Co2 Laser Tube Water Cooling

Co 2 laser water chiller.

Co2 laser tube water cooling.

Click image to enlarge. From that simple concept laser operators have a few options for optimal laser tube cooling systems. The documentation is now ready. Typically this is done by running water through the laser tube when it fires.

Ironically the real key to keeping your co2 laser tube running to maximum longevity is keeping the laser tube as cool as possible. The dc power supplies that excite the co2 gas in a glass laser tube need to operate at very high voltages. With the k40 laser engraver the cooling system usually consists. Even if all other peripheral electrical systems are functioning within normal parameters.

Circulating water quality and water temperature directly affects the service life of the laser tube it is recommended to use pure water and to control the water temperature below 35. Co 2 laser tubes are cooled by running or pumping water through the tube. The laser tube is sensitive to temperatures greater than 25 c with long term irreparable damage being possible. This is important because the conductivity of distilled water is much lower and it does not readily promote algae growth.

When you combine such levels of voltage with a water cooling system the results can be lethal should something go wrong. Expensive water chillers are available for co 2 lasers. It has been reported and well documented that an electrically conductive laser cooling system can and will become charged from the hvdc high voltage direct current excitation and resulting population inversion of the gain medium in a glass tube co2 laser if conditions allow. In this video i ll be using pc cooling components to build a custom water cooler for an 80w co2 laser tube.

Otherwise the working accuracy will be worse and easy divided the laser spot and lower the power. A commercial water chiller can be more expensive than a low cost laser cutter. The need for a water cooling system also presents some significant safety concerns. The typical coolant is distilled water.

This is necessary to extend the life of the tube which otherwise would overheat and quickly lose power and eventually fail to operate. Here s a list of things i bought for this build. The two support points of the co2 laser tube should be on the 1 4 place of the total length of the laser tube to ensure that the flow of cooling water at 2l 4l min.