Hi, I am experiencing some problems with our Spinnaker Laser (from Spectra-Physics) and would like to ask if somebody can tell me what is happening. The Spinnaker is a water cooled 1 Watt Ion Laser. It's maximal output is 272 mW as measured on the multimeter of the remote controller. I usually use it at 30 mW, where it consumes 7.8 AMP. After coming back from Holidays (Laser has been 3 Weeks without running) the laser started to give troubles. It would turn up, but after a certain period at 30 mW it just would stop lasing (more than 30 minutes). The same effect could be reached in a few seconds if turning the power higher than 150 mW. Though, it did not completely stop leasing, as there were sparks of blue light generated. The indicators on the remote control did not show anything unusual even when the laser was sparking (AC ON green / Emission white/ Sum Fault, Interlock and Water Flow OK). The only unusual thing which I had noticed was that some weeks ago, when putting the laser at maximum output it took it some seconds to reach 272 mW while usually that is not the case. After I let it run for a 30 Minutes at full output this behaviour had disappeared. I do not think the problem I have has to do with cooling as there seem to be no problem with the water (Though I can not be 100% sure). BD told me that I have to buy a new laser and while searching money to do that I replaced the Spinnaker with the second Laser (I am working on a Vantage), so we can at least work with 3 colours in the meanwhile. But when I tried to turn on the Spinnaker the next day (just for fun) the laser was working normal again. On the third day I had again the problems, but just once, when turning it on a second time it just worked normal. Since then it seems to have no problems. Can somebody tell me what happens? Will I need a new laser very soon? Could the laser be repaired? Does Spectra-Physics still exist and what is their address? Is there a good book out there about Lasers with the topics: how they work, how you maintain, troubleshoot and repair them? Answers to any of above questions very appreciated cheers Claudio =================================================== Claudio Vallan PhD Phone Lab: 031 / 632 88 76 FACS-LAB DKF Phone Office: 031 / 632 99 68 University of Bern E-Mail: vallan@dkf7.unibe.ch c/o Institute of Pathology Murtenstrasse 31 Insel hosptial area only: 3010 Bern Beeper: 181 67 59 Switzerland ===================================================
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