100 Watt CNC Laser Installation

Talked with Gilbert Haas, president of Haas LTI. The phone number is 973-598-1150. Got some price quotes on parts. I'd like a shorter telescoping bellows tube than the one I have now. If you look at sketch 1 the problem is that long extending tube takes the distance between the laser head and the cnc table to about 36 inches.

He quoted me $395 for part BB-100 (page 88 of the Haas catalog). This part would also require two threaded end adaptors. One part could be the off the shelf item (part MTA-100, pg 83) and the other would have to be custom machined to fit into the 5/8 threaded hole of my colimator. Both end adaptors would be approximately $95 a piece. Based on his prices I'm guessing the adaptor from the bottom of the colimator and the processing head will be around $150.

Current estimated cost: $735

I will contact Gilbert again and ask for a quote to modify my existing telescoping tube. This would save purchase of the BB-100, MTA-100. Alternatively I could go with the tube without modifcation and see if I can live with the excessive z-height of the optics chain.

Larger view of the optics chain



optics_flat2-Model.jpg

Sketch of the current optics chain




optics-Model.png

Good day for calling around. I talk to Kevin, the guy that sold me the laser. His web site:

www.excitationlaserservices.com

Very nice fella.

Item 1: The order of optics is laser head->polarizer->90 bend-> colimator-> processing head.

I think this is a big problem in that if I have the colimator after the bend, then the distance from the bend to the x-y table may be over two feet. This means my cabinet has to be tall.

Item 2: It was hard to tell what the orientation of the colimator should be. He said the orientation of the colimator is: small lens in, large lens out.

Item 3: The polarizer should be placed at a 45 degree angle. The orientatio of the polarizer is as follows. It has no in or out, both sides work fine. However, it has to be rotated about the beam. Holding the unit up so the two holes are above and below each other, that would define it at angle zero. Rotate that configuration to 45 degrees to mount to the laser.

Item 4: He gave me two names of people to contact about processing materials at Coherent. Steven Lee and Lenny Myyori.

Item 5: He started to talk to me about how to identify the sweet spot for the height of the part with respect to processing head. We both agreed it was too early to start going into that now.

Item 6: He suggested _not_ using an I-beam to mount the laserhead and optics onto, he said that an aluminum plate is more commonly used in these situations.

Item 7: He suggested that I probably do not have to maintain nitrogen inside of the optics path. I dont really want to do that. Seems to me that the laser cabinet may experience a lot of fumes and I dont want to muck up the optics in any way. He said it would be okay with going with nitrogen if I wanted to.

Item 8: He invited me to visit any time I'm in chicago. Would be interesting visit if he could show me some high power CO2 devices.

Posted by: owen / 4:51 PM

From: clg.tech.services [clg.tech.services@coherentinc.com]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 2:16 PM
To: White, Owen
Subject: RE: g100 manual

Hello Mr. White,

Please see attached G100 Manual.

Regards,
tz @ fc3

I dialed 1 800 367 7890 and was sent over to "Service". Spoke to a friendly sounding voice, Tony, who said he was sending me a pdf of the user manual.

From: Hong, Njomele [Njomele.Hong@coherentinc.com]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 12:15 PM
To: White, Owen; clg.tech.services
Subject: RE: g100 manual

Hello Prof. White,

Thanks for your request. Our Service department can help you order a new manual. You can reach Coherent Service by phone at 1-800-367-7890. Thanks.

Njomele Hong
Coherent
Advance Technical Sales
5100 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara CA, 95054
Ph. 408-764-4286
Toll Free: 800-527-3786
Fx. 408-988-6838

-----Original Message-----
From: White, Owen [mailto:owhite@tigr.org]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 8:38 AM
To: Sales, Tech
Subject: g100 manual

Hello,

I recently purchased a g100 second hand and it was shipped without an owners manual. Please write back and let me know where could I obtain a manual.

Thank you,

owen