Finally got my 168 running at home

[GooeyGus]

Well I finally got off my lazy keister and hooked this thing up. I finally got some GOOD pictures of this thing running. It's the first time I've had it lasing since I've owned it. I'm using a HUGE 7.5hp 3-phase motor for my rotary converter. This is one of the older 3-phase motors that has a ton of mass to it so it's great for converting. It's probably 50% bigger than a typical 7.5hp 3-phase motor. I also monitored voltage very closely on the artificial leg to ensure it never 'sagged'. Also, I didn't really turn the laser up too high, probably not even a watt.

Enjoy!! The glasswork is beautiful....

Warming up.....





This thing really is a work of art...



*crosses fingers and hits the start button*

The tube starts!!! No lasing... but after a quick alignment we have light!!!


















I love big lasers

[stanwax]

Gus

Thats gorgeous - I agree a work of art - I have just been out in the garage running mine for a short while. Lots of hassle and lots to worry about but man they are worth it

Keep the pix coming and well done!

Rob

[p1t8ull]

Nice

No matter how small, powerful and easy DPSS lasers are, gassers will always have that je ne sais quoi
I found a spectra 168 filament tranny when clearing out some stuff today, the single phase supply that never did happen

[mixedgas]

20 years after the damn things were discontinued and they still run......

Nice.

Steve

[GooeyGus]

20 years after the damn things were discontinued and they still run......

Nice.

Steve

My thoughts exactly

Started on the first push of the button.... really amazing

[GooeyGus]

One quick question...

It seems like at idle with the field turned all the way down I only get the 488 line and just a tiny bit of the 514nm line. Is this normal? As soon as the field or current goes up I get all 6 lines again. I was just a bit curious.

Also, is the magnet AC powered or DC powered? I ask because the 514 line almost seems to be 'pulsing' until the field or current is turned up. I cant see the pulsing until I used a diffraction grating to 'move' the beam around. The 488 line seems fine. I would assume that this could be because the magnet is ac powered and running at 60hz it would cause the line to pulse until it has more power.

[Laser Zone]

Your a lucky man !! I miss my girls , I never got to tell them how much I really loved them http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...&pictureid=828

[Lasernerd]

Beautiful!!!!

[sugeek]

I just love argon lasers! Thanks for all the pictures!

[Laserman532]

One quick question...

It seems like at idle with the field turned all the way down I only get the 488 line and just a tiny bit of the 514nm line. Is this normal? As soon as the field or current goes up I get all 6 lines again. I was just a bit curious.

Also, is the magnet AC powered or DC powered? I ask because the 514 line almost seems to be 'pulsing' until the field or current is turned up. I cant see the pulsing until I used a diffraction grating to 'move' the beam around. The 488 line seems fine. I would assume that this could be because the magnet is ac powered and running at 60hz it would cause the line to pulse until it has more power.

the magnet is DC. You are just barely at threshold and 514 is trying to lase. 488 is a higher gain line. Ya might be a bit high pressure but until we get some data... ya just dont know. So you can only run it at minimum current?

Remember I said get her running 35 amps field max 237 -243 vdc across tube. I thought I sent you the testing parameters...may be not.

Nice little argon ya got there!