Can a PSU cause TEM01?

Laser Engravers/Cutters
#1

I had a K40 that I adored and used quite a bit. I had a long cut job where the tube probably got too warm and it switched to TEM01.

I decided to build a better laser out of the leftover parts. I purchased a 45W tube from lightobject a month and a half ago.

Today I finally got the point of my first test fire and the new tube appears to fire in TEM01 mode.

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Can this be caused by using the same PSU in a different machine? Can anyone offer any advice? I sent lightobject an email and have not yet received a response but it is after hours. Thanks all

#2

Is that in front of mirror 1?

#3

Yes, this is without any mirrors or lenses.

#4

To the best of my knowledge a PSU should not have an immediate effect on a new tubes TEM. Unless maybe the PSU is running a very high current though the tube?

#5

Was the tube stored somewhere warm?

#6

That’s my assumption, this fire was less than a second in duration so I don’t see how it could have damaged the tube. Still, I’m frantic.

#7

Room tempature. It was just in my workshop. How warm is warm?

#8

Room temp would have been fine. Not sure exactly how hot is too hot, just wanted to make sure it wasn’t stored near a source of heat like a space heater.

#9

I don’t think a LPS would cause a mode shift. To my knowledge mode shifts are the result of changing resonator geometry. We usually see this when a tube has been overheated or very old.

You didn’t by any chance get the tubes mixed up :)?