose as a latent image within the phosphor layer as elevated electron energies. When the IP is then transported through the scanner (read out), the scanning laser beam causes the electrons to relax to lower energy levels (photostimulated luminescence), emitting light that is detected by a photo-multiplier tube, which is clocked at a specific resolution or pixel capture frequency, this signal then being converted to an electronic signal and significantly amplified. The electronic signal is then quantized via an ADC to discrete (digital) values for each pixel and placed into the image processor pixel map.

Imaging plates can theoretically be re-used thousands of times if they are handled carefully and under certain radiation exposure conditions. IP handling under industrial conditions often results in damage after a few hundred uses. Mechanical damage such as scratches and abrasions are common, as well as radiation fatigue or imprinting due to high energy applications. An image can be erased by simply exposing the plate to a room-level fluorescent light - but more efficient, complete erasure is required to avoid signal carry-over and artifacts. Most laser scanners automatically erase the IP (current technology uses red LED lighting) after laser scanning is complete. The imaging plate can then be re-used. Reusable phosphor plates are environmentally safe but need to be disposed of according to local regulations due to the composition of the PSL phosphor, which contains the heavy metal Barium."

 

[Cyparagon]

This is exactly the setup used in laser printers, except with more power, which would make sense I guess. In that case, I'd guess both are emitters through a beam combiner, RedCowboy

 

[tuskiomi]

that's interesting. it says on the sticker that these are 640-670nm lasers. that means they're a deep red. I wanna see one now. :E
if the sticker says 100mW output, i'm not sure if you could make a CNC with it?

 

[madskaizer]

I will try to get the fixture out of the box and take some more detailed photos, this will however have to wait a little as I am away from home at work right now.

I know it is not powerful enough for cutting, but might be enough for just a small CNC engraver? I have seen many 100mW+ engraver kits, but those might even be on the low end?

 

[tuskiomi]

I will try to get the fixture out of the box and take some more detailed photos, this will however have to wait a little as I am away from home at work right now.

I know it is not powerful enough for cutting, but might be enough for just a small CNC engraver? I have seen many 100mW+ engraver kits, but those might even be on the low end?

Its not a matter of the power, but power per area