Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: 1 Watt Lexel Argons, With a Twist.

  1. #1
    mixedgas's Avatar
    mixedgas is offline Creaky Old Award Winning Bastard Technologist
    Infinitus Excellentia Ion Laser Dominatus
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    A lab with some dripping water on the floor.
    Posts
    9,890

    Default 1 Watt Lexel Argons, With a Twist.

    Ok, a good friend of mine bought a large amount of gear at auction a few years ago. It came from the closing auction of a Lexel plant. (This is just before Cambridge bought Lexel) A couple of semi trucks worth.

    He has 22 some Lexel 85-SVG heads, these are a hotter then normal Lexel 85 with special crystal quartz Brewster windows for higher power. They are rated to do in excess of 450 mW of 514 and 450 mW of 488 plus the other argon lines for more then 8500 hours. Some of these have tested as high as 2.2 watts at rated test current when taken out of the box. A more realistic rating would be 1.5 watts. You will not find the 85-SVG on the Lexel web site, it is a custom head made for semiconductor inspection.

    He has at last count 66 of the tubes.

    The problem in the past was the large PSU required to make a Argon run was a back breaker. Cheap psus based on resistors with no feedback, while light in weight, had greatly reduced tube life times. With no way to dampen spikes in current and plasma oscillations, the tube life would be shortened.

    About two years ago, we came up with a way to kill the oscillations, provide current control, and if the semiconductors failed, the tube would stay lasing on the water cooled resistor, alone. Most times a damaged semiconductor fails shorted. No heavy, back breaking, inductors or boost transformers, either.

    So here is the deal, $1100+ proper shipping gets you a working, lasing, head, a spare plasma tube, the critical parts (ie cathode transformer, ignitor, circuit breaker, flow switch, WCR, current sensor) and plans/ some parts for the PSU. You supply the construction labor, as that is what is expensive. He can build one for you, but that drives the cost up.


    We're still working on the exact terms, so that is a guideline.

    Here is a example unit with the PSU compact enough to be built in the head, yet has full current mode control and the flow switch. To fit it in the head, the resonator was moved over a bit. If your uncomfortable with taking apart a resonator, the PSU can easily go into a small external box.

    Requirements: 220-240 V SINGLE PHASE power line, 50 or 60 Hz. 2.2 gallons a minute of cooling water.

    What you get, 488, 514, 501, 496, 476, 457, and depending on installed optics/tube current, some other lines.

    I'll post measurements from a typical head shortly.

    PICs of a the prototype, factory head cover not shown.

    Let me know if interested. If you do not feel like building the custom PSU, he has 6 of the classic factory 85 psus, but cost would be higher. Note, within some areas of the US, he delivers as he is often on the road doing repairs. This actually is the preferred method of delivery.

    Steve
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 100_0530.JPG  

    100_0534.JPG  

    100_0529.JPG  

    Last edited by mixedgas; 05-05-2011 at 08:01.

  2. #2
    mixedgas's Avatar
    mixedgas is offline Creaky Old Award Winning Bastard Technologist
    Infinitus Excellentia Ion Laser Dominatus
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    A lab with some dripping water on the floor.
    Posts
    9,890

    Default

    More Lexel 85-SVG Pics:

    Steve
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 100_0536.JPG  

    100_0535.JPG  


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Greenville, NC
    Posts
    1,161

    Thumbs up

    Awesome!!
    So if I got this..: its like a "kit laser" right?
    As long as I have a diagram to go by,Id like one!!


    DJ Matt
    Arc Flash the wonderbolt

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Brooklyn NYC
    Posts
    839

    Default

    hey Matt
    how did i know you could not resist this one

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    7,067

    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by VJ AIWAZ View Post
    hey Matt
    how did i know you could not resist this one
    Drawn like a moth to a flame... or a crac... never mind.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Greenville, NC
    Posts
    1,161

    Default

    Hahaha!!
    I know of one event were this guy would have been perfect!!

    Hey if its a gas laser,and is light, compact, and not too much $$ Im there!!!lol!

    I think Im going to need a name change..DJ Matt doesnt fit with ion lasers!


    DJ Matt
    Arc Flash the wonderbolt

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    7,067

    Lightbulb

    Quote Originally Posted by djmatt View Post
    I think Im going to need a name change..DJ Matt doesnt fit with ion lasers!


    DJ Matt
    IonJunky

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Greenville, NC
    Posts
    1,161

    Default

    Hahaha!!
    And to think this all started with that one 60mw Lasos argon....

    DJ Matt
    Arc Flash the wonderbolt

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    7,067

    Wink

    Quote Originally Posted by djmatt View Post
    Hahaha!!
    And to think this all started with that one 60mw Lasos argon....

    DJ Matt
    Now you try to blame me...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Greenville, NC
    Posts
    1,161

    Default

    yeah its all your fault!!!JK!!
    That Lasos is setting here running now...lol

    DJ Matt
    Arc Flash the wonderbolt

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •