Epic CVL Projector Build Thread

[MechEng3]

Sinister voltages...truely a big,scary unit.

[buffo]

There's a story about a guy who was running one as a demo in Florida. Supposedly Greg Makhov was in the audience. The guy had the lid open, tinkering with the valves while he was lecturing. Then he fired up the HV to start warming it up. (At this point, everything inside is at a LETHAL potential, which is why they have large covers over everything, but he had the interlocks bypassed for the demo.) At some point later in the lecture, while talking about some obscure point concerning the operation of the laser, he absent-mindedly reached into the head to adjust the gas flow again. *ZAP*! He took a lethal hit and crumpled to the floor. The class rushed to his side to hear him say "I've just done a very foolish thing..." Then he died, right then and there. (I'm sure Candestiny can provide more details about this one...)

CVL's are the very definition of "big scary laser", at least in my book.

Adam

[Laserman532]

On second thought we ought to get Clandestiny one of these CVL laser operating suits.

[gottaluvlasers]

why is the laser so small??














lol, its a monster! cant wait to see it lase!

-Marc

[platinum]

Your missing the OC eh? interesting, - is the front window still on the tube ? or are you at air?

The tube is fortunately sealed. Both windows are bolted on.
Side note: I'm ordering a new seal kit from Oxford when I get that optic.

But it's more or less for emergency purposes only, right?

That would be the case. I don't intend on leaving the laser on the carbon blocks too long. There's also a drop-gate beam block with a heatsink built into the laser and it's part of the expansive interlock loop.

I have this to contribute to your project if it will be of any help. Is this the kind of regulator you need

If it doesn't work for this project, it might be just what I need for my Flame Cannon I plan on putting together this summer.

and you can borrow what is in the other picture after FLEM.

Hmm, I'll get back to you on that.

Wow! That is going to be a hell of a projector! Perhaps you could split up the beam and go to two pairs of scanners!. . .

I *do* plan on splitting the beam using a dichro later on and adding in a dye laser to get ~10-15 watts of 640nm red. I'm also playing with the idea of two fiber-feeds, but they'd have to support quite a beam. (2-4cm)

There's a story about a guy. . . <snip> . . .(I'm sure Candestiny can provide more details about this one...)

CVL's are the very definition of "big scary laser", at least in my book.

Adam

I've heard of this particular incident. I'm NEVER going to bypass the interlock loop on this thing thanks to that guy.

I would be interested in hearing the rest of the story. I reference it to illustrate how dangerous the ACL is.

Fortunately, (as pictured) there's a little wired remote in the head that I'll use for gas management so I don't have to be in there futzing with things while it's hot. (between 2500-5000C, in terms of temperature, let alone 6000v, ~1 amp pulses of electricity.)


In other news, I just received two more scanners today, so I have the three I need so far. (probably going to need two more later for all of the color-switching...)

Now I just need to convince this guy on eBay to drop the price of his GSi CX-660 from $500 to something more like $100!

-Jonathan

[mixedgas]

The sad story around here goes, and this is the rumor version, I'm heard multiple variations.

Laser light show guy can't make ends meet and has/had drug convictions. Ends up working for reseller of used lasers. Under the table of course. Decides to try his hand at pulsed medical dye, without formal safety training or HV experience, and as usual, for him, without the factory diagnostics.

ONLY IN RARE CASES DO YOU WORK ON HV WITH THE POWER ON, Proper procedure is to troubleshoot with a ohm meter and to test individual components on the bench. You really have to have a clear mind and a good knowledge of what your doing on a resonant cap charger. I wont touch them. 5-30 Kv.

Leans head on cabinet, Leans Leg against cabinet, while adjusting with the power on, reaches in and places hand on HV terminal while reaching for adjustment.

Boom, one year in nursing home.

Back to rumor mill:

Ending A, Its too bad he passed. Its worse that it took a year for him to pass. Slow Brain death with paralysis.

Ending B, He's really not himself anymore. Brain damage. Took Icap(max) through the side of his head.


This is why I'm tired of working, once in a while, under the table. I don't want to get killed or worse for 100-300$ or something dumb like that. As you get older its very easy to get distracted, cell phone rings, non laser person disturbs you, non standard modification or missing shield. Or in the case of a Laserscope that scarred the yell out of me, jumping from service mode, RF for Qswitch off, lamp Low, intracavity closed. THEN, WITH NO INPUT FROM ME, No interupt, either < Max lamp, intracavity shutter open and High RF, Massivly high power. I'm too old for that kind of crap.

Steve

[300EVIL]

YES

I'm with Steve, I don't know how much more my heart can take. I've been knocked on my ass and burned a couple of times from messing with potentials as a kid that was just plain reckless and stupid. I am much more careful now and respect even the small devices. Their are guidelines and procedures for messing with high voltage equipment that everyone should follow. Here's a short list of what I follow for high voltage / high current stuff.

• If you don't know what it does (how the circuit works, what's hot what's not), consider it dangerous until you do some research.
• Just because it's unplugged doesn't mean it's safe. (Capacitors hurt!)
• Never be distracted while tinkering.
• Never be rushed while tinkering.
• Always go over what you are about to do like a person with excessive compulsive disorder before proceeding with your adjustment or touching. EX: (Is the power off? Did I discharge the capacitor? Will this tool I'm using protect me?)
• Be aware that tools are conductors and extensions into the unknown.
• The voltmeter is your friend. Check often, better Mr. Fluke meets the grim reaper than you.
• High voltage does arc! Figure 1cm per KV. Keep appendages and tools clear.
• Never consume alcohol, caffeine or any other drug when working with HV equipment.
• I personally always leave one hand behind my back when working with potentially hazardous equipment and always have my eye on what that hand is doing.
• Watch where you are standing and how you are grounded. (standing on a wet floor with bear feet is not advised while tinkering. )

I'm sure I forgot other very important tips but this is definitely a start when working with dangerous equipment.

Adam

[Laserman532]

I might add...remove ALL jewelry

[300EVIL]

I might add...remove ALL jewelry

That's a good one! Also, just because a cable has insulation around it doesn't mean that the insulation doesn't have a hairline slice in it. Been there! Linemans gloves are orange inside, black on outside, so you can inspect them for cuts or tears. HV silicone wire doesn't usually have this warning.

[buffo]

Almost forgot about a recent horror story that happened to one of our very own PL members. Hayden!

He was removing part of the resonator on a Laserscope. The main breaker was off. However, the input side of the breaker was still hot, because the unit was hard-wired into the building's 3-phase electrical system. Hayden loosened the bolts on the resonator in preparationg for removing some equipment. This allowed the resonator assembly to shift inside the housing slightly. Just enough that it was able to come in contact with one of the input terminals on the breaker! So the whole resonator was now hot. And not a few moments later, Haden brushed his left hand against it as he was reaching for a part.

The resulting electrical burn carved a huge divot out of his hand behind his thumb, burning down through the skin and very deep into the underlying flesh. He received what is termed a "4th degree burn", which means that the damage penetrated into the muscles and tendons below the skin. It took *months* to heal, and he was in serious danger of loosing significant use of that hand. Oh, and to make it worse, Hayden is left-handed.

Fortunately, he's recovered quite well, and has nearly full use of his hand again. But it's a story worth heeding: Even a trained professional with years of experience can be surprised (and severely injured).

Adam