A small laser for demonstrations, featuring the unique properties of 10 micron radiation

This video features a small commercial CO2 that was donated to me. On the best occasions, my homemade CO2 laser will substantially outperform this commercial one. However, the output from my homemade laser fluctuates over a wide range of power levels, and sometimes does so within the span of only a few seconds. By comparison, the commercial laser is small, compact, requires less voltage, and consistently produces a steady output with good beam quality. The video shows some of the effects of 10 micron wavelength radiation on such common materials as water, glass, and plastic. The effects represented can be contrasted with the obvious behavior of common visible laser sources, by virtue of targets that would transmit or reflect most of the energy if this were a visible or near infrared laser beam.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• jarrod kinsey
• CO2
• laser

[selwynrh]

how many watt is this commercial laser?

[magx1]

@selwynrh

Not sure yet. Someone recently suggested the possibility of 5 Watts.

[bg0821]

I bought a co2 laser off ebay 40 watts yours looks smaller. I had the focusing lens 2 1/2 inches diameter when I had my first flowing gas laser. 

[magx1]

@bg0821 Did you build your flowing gas laser?

[straygypsy]

Can that laser go through pink footballs?

[eloir51]

Hi I liked the laser. parabems, electronics lab I have a few years and I've also set up my laser, I'm just a prloblema resoador with mirror and exit window material that you used, if I could thank you specify. thank you (do not know if it was good because the text is translated)

[bg0821]

@magx1 no it wasn't from scratch it was a 50 watt Sharplan laser head bought off ebay. I bought gas flow meters, (which were too large for the application), but worked along with a vacuum pump, heat exchanger water pump 10k neon sign transformer and (3) 5 lb tanks helium nitrogen and co2. I dissasembled the head to grease the o rings and broke the front optic. it fell anyway today have the glass tube with no ends on it from the laser but I bought a 40 watter off ebay good price from china.