Choosing co2 laser tube (3rd one in a year, 300hours 1st, 200hours 2nd)

[tadici mihai]

i have a really big problem...



my second RECI z2 tube is loosing power verry fast, and i need a new tube as soon as posible
both of them survived for 6 months each and 300 working hours first, and second 200working hours...
i have an cw5000 chiller, and did everything to not get it over 25mAmps....
most of my time i do engravings, and verry little cutting on 4mm plywood or 3mm MDF



so, what brand is better these days: EFR, RECI, Yongli?
should i go with reci or choose another brand?

[Dave Sheldrake]

EFR

and check for cavitation bubbles in the full reflector mirror end when you start the machine up

[tadici mihai]

i check for bubles weekly... never had any...
i always use low powers... never got under 20% and verry rarely over 60 (max 80% once or twice) but not over 25mAmps

EFR

and check for cavitation bubbles in the full reflector mirror end when you start the machine up

[Clark Pace]

i check for bubles weekly... never had any...
i always use low powers... never got under 20% and verry rarely over 60 (max 80% once or twice) but not over 25mAmps

I was told to never run at 100% so I generally run at 75% somtimes 80%.


No that being said we have a reci tube we can at 100% for about two years and it was still going strong. We we did a lot of laser cutting at my last job. I don't know since I left how it has been.

[Rich Harman]

EFR

and check for cavitation bubbles in the full reflector mirror end when you start the machine up

The 80W and 130W Recis that I have do not have water contacting the reflector end - the water makes no contact with anything metal.

[tadici mihai]

The 80W and 130W Recis that I have do not have water contacting the reflector end - the water makes no contact with anything metal.

true... but that don't have anything to do with my loss of power... really... 300 working hours for a laser tube?
and second will not be able to cut a piece of paper in 100 hours...
in my opinion, i got two pieces of junk from reci, and i will never buy one again...
both of them was bought from a Gweike seller... first came with machine, second ordered after first died...
3rd one will be the last... if it goes down in less than 500hours, i will give away my machine...
Others, use laser tubes for years... reci or not reci... co2 watercooled glass tubes... and i got 2 dieing tubes in a year and i did not even used them for too much...

[Rich Harman]

true... but that don't have anything to do with my loss of power... really... 300 working hours for a laser tube?

My reply was directed at Dave's comment regarding watching for cavitation. I do not believe that applies to the Reci tubes because there is no opportunity for that to happen near the reflector. Not a plus or minus, just an observation.

[Scott Marquez]

Do you think the problem could be related to the power supply?
I have seen the EFR tube and power supply recommended here.
Scott

[Ron Gosnell]

tube.jpg
This is not a reci but on my SPT tube there is about a 1.5 inch chamber in front of the water outlet
that was creating an air pocket(highlighted in yellow). It was a real booger to clear out the air
and fill it with water because it just kept trapping the air. After a few attempts I finally got it.
I have read that this is a real hot spot on several tube brands and one to watch out for.

Gozzie

[Dave Sheldrake]

My reply was directed at Dave's comment regarding watching for cavitation. I do not believe that applies to the Reci tubes because there is no opportunity for that to happen near the reflector. Not a plus or minus, just an observation.

Yup, Rich is quite right, my mistake, that'll teach me to type before thinking

[tadici mihai]

it seems that Frank from EFR sells only 4tubes as minimum order...
anyone know another sale person from EFR who can help me with a lasertube?

[Dave Sheldrake]

Try Andy Zhu

[tadici mihai]

Try Andy Zhu

i have him on skype, but hard to find him online... but i'll wait...

[John Noell]

FWIW, The RECI that came with my machine died quickly. The replacement had a cracked lens after a few hours. I have not tried the last replacement, as I went with EFR before the last RECI tube arrived (and it has been happily lasing away day after day).

[tadici mihai]

FWIW, The RECI that came with my machine died quickly. The replacement had a cracked lens after a few hours. I have not tried the last replacement, as I went with EFR before the last RECI tube arrived (and it has been happily lasing away day after day).

who was your reseller? i can't get in touch with somebody from EFR... but i guess it's some kind of "vacation" there...