China Blue upgrade

[Joseph Leavell]

Hello again fellas, I ran into an issue today where I found something I couldn't cut that I need to to be able to. I was thinking of a 80/100w tube (metal). What all would be needed to upgrade to this from the standard china blue? Since it's metal head is the wiring any different? I know that the length is different. I know I'd need a new HV supply, but I think the built-in low-voltage in should suffice? Any input?

[Pete Cyr]

They also use oxygen vice air, beyond that I really don’t have any specific info to add.

[Doug Fisher]

It sounds like you want to upgrade to an RF tube. Watch the Tangerine Tiger series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlNJA4GCV9g

[Joseph Leavell]

I watched a few of the series but I think I might be using the wrong terminology? I'm looking to upgrade from the "super standard glass tube" to something like this: https://www.cloudraylaser.com/products/ ... 6956469388

[Gene Uselman]

I think this is more involved than a better laser tube [not even sure the same tube would not work] the laser head

Metal-nonmetal cutting head.jpg

which needs a different Controller and has a Z function built in. I think it would be easier [if not cheaper] to buy a bespoke machine.

After all that rain on your parade, I would love to learn more about these machines, please keep us up to date if you go down this path. Gene

[Doug Fisher]

A lot is going to depend on the size of the tube you have now. You know you need the tube and a new HV power supply. There is a good chance your low voltage power supply will work just fine. If the tube is wider and longer, you could need new mounts and an extension box to add to the back corner of your machine to accommodate the longer tube. You will probably want a new set of adjustable mounts anyway just to make installation and alignment easier. You may want to get a new HV wiring harness and silicon end cap for your tube for electrical isolation. Find out if you will need longer pieces of water cooling tubing. Unfortunately, at some point you will probably just have to start working on the install and find out what else you need as you go (e.g. maybe upgraded mirrors). Russ upgraded his China Blue's tube very early in his RDWorks Lab series, so start there. There are other videos on youtube by people who have upgraded their systems. Time to do some research.

[Joseph Leavell]

Thanks for the advice fellas! I didn't put in the new head because it doesn't make sense to me on that? (@gene)
Here's the parts I just tossed in the cart so that I could see what all would be required. Do you see anything missing?
(from the website, might still need a few home depot trips)

msedge_K8Ozxk4wN9.png

[Doug Fisher]

If you are mainly cutting, do you really want a 1.5" lens? That lens is better for fine engraving. As I wrote, you may not need mirrors, but if you are buying, are those molybdenum mirrors? Have you measured to make sure that tube will fit into your enclosure width and lengthwise? If you are just cutting, that tube might serve you well. If engraving is important, low end tubes in the 80+ range and power supplies can produce lower quality engraving (slower response characteristics).

[Joseph Leavell]

I got the 1.5" cause I already have some 1.5" and 4" meniscus lens ZnSe and a 1.5" planoconvex ZnSe lense. It's weird but I get the best "cutting" from my shortest meniscuc lens (48W tube, 6mm acrylic/plywood, 80% power, 5.5-6mm's) whereas the other 2 don't even come close (1.5" planoconvex / 4" meniscus). The GaAs lens in the cart is mostly for "testing" to see if different material helps cut at that length? The tube seems to be As for the mirrors, they seem to be Silicon mirrors with 98/99% reflectivity in the 10.6um range. The tube that I have is definitely shorter so I'd need to extend the case. The diameter tube I have now is closer to 50mm but the new one would be 80, so would have to drop 15mm (if my math is right). Is CloudRay considered "low-end" as far as tubes go? I can't find response characteristics for any tube so not sure how I'd look for one that's fast (although engraving is secondary, but just barely).