Hi guys,
I am alucky one. Just recently repaired my laser with a Synrad tube and today the other one with two GCI tubes(each 140W) stopped working properly.
Since this laser has two tubes it has two power supplies so each tube is powered by its own power supply(HVPS). There are two LEDs on each HVPS and it seems when HVPSs are working properly both LEDS on each are OFF. If there is anything wrong one LEDs turns red. There is also reset button on each HVPS. When the LED is red you push it and it resets and the LED goes off.
Now back to the problem. When I power my laser from a power outlet both HVPSs seems to be in a normal state(no LEDs on) but when I fire the laser there is a a single shortening sound and one HVPS has its LED red and the tube connected to it is not firing at all. Pressing reset on this HVPS turns that LED off. However when I fire it all goes the same(LED is red and not firing). So basically one tube is firing since it is running from its own power supply and one is not.
How did I get to that sad point:
1)My laser was working as usual today morning(both tubes firing, not faults at each HVPS) but alignment was off.
So I decided trying to align my laser at its best and the first thing you need to do is to align both beans together. To do it you need to disconnect one tube from power or cover it with something. Covering can lead to some residue left on its coupler so for the last a couple of years I prefer to disconnect a power cable from a relevant power supply. I have been doing this type of alignment a lot of times before so I do not believe that this constant cable connection/disconnecting while machine is powered could cause what I am facing now.
2) My other tube seems to produce a double burn mark(or it is just looks like it does). That tube is connected to this "faulty" power supply. This split beam from that tube creates a lot of problems(heating head, impossible to cut through at some far points). So it was the reason I started doing realignment today morning. I checked connection to that tube on both ends and both wires seemed to be quite loose. I cleaned all connection on the coupler side and tightened the wire on this side of the tube and moved to the back(where the wire is under ceramic cover). This connector also locked loose and also it seemed not to be very well welded to the wire under a thick insulation. I remover the wire, removed one layer of insulation and check that the connector is welded well, put an insulation tape on top, cleaned all contacts with an alcohol and connected it back to the tube.
That's when it all started with this tube HVPS.
No I need t understand what's is wrong. The wire for the tube that I have removed the insulation from seems to be ok(resistance is steady 0) but something is wrong as firing the tube seems to do something with it HVPS.
Ordering a new HVPS is my last resort as mt MFG wants almost USD $1300 for it. Plus they will be heaps for shipping, duties and taxes that will make this HVPS almost made of gold comparing to the similar ones sold on eBay for 150W DC tubes. I would go with the cheap one from eBay but I am not sure I can use another brand power supply as it will be working with the first HVPS alongside or may be there will be other problems.
I contacted support for my laser but so far they are not big of a help and there are some language problems(they are from Taiwan) They may be hlp me eventually but I know it will take ages.
Since it is two tube machine I can still use it but there is a huge drop in cutting speed and edges are too much charred because of it.
I have attached picture where wires are connected to each tube. The one with blue insulation is the one i opened to see if there is a loose wire. I do not run my laser without covering caps. I have taken the of just to take a picture.