Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Laser Project ( was Re: Laser links ?

> Description says it is used for rangefinding, (RANGEFINDING WHAT?
> LIKE THE FRIGGEN MOON MAYBE?)

Good joke but you're probably quite close! :-)

> so I don't know if it can be converted
> into something more useful, I would think one could lower the output
> and increase the pulse rate proportionally, somehow or someway maybe?

I worked that out as 1MJ per second but then I was using windoz calculator
and I may have gone mad counting the 0's. That's a substantial, and very
nice looking, laser. I think Jon is right that the price will go up on this,
and even if it doesn't the power supply might be a bit nasty. You must be
careful when powering these lasers because the crystal is pumped optically
via the flash-lamp(s) on these older ones. With such a lamp, amp slopes,
voltage slopes, discharge time and all the rest come into play such as
energy density within the bulb. They all have an effect on the temperatures
of the light emitted and the crystal can only be pumped using a certain band
of the spectrum. Even though you may only want say a quarter of the actual
power the laser can emit, inputting just one quarter of the energy may see
you getting an 1/8th or something out due to the light emitted by the lamp
changing the spectrum it emitts the strongest in.

The newest crystal lasers are pumped with diodes, in fact, the nice
expensive weld a car up ones are done precisely this way and then pulsing is
easy at H.F. The diodes emit the exact band the crystal wants to absorb so
you see the laser getting a massive efficiency of input to output
conversion. El probolem is the price tag and supply used for the diodes. You
may buy a gold plated diode array that can output something stupid like 200
watts in a single band (And it'll fit in your palm), but that costs evil
amounts of money and the supplies are usually about the same price. Crystal
lasers look beautiful inside with all those gold mirrors! :-)

John H.