WildRice
Flashlight Enthusiast
OK, big question. I work on multi KW CO2 LASER cutting tools. I have found in some instances of an unstable mode. Normally my mode is a doughnut shape, little power in the center giving a return spike on a mode shot done in lexan. When power is checked, 2500W for 20sec on a carbonized power meter I can see the glow of the mode and it is useually noce and stable. I have seen now 2 systems where the cut shows signs of mode instability where in a crystalin(sp?) edge shows sparatic 'chatter'. When this happins I nave noticed when 'viewing' the mode on the power meter, I can see 1 quadrent of the mode flickering (this is right at the output of the resonator). I am guessing that since the beam is 'S' polorized within the resonator, there might be some interferance patter being set up in the plasma stream.
OK, OK, I know UBBER teckie question, I have asked some of the field support poeple and even fome of the factory guys this one, but all I get is answers like, change the output mirror, or check gas preasure. I have changed the output optic and the problem is 95% gone, but I really would like a better answer. I looked around yahoo, but this is such a obscure question in a small community of high power CO2 people, that answers are scarce.
If anyone has an idea or knows someone that might know, any help would be helpful.
Jeff
OK, OK, I know UBBER teckie question, I have asked some of the field support poeple and even fome of the factory guys this one, but all I get is answers like, change the output mirror, or check gas preasure. I have changed the output optic and the problem is 95% gone, but I really would like a better answer. I looked around yahoo, but this is such a obscure question in a small community of high power CO2 people, that answers are scarce.
If anyone has an idea or knows someone that might know, any help would be helpful.
Jeff