Idle amperage during PPI

[Axeman]

I was wondering if the DSP keeps a constant low portion of amperage running in the tube while it's running the PPI option.

I was speaking with a laser cutter engineer who was telling me about how the most 'wear' that occurs to a tube is when a tube is charging and discharging the gas. If there was a super low amperage...say 1 - 1.5 mA, not enough to discharge a laser but enough to keep the gas ignited that it would extend the life of the tube dramatically?

Perhaps even keep the tube charged from the start of the job to the end of the job with that super low current and just continuing to run everything else as per normal. Would that be a possible upgrade in future firmware? That way the tubes would last the longest with the least electrode corrosion.

[Tech_Marco]

It sounds mission impossible as there are so many different laser tubes with different characteristic. Also, the laser power supply is counted as well.
Unless this is a machine done by brand name company who use their own brand laser tube may be capable to do so.

You may do it by injecting "+" offset voltage to let the laser power supply to energized the laser tube to excite to certain level but without fire the laser. But, I'm not sure if the DSP can take some hit from the "+" power being injected. Plus, the output is hard to keep it "stable" You may get laser "shoot" under no warning. Remember that electronics equipment is greatly affected by the temperature. There is no guarantee that you can keep the tube not from firing during the "exited" mode. It is kind of "dangerous" approach and I'll not try it myself just for my own safety. A dying tube is better than getting injury, agreed?


Marco

[Axeman]

Mmmmm....yeah that all makes sense.

Thanks for the input there Marco. Always good to see what ideas come from the more knowledgable folk