Ok - so sad news to report . Maybe useful for people in the future as I now know more.
Firstly - I confirmed that the ruida controller is outputting “turn the laser on” using a simple cheap old style AVO - so that I could see the needle move when set to voltage, when the test leads are connected across the high frequency PWM output of the ruida.
I set up a simple laser cut design which was to cut a 10mm diameter circle with 25 passes at 100% power - so once I told it to run the program I knew the laser would turn on and I could hear from the sound of the stepper motors going round the circle when it would turn off, but it would give me plenty of time to prod the output of the controller, and then to double check - the connector just next to the laser unit. The needle dutifully flicked to about 4V DC when the laser should be on, and went back to zero when it should be off.
Next reading the laser manual - it says to check if the red “emission light” stays illuminated with the interlock micro switch disconnected . Well - easy way to check that was to simply open the cutter lid - and … the light switches off to a dim glow. So - that’s working. At which point the laser manual says “phone the factory”.
By googling I found a company in Maidstone, Kent (close to me) who repair these laser units and gave them a ring. If I cover carriage (in fact I’ll drive
it down to them) they will put it on the bench and test it for free. He suggested when taking it out of the machine to put a piece of masking tape over the laser exit hole - so dust and rubbish can’t fall in there during transport .
They can repair it/ regas it. (And it is possible there’s an electronics fault) To regas it would cost c. £1500 (now is June 2023) they’re only interested in working on the laser unit not my whole machine.
The guy said that after 5-6 years these UL-30 units stop working so mine being 10 years on, he’s pretty certain it will need regassing esp as it’s sat in storage for a few years not being used.
I asked him how they age given the ruida controller data implies my laser has only been on for 500 hours or so in its life, and he said RF laser units need to be operated - as they somehow regenerate themselves (his word not mine) in regards the gases inside, and if they don’t get hot, gases or catalysts (he wasn’t sure what) can settle out and they won’t fire up again. (His explanation - not mine - I really don’t understand what this can mean!) - but getting them hot mixes everything up, as long as they are used once or twice a month they should be fine. I asked him what useage and he said he imagined cutting for 10-15 minutes at 100% power.
If anyone has any experience of this I’d be interested as the last thing I want to do is pay £1500 and find I’ve got 6 months till I use it again and it’s died in the meantime!
At the moment I will put all this on hold - as I don’t have the money or time to deal with this - so sadly may be 6 months or something till I can return to this topic.
FYI the company who I think I’ll be taking it to in time are - Kent lasers Ltd on 07415 194377