How can I fix (do it yourself) this IPG fiber laser?

[javanam]

mine is not pulsed is cw so maybe not needed optical isolator ?
or cw needs also optical isolator ?

[VDX]

... all my "exploded" IPG-fiberlasers were CW-types without isolators ... but too, haven't seen a CW equipped with one yet

Viktor

[javanam]

So why IPG delivers these types of lasers without optical isolator ?
What is the head at the end of optic fiber ?

[VDX]

... with the CW-Types its only the collimating lens ... with the pulsed it's additionally the optical isolator-"Box" in the middle ...

It seems, for CW-laser the optical isolator is either not working good enough, or they're meant for a more complex setup in the toolhead ... while the pulsed types are used mostly "as is" inside galvo-heads ...

Viktor

[LightSourceBlue]

Apologies for digging up an old thread, but I think is the post relevant place to post my question.

I recently bought (waiting for delivery now) an IPG Photonic P30-002921 Laser Module YLM-900 (TSC) - which was pulled from a working system. My thinking was I would try to revive this into a usable standalone fiber laser, but I have realised that this is not a standalone unit and the laser module from a larger system. From what I can tell from documentation on the larger systems that might use this laser module, it is still a fully functioning fibre laser in itself - but it might be the software/interfacing part which might be a challenge.

My question is, is there a way to operate this as a standalone fiber laser?

I think I should be able to relatively easily sort out water cooling and power - but the part I'm not sure about is external fiber connection/cable, and being able to control it. My last resort is to user it for parts (diodes) & learning.

[VDX]

AFAIK there are some ten 70W@975nm-diodes used for pumping the resonator fiber.

The diodes can be driven with high enough current and will emit up to around 3x the stated fiberlaser-power when combined.

With some luck the type is a CW-laser, not a pulsed -- here I have a 130Watt CW-fiberlaser from IPG with broken electronocs, where I've simply removed the electronics and feed some current through the diodes and the "fiberlaser" combined this to a proper beam output, which I cpuld focus to the typical 20µm spot with a 50mm-FL-lens.

But then too, you have to polish the broken fiber perfectly, to get the power oaut, without burning the end ...

Viktor

[LightSourceBlue]

Agree, hopefully it is CW as opposed to pulse - I had assumed it was CW but I don't have enough info to know for sure.

I suspect if it's pulsed then it's going to be hard to get up and running with no control over the rest of the electronics. I did try to find manuals, etc to see if they have a way of connecting via serial cable, but couldn't find any documentation.

Good to hear there is a chance to bring it back to life if it's CW, if it's as simple as powering up the pump diodes then that could work!

Could I use the existing orange external fiber or would I need to get a new external cable to use it? Or just polish the existing cable well?

[VDX]

... best wouldbe to use the original fiber -- depending on the type and without AR-coating you wouldn't be able to use the max. power - or the end will explode ... here splicing a piece of the same fiber with already attached collimating head would help ... otherwise you have to learn high sophisticated fiber handling and DIY AR-coating ...

Viktor

[LightSourceBlue]

Next step is for me to learn how to cut & polish fiber!

Can these machines run for a short time without being water cooled or is it to risky to even turn on check them without water cooling in place first?

[VDX]

... they can be activated for a short time (some ten seconds) without damage ... or some minutes, when below 10% nominal current, what's mostly the threshold, where the diodes starts emitting ...