Maker Pro
Maker Pro

HeNe Laser Tube Help needed! ATTN Sam Goldwasser

I just got a HeNe laser tube from an old 1982 Pioneer laser disc
player.
The tube specs at 1mW at 633nm. I tested this tube and at cold start I
get 1.3mW and at warm up I get 1.5mW. The tubes output seems great,
however the getter spot looks like it wasn't fully activated. It has a
slight whiteish tint, not a flakey white. Would I still be getting such
a good power reading if the getter was exhausted?
Sam Goldwasser if you read this, give me an e-mail at [email protected]
so I can send you a pic and you can tell me what you think.
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
I just got a HeNe laser tube from an old 1982 Pioneer laser disc
player.
The tube specs at 1mW at 633nm. I tested this tube and at cold start I
get 1.3mW and at warm up I get 1.5mW. The tubes output seems great,
however the getter spot looks like it wasn't fully activated. It has a
slight whiteish tint, not a flakey white. Would I still be getting such
a good power reading if the getter was exhausted?
Sam Goldwasser if you read this, give me an e-mail at [email protected]
so I can send you a pic and you can tell me what you think.

Don't worry, be happy. :) If you're getting over spec'd power, then
the getter is still doing its job. It does sound like it's on marginal
side though. Probably in a year or 10, it might poop out. ;-)

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive
traffic on Repairfaq.org.

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
J

John Robertson

Jan 1, 1970
0
I just got a HeNe laser tube from an old 1982 Pioneer laser disc
player.
The tube specs at 1mW at 633nm. I tested this tube and at cold start I
get 1.3mW and at warm up I get 1.5mW. The tubes output seems great,
however the getter spot looks like it wasn't fully activated. It has a
slight whiteish tint, not a flakey white. Would I still be getting such
a good power reading if the getter was exhausted?
Sam Goldwasser if you read this, give me an e-mail at [email protected]
so I can send you a pic and you can tell me what you think.

The getter is to absorb any ozygen that might have remained in the tube
after it was sealed. If the geter is still nice and shiny then no
leaks. If it is white and powdery then the tube is leaking and the unit
probably wouldn't work at all.

I'd be more worried about helium migration through the glass tube
leading to an eventual failure.

John :-#)#
--
(Please post followups or tech enquires to the newsgroup) John's
Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 Call
(604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com "Old pinballers never die, they
just flip out."
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
John Robertson said:
The getter is to absorb any ozygen that might have remained in the
tube after it was sealed. If the geter is still nice and shiny then no
leaks. If it is white and powdery then the tube is leaking and the
unit probably wouldn't work at all.

I'd be more worried about helium migration through the glass tube
leading to an eventual failure.

If he's got good output power, shouldn't worry about either of these.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive
traffic on Repairfaq.org.

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 

Similar threads

M
Replies
22
Views
3K
Samuel M. Goldwasser
S
A
Replies
8
Views
2K
Samuel M. Goldwasser
S
M
Replies
0
Views
1K
Marty Wallace
M
Top