Tube or Power supply?

[Joseph Leavell]

Hey guys! I have one of those cheap chinese lasers https://khlaser.en.alibaba.com/product/ ... 7815bA0G94 and it stopped lasing half way through a job. Is there a good way to test if it was the power supply or the tube? (All the other electricals work fine for motors/lcd) Here's the inside so if I need to take readings just tell me where and I will! Thanks!

[Frank Small]

Hi Joseph

First check your mirrors and lens. My first lens was ruined in very short order, I think an insect crawled on to it and was then “enameled” to the lens coating. I was unable to save the lens, I did not have an extra then but I do now!

Next I would check lights on the power supply to see if they come on followed by pressing the test fire button on the power supply. Make sure things are safe before doing that.

CO2 laser tubes rarely fail instantly but power supplies do, I would suggest getting a new power supply as they are much cheaper. Even if you find that does not fix the problem it’s good to have a backup one on hand.

I’m sure other members here have additional ideas.

[Joseph Leavell]

First check your mirrors and lens. My first lens was ruined in very short order, I think an insect crawled on to it and was then “enameled” to the lens coating. I was unable to save the lens, I did not have an extra then but I do now!
Next I would check lights on the power supply to see if they come on followed by pressing the test fire button on the power supply. Make sure things are safe before doing that.

The tube itself doesn't fire when I hit the "pulse" button, so I don't think it'll be a lens thing. I didn't see any lights on the power supply that I can check for when I hit the pulse button? Are you able to highlight those on one of those images or am I blind lol

[Pete Cyr]

Depending on the design of the pwr supply there are usually 1 or 2 led lights on the power supply that are illuminated when the pwr supply is on (without regard to the laser being pulsed or operated)
If you have no light on - I would check your ckt breaker (assuming you have on on the machine) and or an internal fuse in the pwr supply.

[Joseph Leavell]

I only see 1 LED, but it's lit up the entire time. I have this at home from another project I was working on, will it work as a stand in? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T ... UTF8&psc=1 The one that's installed has a 24v and 5v out, but the linked one only has 1 'output'. Could I use a buck-converter to step it down to 5v from 24v?

[Dave Vigness]

Trace some wire. If yours was like mine, the only thing that was 5V was the red dot. Just pop a resistor in and run everything 24V.