Download Evolution 30 - Spectra

Chapter 5
System Operation
Safety glasses for all lasing wavelengths must be worn at all times when
operating this laser system. Consult your laser safety officer to select
appropriate safety glasses. You MUST read “Chapter 2, Laser Safety.”
Overview
Routine operation of the Evolution-30 is via the “Evolution-30 Control”
software running on the host computer. It controls both the laser head and
the power supply. Familiarize yourself with the operation of the power supply module and the control software described below before proceeding to
the “Start-Up Procedure” later in this chapter.
Electrical Current Settings
The Evolution-30 laser comes with a set of performance data that lists the
factory-measured output power as a function of diode laser current at the
nominal Q-switch repetition rate that was specified when the laser was
ordered. Your authorized service representative will verify these measurements when the laser is installed.
It is useful to establish at least three nominal current settings: Low,
Medium and High (for example, 15 A, 20 A and 25 A) that produce, for
example, 6 W, 15 W, and 20 W for a standard 1 kHz system. This section
will refer to these settings as Low, Medium and High. If the Evolution-30 is
not operated at its maximum specified output power, scale these settings
appropriately when following the procedures in this chapter or when
following any troubleshooting procedures.
After several hundred hours of operation the diode laser output power will
decrease slightly. (This is a normal “burn-in” period.) The maximum possible current is set at the factory to ensure that the laser will meet its specified
power for thousands of hours of operation.
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