Mike Audleman
04-21-2017, 8:49 PM
Ok, I have a new tube installed in my china blue laser. The specs according to the ebay listing:
Specifications:
Max Power: 50W
Wavelength:10600nm
Length: 850mm
Cooling System: Water Cooling
Triggering voltage: 22KV
Operating voltage: 16KV
Operating current(mA): 0-20
Outer diameter: 50mm
Math says that 20ma is only 44 watts. To get 50w from this tube based on 22kv, that works out to 22.7ma which is above their spec. 40w which is what may here have said this tube is works out to 18ma.
However, a statement like "Running an 800mm at over 14mA will kill it very quickly" makes be extremely cautious. I have also seen 16ma and 18ma also mentioned in places as a save max.
This tube measures 31 1/2" long. That is 800mm. So the length as stated inside the ebay listing is WRONG. They state it 50mm longer than it actually is. However in the listing title it says the correct length "New CO2 Laser Tube 50W 800mm".
Every ebay listing I can find for a 40w tube says its 700mm long.
Laser lengths are all over the place depending on where you actually look.
On Light Object (dot) com, their 40w tube is 850mm long.
On Boss Laser (dot) com, their 40w tube is 720mm long.
On Rabbit Laser USA (dot) com, their 40w tube is a whopping 1010mm long.
:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused: :confused:
ARRG! What is it REALLY and where would I look to find data to back that up? Its not that I don't trust yall. But, well, I like to understand why someone says "x" is what it is or what it should be.
So far, 14ma is the lowest anyone has stated. So until I can determine otherwise, I guess that shall be the max setting being one to err on the side of caution. Which, with the meter jerry rigged until I can get a box done, that works out to 72.5% on the panel to give 14ma on the meter. Both the analog and a confirming digital one temporarily hooked in series. With both meters reading the same figure, I can trust the old analog as being reliable and correct. Yea, its not like I am overreving a vintage Duesenberg. Its a $150 ebay tube. I get that. But I would rather not piss $150 down the drain needlessly and would much rather set the machine up correctly so its both efficient and reasonably reliable long term. Even if that involves it not putting out 50w.
So, next question along these lines...how to reset the power supply. There is no adjustment screw hole either on the top nor the front. There is a hole on the bottom of the PSU, completely unmarked and not easily seen except with a mirror. Again, erring on the side of caution, I resist the urge to blindly stick a screwdriver in the hole on the side of a 22kv PSU that could easily stop my heart as wink an eye. So, I suppose its time to dismount the PSU and see about looking in the hole or removing the case to see what lies within. Can this "50w" psu be set to only deliver 14ma (or if it turns out 18ma is safe) when the panel reads 100%? That way I can't accidentally set the power to greater than the tube's capability. I have lots of files that used to run 100% and that might have contributed to the early demise of the original tube. And I would like to set the machine so 100% correctly matches the tube so I don't have to worry about forgetting to reset the power on those old files.
Specifications:
Max Power: 50W
Wavelength:10600nm
Length: 850mm
Cooling System: Water Cooling
Triggering voltage: 22KV
Operating voltage: 16KV
Operating current(mA): 0-20
Outer diameter: 50mm
Math says that 20ma is only 44 watts. To get 50w from this tube based on 22kv, that works out to 22.7ma which is above their spec. 40w which is what may here have said this tube is works out to 18ma.
However, a statement like "Running an 800mm at over 14mA will kill it very quickly" makes be extremely cautious. I have also seen 16ma and 18ma also mentioned in places as a save max.
This tube measures 31 1/2" long. That is 800mm. So the length as stated inside the ebay listing is WRONG. They state it 50mm longer than it actually is. However in the listing title it says the correct length "New CO2 Laser Tube 50W 800mm".
Every ebay listing I can find for a 40w tube says its 700mm long.
Laser lengths are all over the place depending on where you actually look.
On Light Object (dot) com, their 40w tube is 850mm long.
On Boss Laser (dot) com, their 40w tube is 720mm long.
On Rabbit Laser USA (dot) com, their 40w tube is a whopping 1010mm long.
:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused: :confused:
ARRG! What is it REALLY and where would I look to find data to back that up? Its not that I don't trust yall. But, well, I like to understand why someone says "x" is what it is or what it should be.
So far, 14ma is the lowest anyone has stated. So until I can determine otherwise, I guess that shall be the max setting being one to err on the side of caution. Which, with the meter jerry rigged until I can get a box done, that works out to 72.5% on the panel to give 14ma on the meter. Both the analog and a confirming digital one temporarily hooked in series. With both meters reading the same figure, I can trust the old analog as being reliable and correct. Yea, its not like I am overreving a vintage Duesenberg. Its a $150 ebay tube. I get that. But I would rather not piss $150 down the drain needlessly and would much rather set the machine up correctly so its both efficient and reasonably reliable long term. Even if that involves it not putting out 50w.
So, next question along these lines...how to reset the power supply. There is no adjustment screw hole either on the top nor the front. There is a hole on the bottom of the PSU, completely unmarked and not easily seen except with a mirror. Again, erring on the side of caution, I resist the urge to blindly stick a screwdriver in the hole on the side of a 22kv PSU that could easily stop my heart as wink an eye. So, I suppose its time to dismount the PSU and see about looking in the hole or removing the case to see what lies within. Can this "50w" psu be set to only deliver 14ma (or if it turns out 18ma is safe) when the panel reads 100%? That way I can't accidentally set the power to greater than the tube's capability. I have lots of files that used to run 100% and that might have contributed to the early demise of the original tube. And I would like to set the machine so 100% correctly matches the tube so I don't have to worry about forgetting to reset the power on those old files.