Question about laser power and Ammeter readings.

[Zach Browning]

I've got a Chinese 80w laser, and it came with an ammeter, with a sticker next to the ammeter saying not to exceed 24mA or it could damage the tube.
The specs I've found for the tube are:


Current: 26mA (28mA max)
Life Span: 8,000~10,000 hrs @ 25mA


During my testing, the laser hits the rated 25mA at only 64%, and around 30mA at 85% in LaserCut. Does this mean my power supply is not set up for the 80w tube? Is there some adjustment that wasn't done in the factory? I would hate to accidentally kill a tube by setting the wrong power.

Thanks.

[Kev Williams]

Most of us with Chinese machines are familiar with that anomoly. My 80w Reci hits 25mA at about 65% too. 70%, the max I ever run it when vectoring, hits 27mA. I believe there's ways to adjust for that, but figuring it out and actually doing it seems like more trouble than it's worth. After 2-1/2 years, it's just a given that 65=100, 35=about 50, etc...

[Ross Moshinsky]

http://www.lasersaur.com/manual/laser_adjustments

Can't say this exact site will help, but that's the general idea.

[Dave Sheldrake]

small screw on the underside of the power supply can be used to adjust output current

[Jerome Stanek]

small screw on the underside of the power supply can be used to adjust output current

I have looked several times for the screw and can not find one even went as far as opening the supply up and there is no pot to adjust