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Title: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: cup58 on October 11, 2012, 04:10:15 04:10 Published in the November 1964 issue of Popular Science magazine, the article "PS builds a laser ... and so can you" is perhaps the first hobby laser project published. It's interesting to see the electronic circuit is quite simple.
Regards Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: solutions on October 11, 2012, 04:52:26 16:52 Does it use a ruby rod and Xenon flash pump, which i believe was the tech of that day? If so, building one from a CD burner is a LOT cheaper
Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: Ichan on October 11, 2012, 06:14:53 18:14 Interesting article.
For these days, a 40 Watt CO2 laser tube is cheap enough to play with. -ichan Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: solutions on October 12, 2012, 07:59:47 19:59 The trick with CO2 is the optics. Got plans for a cutting/engraving 40W+ setup?
Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: Magnox on October 12, 2012, 08:18:23 20:18 I have a book with plans for a DIY 30W CW CO2 LASER and PSU.
http://www.amazon.com/Working-Fiberoptic-Infrared-Space-Age-Projects/dp/0830627243 If anyone is really interested, I could scan it. I hope your glass-blowing skills are up to it though... Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: Ichan on October 12, 2012, 09:50:38 21:50 Quote Got plans for a cutting/engraving 40W+ setup? Here is on the web: http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/index.php (http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/index.php) For laser tube, lens, power supply, etc - just search on ebay with "CO2 laser tube". I might write my own build someday. -ichan Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: snowman on October 13, 2012, 12:48:00 00:48 I have a 40w chinese laser and I really appreciate if someone posts laser power supply plans. my power supply does not support pwm input. I need to replace it, without pwm its just a toy. it cannot be used with mach3 like cnc software without pwm input.
PS: and be careful with chinese laser tubes. their gas leaks in time. almost every tube leaks, yes, but come cheap tubes have 6 months shelf life. sealing glass tube with metals is tricky I believe. Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: solutions on October 13, 2012, 04:37:35 04:37 I have a book with plans for a DIY 30W CW CO2 LASER and PSU. http://www.amazon.com/Working-Fiberoptic-Infrared-Space-Age-Projects/dp/0830627243 If anyone is really interested, I could scan it. I hope your glass-blowing skills are up to it though... The book is $0.05 on Amazon.com.... The Chinese substitute materials - glass to metal seals need to be pure, O2-free, copper....but it is expensive, so to them...copper is copper... Title: Re: PS builds a laser ... and so can you Post by: Ichan on October 13, 2012, 08:47:54 08:47 Many 40W chinese laser tube for that small laser engraving machine (the $600-ish machine) actually have a real power of 25W, I've been told by one of the machine manufacturer - better ask the seller if the tube is true 40W or not, it should not be lower than $120 at it's origin.
Lower power chinese laser tube mostly only have about 2000 hours lasing time, but higher grade reci tube (80 - 150W) have 10000 hours lasing time warranty and several years of self life. -ichan |