[infamous_panda]

Hi All, new here.

I inherited an old RECI W4 tube which has been sitting in storage for a couple years. It has two broken areas in the glass. First is the water inlet or outlet tube, which I am pretty sure I can rig up something involving 3D printing and some silicone to connect the hose and keep it all sealed. The second area is a broken off piece in the outer tube. I am not sure what this was for and looks to me like a remnant from the manufacturing process.

Attachment 431988

Attachment 431990

Looks like it is this part store photo

Attachment 431992

Question is if this is likely broken or salvageable? Does the outer tube actually contain any gas? Can I just plug that hole and call it a day?

Second question. I have a DY13 power supply which is supposedly matched for 130W max RECI W4. Is it possible to wire this up to a smaller tube say 60 or 80 watt?

[cinematic2]

This is garbage.

[infamous_panda]

This is garbage.

Do you think it will at least fire to be able to test other components?

Is it that the gas is gone or the insulation is compromised?

[cinematic2]

I don`t think, I know. Do not loose you time. And mine.

[fixtureman1]

I don`t think, I know. Do not loose you time. And mine.

Why would it waste your time.

[infamous_panda]

I am building a custom laser setup to do a very specific kind of engraving which is not commercially available (etching the inside surface of a 1" hollow tube). I am new to this so I was hoping to get some learning mileage and wear on a free tube before spending $1k+ on a new RECI W4. So if anyone has anymore insight on WHY these two cracks cannot be repaired, I would love learn.

[cinematic2]

There is a high vacuum inside this type of laser with a vestigial amount of precisely selected gas mixture.

[fixtureman1]

It doesn't cost you any thing but your time to see if it will work. As long as the inner tube is ok then the outer tube is just a water cooling cover

[cinematic2]

Outer tube IS NOT a cooling water jacket :-D

[fixtureman1]

Outer tube IS NOT a cooling water jacket :-D

If it is not just a water jacket then what is it. It can't be filled with a gas as the are shipped with open ends. Why do they tell you to remove all the bubbles from the water.

[cinematic2]

fixtureman1, you have no slightest idea how DC laser is build and how it works so stop this foo....sh discussion.
Water cooling jacket is inside laser. Between inner and outer tube.
There are 4 tubes inside.
1. resonator for laser action
2. cooling jacket
3. mixture tank connected with resonator for mixture exchange
4. spiral tube to give used (hot) mixture appropriate speed to leave resonator as quickly as possible. Professional lasers use high vaacum pumps.

[infamous_panda]

Thanks guys. Took a closer look at all this and decided to scrap it. Looks to me that the outer tube is more than just a protective enclosure which is what I assumed. It's a dumb design that RECI leaves this critical piece relatively unprotected.