Ruby Laser Hole
My second try at making an old damaged ruby rod lase finally worked. It took some time and help to get it there. I focused the output on a single edged razor blade and punched a hole through it with one shot. Using the old gillette system for power measurement means this laser has at least 2.4 joules output. With the input power of 1500 joules it's pretty lame in the efficiency department.
This set-up is probably the most dangerous electrical thing I have built. The shielding is poor and after I start charging the only thing I touch is the trigger switch. Which is optoisolated to 5000V and trigger transformer insulated to 20kV. After the flashlamp fires there is still 150 volts at 2100uf that needs to be drained.
Cheers.
Ruby Laser Hole
My second try at making an old damaged ruby rod lase finally worked. It took some time and help to get it there. I focused the output on a single edged razor blade and punched a hole through it with one shot. Using the old gillette system for power measurement means this laser has at least 2.4 joules output. With the input power of 1500 joules it's pretty lame in the efficiency department.
This set-up is probably the most dangerous electrical thing I have built. The shielding is poor and after I start charging the only thing I touch is the trigger switch. Which is optoisolated to 5000V and trigger transformer insulated to 20kV. After the flashlamp fires there is still 150 volts at 2100uf that needs to be drained.
Cheers.