Home made folded cavity CO2 laser tube

[rogerjames]

Hi,

I'm looking for ideas / sources for non-functioning CO2 laser tubes. They need to be the sealed glass / DC excited type. My plan is to cut the ends off and mount my own optics and possibly couple multiple tubes together to form a high powered (relative to a slo-flow CO2) folded cavity design (in the 180 - 300 watt range). I'm hoping for tubes that were in the 60 - 100 watt range when they were functioning (1.2 meters - 1.8 meters)

Originally, I was planning to find a local glass blower and have the tubes made but using a factory made tube of a proven design just seems to make more sense.

Of course, the tubes must not be cracked / leaking water. Ideally, the tube would be bad due to old gas or electrode problems.

Anyone with dead tubes they would like to turn into cash? Or any other ideas where I might look to find some?

Thanks

Roger

[SkipW]

Hi Roger,

Someone posted the plans for a flowing gas laser tube on here awhile ago and it called for using clear acrylic tubes like these:
http://www.estreetplastics.com/6_od_...6019012100.htm

You can probably get them any length needed but they aren't cheap.

Just a thought.

Skip

Edit.. maybe it used purchased pyrex glass tubes, I don't remember now.

[the4thseal]

are you going to build a laser?if so please post your progress. i want to do this and always looking out for info on this topic.

[rogerjames]

Skip,

Thanks for the info. That looks like a great source for plastics. I'm going to file it.

I'm really hoping to construct both the plasma chamber and cooling jacket from glass. This is why I would like to use premade laser tubes if possible. The main advantage of using a premade tube is that the water jacket is already sealed around the plasma chamber which really simplifies construction.

Nevertheless, do you have links to the construction details you mentioned?

Here is some info I've been looking at:

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/knapp/sealco2.htm
http://www.altair.org/CO2laser.html
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/co21asm.gif
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasercc2.htm#cc2cc21

Thanks,

Roger

[rogerjames]

Hi the4thseal,

Thanks for the interest. I have already built a laser table (4x8ft) with a Synrad 25watt RF excited tube.

Now I need more power so I'm looking at alternatives.... making a tube is one of them.

I'll try to post vids of the machine if you are interested.

BTW have you seen the machine built by MonoNeuron? It is what first inspired me to build my machine.

Backyard Laser

Regards,

Roger

[the4thseal]

no i had not read it.i really would love to build a tube laser.i wish you could just buy plans and build.

[bdring]

I don't think you can buy the kit anymore, but the plans are still available.

http://www.hobbycnc.hu/CNC/Laser/55_...Laser_Tube.pdf

I would love to build one of these. I have my own homebuilt cutter/engraver. It needs a homebuilt tube.

bdring
http://www.buildlog.net
(laser buildlogs)

[the4thseal]

i would like to build a 100watt tube

[dlktdr]

I built my own Laser Tube and spent a decent amount of money doing it.. From all the tube designs I had fail I would really recommend forking out the couple hundred dollars for an all glass tube with glass cooling jacket.

The other option which is actually pretty cheap is to purchase large liebig distillation columns used for chemistry. Overseas sells these pretty cheap. Then just get your local glassblower to put two larger fittings on it.. It's fairly easy to make some aluminum tapered heads to fit on and viola.. plus you can attach as many or as few together as you need if you want to fold it.

[trwalters001]

I built mine with concentric Pyrex tubes and turned aluminum ends...

[the4thseal]

pics pics please and info pretty please

[bundysax]

Where can I just buy a good laser with out spending a fortune ?

I would like to cut and engrave acrylic and glass.