ULS Universal Laser query- failing laser tube maybe? How to tell?

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Got another price, this time from a Brisbane agent (the first one was Sydney- 1100 km south of here) - at $4700 inc gst & freight, but only 2-3 week turnaround, and upgrade to 50 watt.

(The Sydney people said 6 weeks turnaround time.) At the moment I need it right now! It was so painful doing a job last night cutting through 2mm acrylic at 100% power, and 1% speed, and just making it through, one letter at a time, and 2 minutes wait to start the next! If you ran the whole file, only the first letter cut right through...)

[Bill George]

I would purchase a Ray Fine CO2 60 watt glass tube laser and not look back. Even if you replaced a tube a year and you won't, $4700 will pay a lot toward a new one.

[Scott Anders]

At the moment I need it right now!

I might be able to help you out in the meantime Ian (I've got 2 Trotecs). I'm in Toowoomba. I'll PM you

[Lee DeRaud]

I would purchase a Ray Fine CO2 60 watt glass tube laser and not look back. Even if you replaced a tube a year and you won't, $4700 will pay a lot toward a new one.

Really? If someone offered you either a 60W Ray Fine or a 50W ULS M300 for the same price, you'd turn down the ULS?

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Thanks very much for all the advice, Folks... I scrounged the corners of the credit card and came up with the deposit on the replacement/exchange 50W tube.
Scott- thank you very much - I'll be in touch! We're about an hour NW of you.

[Scott Anders]

No worries Ian. Even though Bill doesn't see the sense in it, your 15 year old ULS will run rings around a 60 watt chinese laser (engraving) cutting would be similar maybe. No offence Bill.

[Bill George]

Really? If someone offered you either a 60W Ray Fine or a 50W ULS M300 for the same price, you'd turn down the ULS?

Not if I lived in Australia and had to pay those kind of prices every 3 to 5 years for the tube recharge, Lee. Don't forget I had a ULS and it worked great for me and getting the tube recharged made sense. But not at $4700!! Sounds like price gouging at its finest.

[Lee DeRaud]

Not if I lived in Australia and had to pay those kind of prices every 3 to 5 years for the tube recharge, Lee. Don't forget I had a ULS and it worked great for me and getting the tube recharged made sense. But not at $4700!! Sounds like price gouging at its finest.

That's Australian dollars, including GST and shipping. I wonder how good a deal the RF machine looks like priced out the same way.

And I'm ignoring the lead time and learning curve.

[Kev Williams]

As much as I like my Triumph and what it's done for me--
IF I could find ANY 'western' 40w+ RF-tube machine in good mechanical and electrical condition, even with a shot tube for what I paid for the Triumph, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[Bill George]

Bottom line, If he is going to have to wait and pay a lot of money because he needs his machine ASAP, then he needs a backup machine. The Ray Fine or other could serve as his backup while he is waiting for the recharged tube to arrive. So he can pay $500 for a glass tube every year or $4,000 for a recharge metal tube every 5 years or less. US based not an issue, go with the Evergreen recharge and wait for the week it needs to be done.

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Thanks for the opinions & help, Bill, Kev, Scott & Folks.
Yes, a backup machine would be helpful... I'm also looking at an old Epilog, that might have enough life to tide me over till it dies...
But last night I got a slight reprieve- the smaller of the two big jobs has been pushed back 3 weeks, to completion date 24th April, instead of 2nd April, so that gives me breathing room to await the tube, and as for the other job... well the cnc router might have to do, and Scott Anders kindly offered to help us out too, which i really appreciate.

That job isn't confirmed, but it'll be panic stages if it is! But a good job if I don't have to quote on it.

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Well after saying 'yes' and tightening the waist belt a few notches... the new/exchange ULS tube, upgraded to 50w has landed in Brisbane.
I'll have it in a few days after we get down...

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Just an update: the tube was tested at 54 watt, so I was keen to see how it went through thicker acrylic.
The old tube could cut 10mm acrylic OK, but baulked at 12mm, and made a molten mess in several passes, on 15mm.

This tube cut through 15mm acrylic very nicely in 2 passes, with no focus adjustment needed.
That was however on the strongest and slowest settings: 100% power and 0.2% speed.

[Joseph Shawa]

Am I missing something here? You guys are talking over 2K for a new tube?!!!

I got my 150W Tube AND power supply for under $1500. The shipping was a large portion of it.

Does the machine use proprietary parts?

[Jerome Stanek]

Am I missing something here? You guys are talking over 2K for a new tube?!!!

I got my 150W Tube AND power supply for under $1500. The shipping was a large portion of it.

Does the machine use proprietary parts?

Yes you are the tube is a RF tube not glass