Question re water system for Chinese CO2 laser

[pete hagan]

So my idea had some merit and even better I've been trying to talk my way into buying a ring roller for the shop and now I know why!

Pete

[Robert Murray]

You might find a great source of information on closed loop water cooling
looking at water cooled PCs.

www.overclockers.com is a good source I have been there for a number of years with some water cooler computer system I run. You will want distilled water as well as you will want to make sure all metal parts of the system out of the same metal. As this will stop galvanic action from causing problems in the system. Also to prevent problems you should mix in come antifreeze. This will prevent some of the problem with galvanic action as well as keep algae down. While there is some debate on antifreeze because it will make the system less effective then pure water it will help to reduce algae and other problem. The thermodynamics of water cooling system is more complex than you might think at first but with careful planing the system can be easy to maintain. I have closed looped water cooler computer running over 4 years with no problems. I only have to top off the water and flush the system once or twice a year.

You should take some time and read about closed looped colling system used in PC system as well there not the same they have and do face many of the same problem you will have in a closed loop system for your laser.

[Mike Hood]

So my idea had some merit and even better I've been trying to talk my way into buying a ring roller for the shop and now I know why!

Pete

Pete;

I have a ring-roller here... but there's actually an even easier way to make coils like this using a wood closet rod dowel with a hole drilled through. I've built a few distillers in my garage (yep... stills) and rolling them tightly on a dowel works like a charm.

The jockey box works great because it can't freeze, and self buffers any heat changes (caused when generating varying heat). Remember... you're taking heat OUT of the water... not putting cold in.

[Bill Cunningham]

We used to use air cooled coils after the final stage of high pressure compressors.. Stainless tubing can be 'hand wrapped' around any round object.. We used to use a piece of 4" pipe for forming the smaller coils, and a standard oxygen welding cylinder for the larger ones.. Just wrap it around, while holding one end.. It won't hurt the tube, we used these coils as after coolers on 3000 to 6000 psi compressors, sometimes in a water bath before the water trap that enters the filter..No reason to think a larger diameter, even in copper, would not work as well cooling water!