CO2 flowing gas laser gas panels for 55 watt kit - What do these parts do?

[GregR]

What do these parts do and how might they function on a flowing gas laser? A CO2 flowing gas laser kit design was downloaded off the internet for a 55 watt flowing gas laser. Two panels were purchased that seemed to relate to the requirements to get the gas to the laser. What do these parts do and are they all necessary to connect to a 55 watt CO2 flowing gas laser?

PANEL ONE
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PANEL TWO
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[macona]

Flowing gas CO2 use Nitrogen, Helium and CO2 constantly running through the tube at all times. Thats how out Bystronic 4400 watt laser at work does it. The panel allows you to control the proportions and the total pressure in the tube. You can do this or buy a bottle of premix like we do on our smaller mitsubishi laser.

[planters]

This looks complicated and probably idiosyncratic for a particular laser. If it were me, I would order a gas premix. There are slightly different blends based on the laser. I have a 40W that I haven't used for years, but I could check out the %'s and post them. I don't know if a 4KW laser would be different enough that the %'s would be too far off, but macona could post these as an alternative. The premix is quite cheap and then the only thing you have to regulate is the needle valve that slowly leaks this mix into a tube that is being evacuated by the vacuum pump (operating at unrestricted and full flow). My laser is actually HV x AC and so there is no difference in the performance for a particular flow direction. If yours is rectified then this might matter.

[mixedgas]

That looks like the flow box for a early generation, large Coherent industrial laser, something like a CR40.

I see three flow gauges, more then three solenoid valves, a mixing tank, a Co2 pressure regulator and a pressure gauge, a very expensive and valuable capsule vacuum guage, and other hardware. Other hardware means mostly particulate filters and gas dryers. You could hook that box to just about any big flowing Co2.

Premix is nicer if you know what you need. Make sure you have a needle valve or other flow restrictor between your gas tank pressure regulator(s) and the tube, no matter what you do. Otherwise the pressure regulator will slam full open when the vacuum pump turns on. This is usually unkind to something in the system, if not down right dangerous.

Steve

[GregR]

Thanks for the advice. For the needle valve, there is a Swagelok Nupro on an old Ferranti that can be pulled.

[turbohead]

I concur with the pre-mix approach, if you can find a welding supply supply house that will sell is small quantities. Also, with pre-mix, you only need one tank and one regulator.