Reducing CO2 tube wattage

Looking at getting red and black China laser with broken tube. Currently has power for 100 Watt tube but want to replace with 50-60 watt. Can I downsize without changing out power supply?

Don’t know why you couldn’t. You’re in charge of the tube from Lightburn.
Does the unit have a Milliamp meter so you can confirm your settings?

Jim

I will add the milliamp meter before starting anything :slight_smile:

1 Like

Always a good idea.
With that in place, you can be sure to not overpower your laser tube, and of course help extend its life.

The tubes have a different diameter, so it probably won’t just mount up…

I’d suggest a smaller lps… up to about 20% over what the tube needs…

:smile_cat:

1 Like

Jack (in his infinite wisdom) does make a good point… there may be other physical reasons that downsizing the tube wattage might be difficult, even though your original question was about the power supply.

Your tube mounts might have to be modified for a potentially smaller diameter tube, and you will also likely have to adjust the overall height of the tube in the mounts so that it is still aligned with the existing mirrors.

I had similar challenges with my K40 when I upgraded to an adjustable laser head. It required me to 3D print some spacers to raise the tube, the #1 mirror, and the #2 mirror mounts. It can be done, but you have to consider it if the smaller wattage tube results in a smaller diameter installation.

1 Like

lps? what is that?

Hi.

You didn’t ask me, but lps stands for laser power supply.

The need for different designation than just the usual psu (power supply unit), is that there are usually several power supplies in a CO2 laser system, the lps being the most important and usually the most expensive.
Not that the laser machine would work without the other supplies either :wink: .

Regards,
Sam

The trigger voltage is also higher on a 100w than a 50-60w.

I have ran a 90w from a 100w but often LPS’s run hot anyway. Unless you are able to control the output on the LPS (some higher end ones have a pot that will let you turn things up or down) you may end up limiting yourself. Like only being able to run 0-40% or something and loosing granularity.

That’s why I would recommend a 20% greater lps. Quicker response time for the tube…

Mine came with a 60W lps on a supposedly 50W China Blue machine… the 50W rating is common and is typical of these. Actually produced 44W… To get that you have to run it at it’s limit…

I moved to a Cloud Ray 40W and have the same performance as the supposedly 50W by OMTech…

:smile_cat:

If you’re in the US lower 48 lightobject has free shipping on laser tubes and chillers going on now. You could add a LPS to match with the savings.

You’ll need a chiller if one is not included with the laser.