Co2 Laser Tube Water Cooling

The documentation is now ready.

Co2 laser tube water cooling.

The laser tube is sensitive to temperatures greater than 25 c with long term irreparable damage being possible. Air pockets located in the cooling cavities of the tubes optics both reflective final mirror and columinating lens can lead to superheating of the optical components. Circulating water quality and water temperature directly affects the service life of the laser tube it is recommended to use pure water and to control the water temperature below 35. Dc excited glass co2 laser tubes as well as some high power rf exited metal tubes are water cooled.

It has been reported and well documented that an electrically conductive laser cooling system can and will become charged from the hvdc high voltage direct current excitation and resulting population inversion of the gain medium in a glass tube co2 laser if conditions allow. The two support points of the co2 laser tube should be on the 1 4 place of the total length of the laser tube to ensure that the flow of cooling water at 2l 4l min. Typically this is done by running water through the laser tube when it fires. With the k40 laser engraver the cooling system usually consists.

The dc power supplies that excite the co2 gas in a glass laser tube need to operate at very high voltages. Otherwise the working accuracy will be worse and easy divided the laser spot and lower the power. Expensive water chillers are available for co 2 lasers. Co 2 laser water chiller.

Ironically the real key to keeping your co2 laser tube running to maximum longevity is keeping the laser tube as cool as possible. From that simple concept laser operators have a few options for optimal laser tube cooling systems. When you combine such levels of voltage with a water cooling system the results can be lethal should something go wrong. In this video i ll be using pc cooling components to build a custom water cooler for an 80w co2 laser tube.

Here s a list of things i bought for this build. Click image to enlarge. This is important because the conductivity of distilled water is much lower and it does not readily promote algae growth. Even if all other peripheral electrical systems are functioning within normal parameters.

A commercial water chiller can be more expensive than a low cost laser cutter. Co 2 laser tubes are cooled by running or pumping water through the tube. The need for a water cooling system also presents some significant safety concerns.