Tests on F4 100W laser tube
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:59 pm
Hi:
Per customer request, I have ran a few tests by cutting 4mm and 6mm acrylic on 900x600 machine.
Here is the result for the first run
Laser tube: 100W "F4"
Water temperature: 25'C
Lens focus: 50.8mm
Current: 28.5mA
Result
1) 4mm speed 20mm/s power: full 99%
2) 6mm speed 10mm/s power: full 99%
(note: 1" = 25.4mm) So 6mm = 1/4" (roughly)
I was wondering how come the current was always limited to 28.5mA max for a 100W laser tube. I checked the setting on the DSP and the master power setting was set to 98%. No matter how I tuned it, I got around 28mA on the analog meter indicator Then I figured out that the power supply installed was 80W. How dump I'm!
After replaced the 80W with a true 100W PS, a 'fire' test was able to drive the current meter need all the way to the back which is way over 30mA. So, I set the master control to 75% and I could get roughly 32mA max. Following the is the result from 32mA cutting on acrylic of 4mm and 6mm
Current: 32mA
1) 4mm speed 27mm/s power: full 99%
2) 6mm speed 16mm/s power: full 99%]
Note: a lightly push is need to get the pieces cut to get out from the base board. If I set it to 25mm and 15mm, it fell out easily.
It is a big jump on the speed by raising current from 28mA to 32mA. I know I shouldn't drive the tube to 32mA as it is the peak current. For a few light test, I was curios how fast a 100W laser tube could cut acrylic. I believe that if I set it to 30mA, I should be able to get 24mm and 12mm. Just want to share this info to you guys who may find interest.
I'll do more test after my ventilation system installed. When I did the test, the system wasn't ready yet so it make my demo room smell bad.
Marco
Per customer request, I have ran a few tests by cutting 4mm and 6mm acrylic on 900x600 machine.
Here is the result for the first run
Laser tube: 100W "F4"
Water temperature: 25'C
Lens focus: 50.8mm
Current: 28.5mA
Result
1) 4mm speed 20mm/s power: full 99%
2) 6mm speed 10mm/s power: full 99%
(note: 1" = 25.4mm) So 6mm = 1/4" (roughly)
I was wondering how come the current was always limited to 28.5mA max for a 100W laser tube. I checked the setting on the DSP and the master power setting was set to 98%. No matter how I tuned it, I got around 28mA on the analog meter indicator Then I figured out that the power supply installed was 80W. How dump I'm!
After replaced the 80W with a true 100W PS, a 'fire' test was able to drive the current meter need all the way to the back which is way over 30mA. So, I set the master control to 75% and I could get roughly 32mA max. Following the is the result from 32mA cutting on acrylic of 4mm and 6mm
Current: 32mA
1) 4mm speed 27mm/s power: full 99%
2) 6mm speed 16mm/s power: full 99%]
Note: a lightly push is need to get the pieces cut to get out from the base board. If I set it to 25mm and 15mm, it fell out easily.
It is a big jump on the speed by raising current from 28mA to 32mA. I know I shouldn't drive the tube to 32mA as it is the peak current. For a few light test, I was curios how fast a 100W laser tube could cut acrylic. I believe that if I set it to 30mA, I should be able to get 24mm and 12mm. Just want to share this info to you guys who may find interest.
I'll do more test after my ventilation system installed. When I did the test, the system wasn't ready yet so it make my demo room smell bad.
Marco