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Argon laser PSU

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McFluffin

Sat Feb 17 2007, 09:18AM

Registered Member #119 Joined: Fri Feb 10 2006, 06:26AM
Location: USA
Posts: 114

Bottom line is I am trying to match a Spectra Physics laser to a JDSU power supply, and can't get the tube voltage to turn on. I have had a Spectra Physics 163-A1202 series laser for a while now. After trying with some success to build a power supply for it, I noticed I could get a fairly nice JDSU supply relativly inexpensively. It is a model 2114P-40MLA. Info for it can be found at

Since both my head and this power supply are for 40mW multilines, I thought it was worth a try. I tried rewiring my laser to work with it, alas it did not come on after I hooked things up as described in the user manual and as on Sam's laser FAQ for anode/cathode/filament pinouts. My starter is a little different, but I am not getting any voltage out, so its not a starter problem (yet anyway). When I check with a voltmeter, I get 80V across the filament contacts and ground at all times. I was warned about live HV at all times in the user's manaual, so this is probably not anything out of the ordinary. From what I can tell from the schematic, the ground connection never attaches to anything in the JDSU head, but I grounded it in my head where it is also not attached to any circuitry. I get 3 or 4 volts across the filament, which is also fine. However, I can't get it to put out any voltage. The interlock light is on and I have the remote interface wired in current mode since it will take some effort before I can rig up the SP photo board correctly into the power supply. Intersting to note though, turning the key doesn't seem to effect the interlock light, only the pins on the remote interface and the DIN connector. I was told that possibly the filament current isn't right, and so the power supply isn't firing because it thinks there is a fault. The tube does get a little warm with my cable on it, so I do know that the filament is at least drawing some power. I am doing fairly minimal connections to try to minimalize errors, but tried to do things the "proper" way of connecting them rather than assuming some of the logic will float on as some of the minimal connections indicate. I did check the fuses, and I did not see any out. You can see a couple pictures of the power supply at:

And some pictures of what the laser originally looked like (as I have done some mods to it, hopefully will update that page tommarow):

Let me know if anyone has any ideas or maybe some things to check. If people think it would help, I have both the laser and the power supplie's manuals, although there isn't much intersting information in the head's manual except output specs on the laser. Thanks!

Steve Conner

Sat Feb 17 2007, 11:05AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

The 80V you measured sounds ballpark (maybe a little low) to be the tube voltage, so I'm not sure why you're saying you have no voltage out. Also, since the filament is the cathode, I guess you must have the polarity right. So,

either your PS puts out too low a voltage for your tube, or
the starter module needs an "enable" signal that it's not getting, or
everything is working but the tube won't start because it's worn out.

Maybe mikeselectricstuff might comment, he knows a lot more about argon lasers than I do.

One thing I did notice is: I believe these things are supposed to operate the cathode at ground and put a positive high voltage on the anode. Are you saying you have nothing on the anode and 80V on the cathode? Maybe you shorted the anode to ground somewhere by mistake.

BTW, hope you get it working, everyone loves a high powered laser

Tesladownunder

Sat Feb 17 2007, 03:59PM

Registered Member #10 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 09:45AM
Location: Bunbury, Australia
Posts: 1424

I know I had to mod the control lines to get my multiline argon to go. My other older argons, reading 20 and 10mW from age I think had slightly different pin connections.
I was a bit surprised I got them to go really.
Look at the red wires directly on the multipin socket.
Any help?

TDU

McFluffin

Sat Feb 17 2007, 07:35PM

Registered Member #119 Joined: Fri Feb 10 2006, 06:26AM
Location: USA
Posts: 114

Thanks for the replies!
Hey TDU...wouldn't suppose I could barrow that "real" power supply for my laser :) I'm not sure what you mean by moding the control lines, the power supply that I have is not the same pinouts. It is the 9 pin AMP / 14 pin DIN version instead of the 22 pin version that my argon laser has. Thats why I had to be creative to get things working. I crimped a 9 pin AMP connector for it and wired it into the terminal block in the laser. See attached for what my power supply looks like.
Steve, to see where I am coming from with the grounding, take a look at this:

There is a seperate filament 1, filament 2, ground, and DC+ lines that are not connected to each other in the JDSU head. I'm not sure what would happen if I conected it to DC+, especially since its always present and would cause the tube to try to fire before its warmed up. To quote the JDSU manual:
High DC voltage is present in the cathode when the AC line is connected.
I don't think it would be a good idea to ground the cathode, as it seems it would short out some 80V circuit. Unlike the JDSU head starter, my starter only has 3 pins, so I am assuming it doesn't need an enable signal. Probably just turns itself off my guess would be. Not getting any voltage yet though, so worry about that in a bit. But, just to confirm, my starter has a large red wire that goes to the anode (sure of this as it has a special connector for it), as well as a large orange wire, and a small black wire. I was connecting the orange wire to DC+, and the black wire to a filament. Does this sound right? I believe this was how it was hooked up in the original laser.
I was about to submit this, then I decided to put the case back since I had tried some additional things. I put it back on, and it did nothing. I happened to hit my DB-25 breakout panel, and suddenly I saw voltage! Seems like there is something lose in it. :( I just ordered another that is more fitting. Anyway, I hooked up the laser, and it turned on! I actually had the shutter closed, so I didn't see the beam exit, but I saw the beamsplitter assembly light up. I'm going to go make things more proper, and then hopefully take picture. What a nice color though! Looks better than in the pictures I'd say. Nice teal color.
I put them user manuals up if anyone is intersted. How can I tell if some fans I have will cool it properly? (thermal cutout interlock opening aside...) I have a box full of muffin fans that I think are from POS systems. No idea what their CFM ratings are. Is it possible to make a box to put on top with a couple of fans if one isn't sufficient in a cube sort of way (as I think I've heard stacking isn't very effective)?
JDSU power supply:
mcfluffin.siteburg.com/document/2114P- 40MLA.zip
Spectra Physics head (scanned):
cyonics2201.zip

1171740939 119 FT20837 Laser Psjdsu Outside 1

McFluffin

Sun Feb 18 2007, 01:54AM

Registered Member #119 Joined: Fri Feb 10 2006, 06:26AM
Location: USA
Posts: 114

Since it seems I can't add an additonal picture on...here is a new post with a picture of it running. I sort of placed a whole bunch of random optics in its way to make it look more interesting. When I get a chance. I'd like to use a diffraction grating or prism on it to see the lines.

TDU, what type of camera did you use to take that photo? The laser seems to heavily confuse my camera, so I don't think such a picture is possible. How long of an exposure did you use?

...

Sun Feb 18 2007, 05:43AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

To add aditional pics you need to use the atachemnts thread, post the pic there and then copy the link over.

In any case, pretty sweet lookin laser!

Also, it looks like EVR used some smoke to get the beam visable...

Man I can't wait until I get my 5w 532nm laser working

Methinks you need to stop playing with you laser and start machining my laser parts

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