My New Argon Laser

[happytomato]

The tube:

HR end:

OC end:

HR Mirror:

Idle:

10A:




Also, does anyone know how to power the fan internally/Tweak it as it was doing about at 11A 120mW on the previous owner's Laserbee Optical LPM and now I'm only getting 54mW (It was actually THROWN by the dleivery company, the tube was rattling inside the head!)?

 

[GooeyGus]

You can use an insulated stick to push on the mirrors gently to see if the power comes up. Also, how long was it running when you measured power? You should warm it up for around an hour to get some really accurate readings. If it hasn't been ran in a while, run it every time you get a chance. Also, what are you using to control the current? Are you sure the supply is actually doing 10A or are you just turning a knob all the way up? There is a current shunt you should use to monitor actual tube current, is this what you are using?

If you need any more help or have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. I have a ton of those small argons and I know them inside and out.

 

[happytomato]

You can use an insulated stick to push on the mirrors gently to see if the power comes up. Also, how long was it running when you measured power? You should warm it up for around an hour to get some really accurate readings. If it hasn't been ran in a while, run it every time you get a chance. Also, what are you using to control the current? Are you sure the supply is actually doing 10A or are you just turning a knob all the way up? There is a current shunt you should use to monitor actual tube current, is this what you are using?

If you need any more help or have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. I have a ton of those small argons and I know them inside and out.

I have tried mirror re-alignment, no positive increase. I measured the power of it running at about half power for 20 mins then cranking it up to max (I can only have it on for about 1 min on max or it cuts out due to overheating). I have been using the interface I made with the pot up on max, however, I also measured the current sensing pins with my dmm and it was telling me around 10 A last time I checked.

Do you know about the fan power supply?

 

[happytomato]

Oh yeah, the model is a :
Cyonics/Uniphase 2201-40MLA Multi-line Argon Ion laser

 

[Kenom]

Very pretty.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Spell---
Did read this right?? You are running without a fan???
I run ~200+ Cfm fans on mine, just for the head.

Mike

 

[happytomato]

Spell---
Did read this right??  You are running without a fan???
I run ~200+ Cfm fans on mine, just for the head.

Mike

Nah, I have a externally powered fan mounted on it. What I want to do is find the connection on the inside of the head so the fan doesn't need it's own plug.

 

[GooeyGus]

the fan connection in the head is a 4-pin molex connector with two wires going to it. It has line voltage going to it, 120VAC

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Wow-- the Gas Lord speaks ;D Gus ---

Does my 2214 30SL have a 120 fan plug ???
Also my Lasos doesn't look like there's anything in there.

I'm tired too of two plugs

Mike

 

[GooeyGus]

The lasos head does have mains power for a fan in the head. If you're looking down the laser with the output end pointed at you, there should be a little terminal block with four screws and two wires going to it directly to the right of the cathode end bell. Those are your power wires. Just cut the plug off your fan and slip a wire into each little terminal and screw it down, should be good to go!  

As far as the 2214's, I think those are designed to have an external fan so as far as I know they dont have mains power going to the head. I think I've heard of people using a 3VDC fan and tapping into the cathode power wires but I really wouldn't recommend that. What you could do is tap into the AC power wires inside your PSU and install a terminal on the front of the PSU to plug into, for ease of use  

 

[GooeyGus]

Ahhh, I just saw your pictures. It looks like your mirrors have the little three-screw 'collars' on them. These collars are used for minor adjustments of the mirrors. You can tighten or loosen the little hex keys and see if you get more power. BUT, be VERY VERY VERY VERY careful. DO NOT lose lasing completely, these things are super sensitive and if you get it too far out of whack it will be really hard to get it perfect again. Also, watch out for the anode voltage at the OC and the high amperage DC at the HR end. The high amp stuff wont hurt you, but if you're wearing a watch or something and it grounds out, it will turn into a big heating element and give you a nasty burn (ask me how I know.... except I did it on a car battery)

 

[happytomato]

the fan connection in the head is a 4-pin molex connector with two wires going to it. It has line voltage going to it, 120VAC

I'm in the UK so would that mean it is 240v?
Which pins would the power be outputted on? I used my dmm on the two non-shorted pins and could read no power.

Thanks

 

[happytomato]

Ahhh, I just saw your pictures. It looks like your mirrors have the little three-screw 'collars' on them. These collars are used for minor adjustments of the mirrors. You can tighten or loosen the little hex keys and see if you get more power. BUT, be VERY VERY VERY VERY careful. DO NOT lose lasing completely, these things are super sensitive and if you get it too far out of whack it will be really hard to get it perfect again. Also, watch out for the anode voltage at the OC and the high amperage DC at the HR end. The high amp stuff wont hurt you, but if you're wearing a watch or something and it grounds out, it will turn into a big heating element and give you a nasty burn (ask me how I know.... except I did it on a car battery)

You think poor alignment would be the cause for the loss of power? This would make sense, considering the tube had been thrown, although the fact that when I tried to align it by pushing the mirrors it only got worse. Also, I can only find one of the screws on the collar held with red glue - not three.