Need help with old laser.

[SoulFeast]

It is not a stabilized laser tube. The spring is the connection to the cathode I believe. Phil

Interesting.

Why do you propose the did this? I've only seen this unique spring design in the HP/Agilent 55xx-x's

[142laser]

Maybe for shock protection needed for the intended use.

[Laser Electronics Ltd]

Hi All
It's a 5mw HeNe that has been designed for aiming beam/alignment from a medical system.

[macona]

Those tubes run around 900 to 1200v operating if I remember right. And they do need a ballast resistor, somewhere around 75k at a couple watts.

The spring makes assembly a lot easier. Otherwise they would have to make a more complicated mechanical and electrical connection to the cathode end bell. A spring does both.