Noob questions for my new HeNe

[532 with Envy]

I found this one right under the Green Tube
NEW 115/230VAC HELIUM NEON LASER POWER SUPPLY hene tube - eBay (item 200486696790 end time Jul-22-10 13:19:46 PDT)

 

[Prototype]

That one only goes to 1900VDC, the GreeNe requires 2800VDC, unfortunately.

 

[532 with Envy]

Also sry about the photo sizes....ill try to get them down a bit...Im sporting a 28" monitor and didnt notice

 

[532 with Envy]

AAHH...so that power supply isnt going to work.....Guess I'll put it out there than.....if anyone knows of a CHEAP powersupply for the above HeNe greenie, or even might have a whole system for sale let me know.

 

[hakzaw1]

Envy--just in case you are not clear about making these into lamps here are two of many posts on them-- Dave did some beautiful work too-- these are from Jayrob--it is a great way to get a person who cannot understand why we 'do' lasers to see the beauty in them--you will never see lamps like these in Walmart either.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/d...mp-schweet-build-tips-26463-2.html#post728613

http://laserpointerforums.com/f43/started-he-ne-lamp-updated-done-45264.html


some of the best uses for these henes IMO

 

[kingdave2357]

SHAZZAAAMMM!!! Thanks again to everyone for the help!......well on my way to a good setup....I think next will be a 532nm HeNe....but until then here are a few pics of it up and running!

Thats a decent sized tube, bigger than your standard supermarket scanner tubes, any idea of its output, maybe it says it on the tube label somewhere?

Also the GreeNe tubes are 543nm, its a deeper color green than 532nm. I have a green tube from dave, and a PSU on its way from dave:bowdown:, I will post a thread when its running! Just so your clear before you go and drop almost $200, the plasma in the GreeNe is the same color 'pinkish orange' as the 632.8nm red tubes, only the output beam and spot are green. Nice to see some noobs taking interest in gas.

 

[532 with Envy]

It is a good size and I love the open tube to be able to seen the plasma...
Its a:
Melles Griot 632.8nm and the specs say min. output power at 5mW...someday when I pick up a LaserBee II I'll be able to see what the output is exactly

 

[kingdave2357]

It is a good size and I love the open tube to be able to seen the plasma...
Its a:
Melles Griot 632.8nm and the specs say min. output power at 5mW...someday when I pick up a LaserBee II I'll be able to see what the output is exactly

Does the power supply list an output voltage, or the tube list its requirement, some 5+mW tubes run off a higher voltage in the 2kv and up, and just maybe if it is high enough you could reuse that PSU for the GreeNe you want.

Here is my green tube:

This one is awesome, the beam exits the anode end on this guy! I should have it running this weekend!

 

[532 with Envy]

There isnt any info except whats on the PSU in the pics.....I was able to find the specs for the tube and thats where I got the 5mW number....but Im still searching for a link for this PSU. Again I dont have alot of experience and am also still building up my general kit, which will include many needed things like a voltage meter, power meter....Also i'd like to get a full kit for the green instead of using this PSU....Hopefully soon I should be able to start with some color mixing and other things of interest so I'll need this PSU for the Red.

 

[532 with Envy]

Yours is nice, and brand new!.....love that little one there too....whats the story with that one?....Just love these bare tube gas laser, always what I pictured lasers should "look" like!...posted my pics on facebook and already those who dont know are asking me if im making a death ray:lasergunthey do look cool!)

 

[kingdave2357]

I have four tubes total, three from ebay, one GreeNe from dave, none of them are brand new, all used, some more so than others. The small tube is one I got of ebay for cheap and I have a mini PSU to match it that runs off of 6-9v DC. These smaller tubes come from supermarket scanners and old skool disc players...

You can see my tubes in action here:http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/bare-tube-hene-sweet-pics-51014.html
Be sure to check out page two as well...

 

[Morgan]

Just a note to not touch the glass while it's running, or shortly afterwards, with an uninsulated hand! I accidentally did this with mine even after reading not to and got bit! Nothing to lose an arm over but it don't half make you jump when you're not expecting it and you don't want to be dropping it so soon after seeing first light. (apologies if I missed a warning in the thread. I did read it all)


Good new avatar too. Now you're building your own collection of laser related pics. :eg::crackup:

Nice to see your new addiction taking hold. Argon soon too then?

M

 

[532 with Envy]

Lol...I will be careful with touching it.....I think a greenNe is next....Love the Argon look but from what I can tell they are a bit more expensive and perhaps beyond my technical ability. I do need a Blue 445nm for my color mixing though, prob just go with DPSS for that though, and perhaps even try to make my own.....And YUP that pic is all mine

 

[aryntha]

After you disconnect the laser, what I usually do is short the prongs of the Alden cable to make sure the laser is discharged. From what I understand this isn't going to harm it, and reduces the chance of a 'surprise bite'.

 

[kingdave2357]

I have touched the glass on mine several times while running with no results, I thought only the metal ends could shock you, am I right or just lucky?

I do have a 100% rubber thick mat under my chair at all times, maybe that just stopped the shock...

 

[Morgan]

I have touched the glass on mine several times while running with no results, I thought only the metal ends could shock you, am I right or just lucky?

I do have a 100% rubber thick mat under my chair at all times, maybe that just stopped the shock...

I only speak from personal experience when I say the glass can bite too, (but conversely that may have been me being UNlucky!) Not as pokey as the ends but it was a while ago and I didn't do it frequently enough for scientific study. Just enough to know not to do it again!

M