Before we Buy a new tube......

[Matthew Roach]

Just wanted to run this by everyone and get some input. We Have 130w Laser that the beam quit in the middle of a job last week it kept going through all the motions X/Y just no laser beam. We have dug around trying to find low hanging fruit. (aka fuses etc.) to no avail. We thought it must either be the power supply or the tube. We opted to get another power supply, since it died suddenly and was significantly less money. unfortunately the new power supply did not fix it.

The things I have tried include checking the water flow.
Using the pulse button on the power supply.

anything that you can suggest checking before we buy a tube would be great.

[Gene Uselman]

It is unusual for a tube to fail suddenly like that, so you are correct to be checking everything out. I assume with a tube that big you have a mA meter?
Do you get any indication on that? Do you get a light on the HVPSupply when the tube should be firing- there is often an LED but... What PS do you have- they may have a troubleshooting feature. What brand is the tube and how old is it. The more info you can provide the better chance we may be able to help. Gene

[Matthew Roach]

We never did install an ma meter we just always tried to run a low power and yes the power supply lights to come on when I use the pulse button I have tried unplugging the 6 pin connector and I read somewhere that might help but I have done it both ways.

[Matthew Roach]

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[Matthew Roach]

The machine is a little more than a year old and it's not used in a production setting everyday.

[Gene Uselman]

Very similar to my first machine- so the PS panel looks like this:

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HVPS terminals.jpg

And the Laser led lites when pulsed? Have you tried the test button- I believe that should fire the power supply to the tube. Again the Laser LED should light. If it does there is only the wires to and from the tube to check. The PS voltage is very high and you should be careful to the extreme. I would unplug the machine and wait an hour for all residual voltage to die down. Thick rubber gloves will be required and if you are not comfortable with all this... do not do it.
I would buy a mA meter in any case as that is really the only way to tell how the laser is working. The mA meter is installed in the negative wire between the PS and the tube. If the machine is not an emergency I would install the meter before going much farther.

[Matthew Roach]

When I hit the test button with the 6 pin connector plugged in the laser light does not come on the P and the L do thought but it does when i pulse. when i unplugged the 6 pin it shot a bolt out the back.

[Matthew Roach]

I'm going to get an MA meter headed this way. What would I look for once it is installed to help troubleshoot?

[Gene Uselman]

it shot a bolt out the back

Elaborate on this- does not sound good. If the mA meter shows current flow but the tube does not fire... it is dead.

[Matthew Roach]

Well... there was an arc. maybe not a bolt... MA meter ordered should be here Saturday. I really appreciate your help!