Problem with laser power

[Tech_Marco]

Sorry, it sold out. A new shipment will come on Nov 18th:

Laser Tube CO2 700MM (35w) 0.8 1.3 20
Laser Tube CO2 850MM (40w) 0.92 1.5 20
Laser Tube CO2 (45w)1M WJ 1 1.6 20
Laser Tube CO2 (100w) RECI 4 7 5
Laser Tube CO2 (130-150w) RECI 5 9 2
Laser Tube CO2 (60w) SP 3 4.5 20

You may want to use the 850mm (830mm) tube instead.
Or, get the 60W tube

Marco

[bobkeyes]

Guess I've missed the closing bell!!

[Tech_Marco]

Could you post a video to show your machine and the testing? It's very odd. How could a tube fire for 15~20 min all right but power drop so much once installed in a machine. Plus current was still showing 18mA. It seems that the ligh beam was absorbed by something.

Regarding the word "absorted", I'm suddently thinking that may be the reflection mirror is no good and caused a portion of light beam not capable to be bounced out but somethow went through the mirrors to the other side. You know what, do a simple test. Place a note pad "Post it" behind the mirror (the other side of beam rebound) see if it got burned. If it does, that means the mirror is defective. Test it on all mirrors, total of 3. This is the only thing I can come up with this extraodinary phenomenon.

Or the other way, test laser power Before and After each mirror. After a 'suspect' found, swap the mirrors and test again

Marco

[bobkeyes]

Could you post a video to show your machine and the testing? It's very odd. How could a tube fire for 15~20 min all right but power drop so much once installed in a machine. Plus current was still showing 18mA. It seems that the ligh beam was absorbed by something.

Regarding the word "absorted", I'm suddently thinking that may be the reflection mirror is no good and caused a portion of light beam not capable to be bounced out but somethow went through the mirrors to the other side. You know what, do a simple test. Place a note pad "Post it" behind the mirror (the other side of beam rebound) see if it got burned. If it does, that means the mirror is defective. Test it on all mirrors, total of 3. This is the only thing I can come up with this extraodinary phenomenon.

Or the other way, test laser power Before and After each mirror. After a 'suspect' found, swap the mirrors and test again

Marco

No suspect mirror. I used a paper towel so it would mark easily.
When I push the laser button on the control panel, I only have 10 mA of power. Is there a way to adjust this up to 18?
At this point, 5:20pm your time, I just started the machine for the first time today to run your test on the mirrors. I have to hold the laser button down about 1 sec to get it to mark the tape on mirror #1. Always before just a very quick push gave a definite black mark. Just another observation.

One premise that we are holding to is that the tube fire OK for 20 minutes. All I know for sure is that it did fire for 20 minutes. NOT that it was OK for 20 minutes.

By the way, the tube has never been out of the machine for testing. It has remained in it normal position for every test. I removed the #1 mirror and placed the wood about 1 inch from the end of the tube.

[Tech_Marco]

What kind of mirror your machine have? Glass base or Si base?
Most 40w machine come with glass base mirror with gold platting. It could wore out quicker than Si or MO ase
Do more test on mirrors as I have a feeling that the mirror is the bad guy
Marco

[bobkeyes]

Marco,

#1 mirror purchased from you when I purchased the control system after the fire. It has a gold appearance.
#2 mirror is one of the originals that was not damaged in the fire some months back.
#3 mirror purchased from you with new head at the same time as #1 mirror.

Just ran a 5 min cut at full power, 18 mA, with a paper towel tight behind each mirror. The towel was not even warm. In fact, the back of the mirror was not even warm.

It will take me a little time to install the new tube when it gets here. I have to cut a hole in the cabinet, which is double wall steel, and fashion new mountings. But, I'll get it done.

I plan to remove the present tube tomorrow to start cutting the hole.

[bobkeyes]

Marco,
Since I will have an option on mounting the longer tube now, so you know what the optimal distance would be from the end of the tube to mirror #1? Or does it matter??

Thanks,
Bob

[bobkeyes]

Marco,
Since I will have an option on mounting the longer tube now, so you know what the optimal distance would be from the end of the tube to mirror #1? Or does it matter??

Thanks,
Bob

Could I get a response here! Thanks

[Tech_Marco]

Sorry so busy here. An incident occurred.You may leave 1" or more to avoid hest issue

Marco

[bobkeyes]

Thanks Marco.

Hope the "incident" is resolved OK.

New tube arrived today, Tuesday. It will be a couple of days to get it installed. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bob Keyes

[bobkeyes]

Marco (or anyone),

On my new power supply, IP60, is the grounding lug on the back, the side where the HV comes out, the ground for the laser tube?? If that's not it, then where is it??

Thank you for your help.

[bobkeyes]

Marco,

I want to step through what I have done.

1. Installed new 60 watt laser tube.
2. Installed new power supply.
3. Ran new ground wire from tube to PSU.
4. Tested laser. Set to 20 mW.
5. Cleaned and realigned all mirrors.
6. Cleaned lense.
7. Cut 3/8" plexi at 3 mm/sec in one pass. Did this 9 times.
8. Set up job for customer. 24, 3" x 1/8" disks. Engraved with design and then cut out.
9. Engraving went fine.
10. Cutting started fine. It cut the first 4 disks and then the mW started dropping. They dropped to 9 mW.
11. No amount of adjusting would bring them back up. Turned machine off over night.
12. Turned on machine this morning. 9 to 11 mW is all it would do.
13. Replaced PSU with my original PSU. Set at 20 mW.
14. Engraved and cut job fine. In fact it cut the 1/8" at the farthest point on 7 mm/sec perfectly.
15. I have run all day on my old PSU. After I finished I re-installed the NEW PSU. It ran about 10 mW max.

My conclusion is that the NEW PSU is defective. Do you agree??

Thanks again. At least I'm running.

Bob Keyes

[Tech_Marco]

Bob

Im in China now. I posted a note on the forum may be you didn't see it
If you have figured out the problem that is great.

By the way, Im not sure what you mean of "20mW". Did you mean 20mA and 18mA the laser current?

Check the power setting on the PSU. You can set it to AC220v or AC110v. A 60W PSU is capable to delivery22mA current. Check the master current setting if you use my DSP caed


Marco

[bobkeyes]

Marco,

No, it is set on 110v. You are right. I meant mA instead of mW. The new supply delivered fine for about an hour or so. Now it only gives about 10 mA. No settings were changed. Put old PSU back on and all is OK. It runs about 24 mA initially, but drops back to 19 or twenty within a few seconds.

We'll correspond about the returns when you get back. Have a good trip.

Bob Keyes

[Tech_Marco]

Bob You don't need to wait for my return in order to get a replacement. My staffs in Sacramento will help to solve the issue. By the way, the incident will cost me $8000 to fix it. There was some bummer climbed up the warehouse and ripped off my AC units and stolr coil and 2ires. But they didn't take the compressors or fans. They may sell copper for $100 but that cost me over 8 grands!

Well, if moeny can solve the problem, then it is not really a problem. As long as no one get injury in the incident, everything still under control. Will take me minths to get rcovery. I need to do more support in order to get more business from you folks. Ha..ha...(:-)

Marco