Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Laser links ?

> Nada... the key word is vaporized, not just melted,

I know lasers can produce intense heat but vapourising plate stainless? I
could see one vapourising wood or plastic but I'm pretty certain the gas is
there on metals to remove molten material; the stream of sparks out the back
of metallic work are a sign of that happening.

> and RF as in approx 26Mhz. at 10KW, not microwaves. Common in
> indrustrial heating equipment.

10kW of RF!!! :-) Some guys I know would love to get hold of such a
generator just to melt things in inert atmosphere (Precious metals and
alloys). Microwaves at 2.4cm, kitchen oven wavelength, will form plasmas.
I'm not a plasma physicist so I have no real understanding of how frequency
effects plasma formation. Magnetrons are _incredibly_ easy to haul out of
microwaves you find at the dump. At 500w - 1kw each, that's a serious amount
of power for something home-made. If you could phase lock the magentrons you
could have a lot of energy going into the gas and CO2 lasers can be up to
20% efficient when directly pumped with DC.

It's simple to form a carbon based plasma in your kitchen oven. Turn a jam
jar upside down, support it on some bits plastic or glass on the turny tray
thing. Then put a burnt match stick under the jar and turn the microwave on
(and then back off after 3-4 seconds before your wife finds you). You will
see, and hear, the plasma form up as a small ball of fire. I read an article
about a man who made neon signs work on a magnetron but I think this was a
thermal plasma, not cold discharge. In a thermal plasma the gas irradiates
light in some 'weirder' way and doesn't lase. It'd be great if you could
find a catalyst of microwaves to let you form a cold plasma from a thermal
one.

This might be an interesting project for someone who wants a metal cutting
gantry. Then you could cut any type of metal or non-metal as well. :-)
Maybe it's time for me to warm up Betsy Orac and make laser kits.

John H.