Coherent Novus 2000 - not looking good

[MarioMaster]

Just got the laser today, and I knew it wasn't a good sign when it leaked water after getting it home. I didn't get anything with the laser, so I'm missing any interlocks and footswitch controls for actually operating the laser.

Something very weird has happened to this laser, it almost seems as if the tube had exploded - the copper lines in the radiator have ruptured in at least two places, yet the rubber tubing and plastic pump reservoir are fine. The top retaining cap for the laser tube appears to have been punched out by a massive impact, and the bottom of the tube leaks water since the tube isn't being held in place properly anymore.

The tube could very well be broken, but I pushed on the top and the bottom wiggled so I still have some hope.

After making sure there wasn't any water in bad places I powered it up, the unit ran through some self tests and shut down with an error code of 32

Otherwise, the internals look quite good.

What do you guys recommend trying first?

If you need any other angles or shots of components please let me know.

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[-bart-]

If system isn't completely drained, during transport the laser is easily killed by frost

[MarioMaster]

Crap, how did I forget that - after reading about GooeyGus's argon being destroyed by the idiot seller forgetting to drain the system.

I wonder if there's any hope for the laser tube....

[mixedgas]

You just described the classic symptoms of a frozen coherent. Usually the tube survives because of the tough AlOX shell

If the magnet is OK, usually you can lathe a new retaining ring and put it back together. However my medical friend may be interested in the tube and motherboard, PM me. He has lots of small CW stuff, so you may win in the end,

Steve

[MarioMaster]

I definitely feel better knowing that the tube could still have survived

Trades are good although I would like to see this thing fire up - the laser came with some documentation in the form of a multitude of system certification sheets - a bunch from Coherent dating '97 to '01, and a final one from 2005 by Lumenis, stating that the system was peaked, cleaned, tested, and had an ampule of gas added to the tube. System output of 2.57 watts

[mixedgas]

I definitely feel better knowing that the tube could still have survived

Trades are good although I would like to see this thing fire up - the laser came with some documentation in the form of a multitude of system certification sheets - a bunch from Coherent dating '97 to '01, and a final one from 2005 by Lumenis, stating that the system was peaked, cleaned, tested, and had an ampule of gas added to the tube. System output of 2.57 watts

with a max duration of 10-15 seconds before cooldown. remember, you have a pulsed system there. The magnet is uncooled and the tube is filled to a lower pressure then a cw tube.

Steve

[MarioMaster]

Yeah, I just want to see 2.5 watts of argon - but do please talk to your friend, a trade might be a better deal than trying to wind my own electromagnet and finding a psu to make this thing run CW

[MarioMaster]

The tube looks quite good

I was able to shine a light in one end and see clear through the bore

Click Image to Enlarge

[mixedgas]

Yeah, I just want to see 2.5 watts of argon - but do please talk to your friend, a trade might be a better deal than trying to wind my own electromagnet and finding a psu to make this thing run CW

That PSU can run CW off 220, its the 160V tube that cant... 15-20 seconds then cooldown.
The tube is filled to a lower pressure then a CW tube. Popping the fill caps will bring it up too high.

I was hoping you'd get a working toy for 14$. Its been known to happen.

Steve

[MarioMaster]

Well, it might still work if I can fix the retaining caps. Maybe I can braze them back together but I'd still need to pull the whole resonator apart to get them off.