Tube from a Heruurscience surprise box

[diachi]

Diachi - Ballast resistor?, (also now understand that that is the anode end. Thanks for the anatomy lesson!). I know the component you mean but why is it there?

Gooeygus - I won't be unscrewing anything for fear of screwing everything!

I will take all knowledge I can before doing a single thing to this valuable addition to my collection, (valuable simply because I only have one!). 5mW would have been my absolute BEST estimate with my limited experience but just to see it lase will give me a warm glow of at least a Watt!

I was just as protective when I had just one LD and that one is still alive.

Gooeygus, how is yours powered? 9V, 110V? Is it the same HV unit as well? Is it the HV unit itself that determines the primary power? Sorry if they're noob questions but to gas lasers I AM a noob. (p.s. off topic but, did you get those photos?)

M

As Mario already said, the ballast resistor is just there to limit current.

The cathode end of a HeNe is the end with the " Metal can " inside it.

 

[heruursciences]

The ballast resistor is attached to the tube assembly.

 

[Morgan]

Icecruncher - PM ignored, no worries. I did PM Heruurscience on your behalf too but that was before I read your post. Glad all is well.

Jerry - I'll have to update my profile. Probably missing the UK info since the changeover.

I feel a lot more confident to fire this thing up now.

I'm off to find a plug...

... Post imminent.....


M

 

[diachi]

YAYYY Take some pics, we love pics you know

 

[Morgan]

First Light!

Ahh, init cute!

Beautiful, beautiful light. It is nice and bright too. Bit brighter than I was expecting and the beam looks to be very tight. All in all I am feeling VERY pleased.

Thank you Heruurscience!

This is only the preliminary setup to get it working. Now I know it does I'll have to give it a good clean up and a mount.

Now some more Qs I'm afraid:

I know HeNes can be a variety of colours. How do I determine the wavelength? (Not that it matters in the slightest right now!)

Are there any recommendations on run time and general care? I read that Argons should be run for a certain amount of time every so often.

Apologies if I disappear for the rest of the evening but I have to give my eye-balls a HeNe burn in!!!

I have such a stoopid smile on my chops!

M...

 

[lasersbee]

As to the color... it should be indicated in "nm" on the tube label if it has one...
if it is red similar to a red $1.00 laser pointer or a dilda (it won't be exactly the
same color but close) then it is most likely a red 632.8nm HeNe...
and as what Chris said it is 4mW... I've got a bunch of these about 14"-15" long...
they have a nice round beam dot...

Jerry

 

[icecruncher]

Icecruncher - PM ignored, no worries. I did PM Heruurscience on your behalf too but that was before I read your post. Glad all is well.

Jerry - I'll have to update my profile. Probably missing the UK info since the changeover.

I feel a lot more confident to fire this thing up now.

I'm off to find a plug...

... Post imminent.....


M

You know I'm watching this thread pretty close with 2 hene's on order.

Also, using a diffraction grating and a close known wavelength you can determine pretty close the wavelength off reflections onto a wall details are in the Sam Laser FAQs.

 

[diachi]

As Jerry said, if it's red like one of those cat toy pointers then it's 632.8nm. I must say it IS a cute little thing ! I really need a HeNe ! As for running, I'm not aware that you need to run HeNe lasers every so often like you do with argon lasers. I had a huge grin when I fired up my first argon laser

 

[Morgan]

Laserbee - No wavelength markings that I can see. There is a sticker that disappears round the back of the tube so that's probably where I'll find it. I'll have to remove the tube first. Doesn't look too much of a job either. I'll compare it with my Senkat diode, (x16 red), and report back for confirmation.

The dot is nice and round although I haven't checked it at long distance. There is also a dot coming from the other end. Less bright but just as defined. It doesn't surprise me it's there but would it have been in the original design brief? Do all gas lasers do this? Is this what they call, "Dual line"?

I SO feel like a noob right now! I've built a few diode based do-hickies now and I do know the info is out there, and where I might look for it, (Note to fellow noobs: The search button is your friend! And, "Sam's FAQs", is your bible!). I just can't help thinking aloud here! Good to share with you guys!

Icecruncher - You're gonna love 'em!!!!

Gassy dreams everyone...

M

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

HeNe was my first laser many years ago. They are still fun and a nice color.
Enjoy the gas !!

Mike

 

[MarioMaster]

Laserbee - No wavelength markings that I can see. There is a sticker that disappears round the back of the tube so that's probably where I'll find it. I'll have to remove the tube first. Doesn't look too much of a job either. I'll compare it with my Senkat diode, (x16 red), and report back for confirmation.

The dot is nice and round although I haven't checked it at long distance. There is also a dot coming from the other end. Less bright but just as defined. It doesn't surprise me it's there but would it have been in the original design brief? Do all gas lasers do this? Is this what they call, "Dual line"?

I SO feel like a noob right now! I've built a few diode based do-hickies now and I do know the info is out there, and where I might look for it, (Note to fellow noobs: The search button is your friend! And, "Sam's FAQs", is your bible!). I just can't help thinking aloud here! Good to share with you guys!

Icecruncher - You're gonna love 'em!!!!

Gassy dreams everyone...

M

The bit of light coming out of the other end is normal - the mirrors aren't 100% perfect so a bit of light leaks out of the HR (high reflective) mirror. The OC or output coupler is designed to leak (95-97% reflective or so) which is where the main laser beam comes from.

And I believe what you were referring to as "multi line" which you find in other lasers such as argon where you can have two or more wavelengths coming out of a single laser. You can't really do this with HeNes since the lines "fight" for power and just doesn't work very well.

 

[Morgan]

MM - Yep, I've since read a post from Daguin, (I think), where it explained, "multi-lines", better. I was barking up the wrong cul-de-sac with that one! After seeing it in the dark too, it seems the dimmer spot is not as clean as first thought. I'm loving it though!

The colour is just a shade more orange than my Senkat, (noticeably more orange than my PHR IR/Red Spirograph), so I'll happily go along with 632.8nm, (Think I remembered that figure correctly).

Nice to have a post from Mr Hemlock there too. Hello again! Last time we spoke I think it was on my, "Welcome to the forum", post. I'm still here so you didn't put me off and I'm still learning.

Gas ist gut yah?!

M

 

[ElektroFreak]

My first laser was also a HeNe. They are a lot of fun, and the common ones are very cheap, so that doesn't hurt. Nice find.

 

[lordoflasers]

Congradulations Morgan on your first HeNe!!!


I'm waiting for a tube from Laserben and a brick power supply from heruusciences to make a desktop lamp like daves. When I get that up and running I'll probably be selling my complete HeNe system.

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/laser_pointer_forums_3/forum/showthread.php?t=38668

I think it was brand new when I got it a few weeks ago, and I''ve put less than 24 hours on it. I'm pretty sure it has a beam expander built into it. Also, it was manufactured in December-about half a year ago. It is my first HeNe.


Sorry for the partial threadjack. I know the excitement you feel when you fire up your first gas laser. Good for you Morgan.

 

[whatsupadrian]

Can someone tell me how to wire this?...

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/965/hene.jpg

 

[lasersbee]

Yeah... it's really easy... do what it says on the Power Supply in the picture...

BTW "whatsupadrian"... you're hijacking this thread...

Jerry