Lookie what I just bought...

[Hemlock_Mike]

WOW -- I posted some stuff and it's gone -- Forever

OhWell -- Mike

 

[GooeyGus]

WOW -- I posted some stuff and it's gone -- Forever

OhWell -- Mike

nooooo.... bring it back :'(

 

[GooeyGus]

One question I had about this laser, is that he said it is rated at 40mW per line. I believe it has 5 lines. So, when I shine this thing into my power meter should I see 200mW or am I going to see 40mw? He didn't really elaborate on the power output, only that it was so bright he never messed with any of the mirrors in the tube.

 

[climbak]

I have a feeling that its going to be 40mW total, but you never know. If you end up with a 200mW unit I will be very jealous and will demand many many pictures and videos. haha

 

[Switch]

[quote author=SenKat_Stonetek link=1213349438/0#10 date=1213369912][quote author=MarioMaster link=1213349438/0#9 date=1213369185]Wikipedia quotes argon lasers being able to lase at 351nm, so there may still be the possibility of some UV coming out - albeit not real far into the UV range.

check SAM'S laser FAQ's....no offense to anyone who loves wiki - but I find it often stuffed to the gills with drivel that others have put in there just to have a laugh....I am not 100% sure, and you definitely could be right on that ![/quote]


I don't even let my students use Wikipedia as a direct source.  They can use it as a source to ""find"" original sources, but it is NOT adjudicated.

Peace,
dave[/quote]
[media]http://youtube.com/watch?v=RGouhI1R0s8[/media]

 

[GooeyGus]

I have a feeling that its going to be 40mW total, but you never know. If you end up with a 200mW unit I will be very jealous and will demand many many pictures and videos. haha

Thats my feeling as well, but I guess I'll find out when I get it! I was reading through sams laser faq and he says that the 2201 is really overbuilt and can take quite a bit of abuse. Sounds good to me!

 

[Cyparagon]

Great find! However, this seller's accuracy leaves much to be desired.

"As a side note, the tube produces significant amounts of UV light as well, and this can cause cataracts and skin damage if you allow yourelf to be exposed to it for too long."
Wtf? I never knew that argons produced UV.

SOME argons produce UV lines. Just as SOME argons are green line only. Most optics (and I'm sure this one is included) do not allow the formation of the UV lines.

One question I had about this laser, is that he said it is rated at 40mW per line. I believe it has 5 lines. So, when I shine this thing into my power meter should I see 200mW or am I going to see 40mw? He didn't really elaborate on the power output, only that it was so bright he never messed with any of the mirrors in the tube.

At 3500 hours, you'll be lucky to get 80mW total output. Even at 40mW total power, $270 is still a steal

 

[GooeyGus]

So with a small tube like this, is it pretty easy to find a replacement? If one wanted to refill/refurbish this tube when the time comes, would it even be worth it or is it time for the scrap pile?

 

[climbak]

It'd probably be cheaper to just buy another one off ebay. Tubes are fairly expensive from what I've seen, but I haven't looked around very much either. I think Sam's FAQ has a method to heat the tube to release some of the gas that has been absorbed by the glass or something like that.

 

[MarioMaster]

So with a small tube like this, is it pretty easy to find a replacement? If one wanted to refill/refurbish this tube when the time comes, would it even be worth it or is it time for the scrap pile?

from what i remember reading on SAM's FAQ, a tube refurb would cost almost as much as a new laser

 

[GooeyGus]

It'd probably be cheaper to just buy another one off ebay. Tubes are fairly expensive from what I've seen, but I haven't looked around very much either. I think Sam's FAQ has a method to heat the tube to release some of the gas that has been absorbed by the glass or something like that.

Any more info on this? I tried looking around a bit but I haven't found much about this...

 

[MarioMaster]

gas gets buried in the walls of the tube from being run - so just letting it sit would bring up the tube pressure

 

[GooeyGus]

gas gets buried in the walls of the tube from being run - so just letting it sit would bring up the tube pressure

Yup I get that, but I also read that over time the gas gets stuck in certain areas of the tube, causing dimming or even failure to run. I was wondering if the method climbak read about would improve output or lifetime. maybe the method was just burning in the tube at high amperage for a while.

 

[daguin]

[quote author=MarioMaster link=1213349438/24#27 date=1213626902]gas gets buried in the walls of the tube from being run - so just letting it sit would bring up the tube pressure

Yup I get that, but I also read that over time the gas gets stuck in certain areas of the tube, causing dimming or even failure to run. I was wondering if the method climbak read about would improve output or lifetime. maybe the method was just burning in the tube at high amperage for a while.[/quote]


Look it up first. IIRC that method was for ONE specific type of tube. It was NOT recommended wholesale. Also, I know the mind is a fickle thing, but my Momma would say, "You are borrowing trouble." about this. Wait until the unit gets there. This may not be a problem at all. Even if the pressure is "off", there is a range of "off" in which it will still operate well. It may not get to the highest powers it did when "new" or it may be a bit harder to start. However, it will still be a really cool argon ion laser that YOU OWN and can make us all jealous with beam shots from

Peace,
dave

 

[GooeyGus]

[quote author=GooeyGus link=1213349438/24#28 date=1213627521][quote author=MarioMaster link=1213349438/24#27 date=1213626902]gas gets buried in the walls of the tube from being run - so just letting it sit would bring up the tube pressure

Yup I get that, but I also read that over time the gas gets stuck in certain areas of the tube, causing dimming or even failure to run. I was wondering if the method climbak read about would improve output or lifetime. maybe the method was just burning in the tube at high amperage for a while.[/quote]


Look it up first.  IIRC that method was for ONE specific type of tube.  It was NOT recommended wholesale.  Also, I know the mind is a fickle thing, but my Momma would say, "You are borrowing trouble." about this.  Wait until the unit gets there.  This may not be a problem at all.  Even if the pressure is "off", there is a range of "off" in which it will still operate well.  It may not get to the highest powers it did when "new" or it may be a bit harder to start.  However, it will still be a really cool argon ion laser that YOU OWN and can make us all jealous with beam shots from

Peace,
dave[/quote]

I'm not too worried about it right now, I'm just thinking for down the line when it gets bad and i decide to start to "tinker" ;D

 

[scopeguy20]

Chris, (heruursciences) is the guy with the most experience with these and I have heard you have to run them every so often, or they will not work. Ask him about the bake to renew the tube, if it has all the argon absorbed in the glass, and how often it needs to be run.