Alignment help with a Stabilite 2017

[jamesvenning]

Hey all,

I've got a Spectra-Physics Stabilite 2017. It was working fine up until last week, when it was intermittently lasing, and now no lasing at all. My laser-friend said it sounded like it's out of alignment and that I should use the horizontal and vertical controls at the back of the laser to fix this. Is there a particular process to go through to align it? Once it is lasing I figure I can just move it until I optimize the power, but I can't get it to lase at all at the moment.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
James

[mixedgas]

Take several pictures from above and one side of the rear mirror assembly end plates and post them here. I'll help you in a day or two. I just got back from Europe. I'm too tired from 15 hours of flying to type out a vert search procedure or a HENE based alignment procedure. I also need to see which version of the tube and mounts you have.

The note under my user name should tell you I know my stuff.

You can start by reading, but not trying, the Ion Laser Alignment section of Sam's laser FAQ. But I caution you not to try until I see what version of 2017 you have.

Steve

[dsli_jon]

...It was working fine up until last week, when it was intermittently lasing, and now no lasing at all.

..'Intermittently lasing' (..then not at all..) doesn't sound like alignment to me.. sounds like tube-pressure or a magnet-issue, especially with the 2K-series... I'd be interested in hearing the tube-voltages, but.. If you're not yet at a 'tech-level' of having-mastered basic tube-alignment, then I'd not-suggest sticking probes across a 300V DC light-bulb..

Do you know how to 'rock your back-plate'? The V (vertical) is what more-often walks-out than the H, and 'rocking' will usually help you get it to 'flash', then you can walk it back, from there.. if this did, in fact, 'walk-out' just from running (..yeah, possible in extreme ambient-differentials..) w/o occasional peaking, then the V shouldn't be out that-much, and the 'rock to get-flash' technique should get you back on.. But, if you 'rock it' - and there's no flash - I call tube-pressure..

..Oh yeah.. there's one other possibility, but.. it's 'not pretty'.. ie: If yer cathode-xfrmer has given up the ghost, and/or been running-amok, it's possible you've suffered a cathode-sag, which can-also present as a 'gradual decline', in lasing / power.. then not at all.. aaand, unfortunately, that's a type of sag even Viagra cannot fix.. Yes, in *some* cases, cath-sag can be 'reversed' (run really 'hot', with the head actually upside-down (!) but that's an 'emergency maneuver', not guaranteed-results, and is certainly still an 'end-of-life-state' for the tube, overall.. But, cheer-up - that's 'possible', but not very probable.. I'd still call tube-pressure, quicker than anything..

Keep us posted..
j