Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

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Lightnin
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Lightnin »

Daven wrote:How old is the tube?
Have you cleaned the output coupler (BE VERY CAREFUL - don't use a cotton bud).

Best
Dave
?? what do you clean it with ??
Tom
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Tom »

II VI say use acetone and cotton swab or cotton ball
For cleaning optics


Proper Cleaning Method
In any optics cleaning process, the goal is to remove contamination
from the optic’s surfaces without further contaminating or damaging
them. To this end, the user always should begin with the least risky
cleaning method and progress to more stringent methods only if
necessary. The steps outlined here are in the order in which they
should be taken by the optic user, beginning with the least risky
method.
The first step in any optics cleaning process is to use an air bulb
to remove loose contamination from the surface. For optics with
minor particulate or lint on their surfaces, this step may be all
that is necessary. Shop air lines should not be used for this step,
because compressed air contains oil and water, which will further
contaminate the optic.
The next step in the process is a light cleaning with reagent-grade
(also known as spectroscopic or HPLC) acetone (see Figure 1).
These finer grades of acetone are nearly water-free, which minimizes
the possibility of streaking or contaminating the optic.
A cotton swab dampened with acetone should be used to clean the
optic surfaces in a light-pressure, circular motion. The swab should
be changed if it becomes contaminated. Cleaning is completed with
slow, straight strokes to prevent streaks from forming.
If the optic has two coated surfaces (such as a lens does), both sides
should be cleaned in this way. The first side needs to be placed on
a clean layer of lens tissue to protect it during this step.
If the acetone cleaning fails to remove all contamination, the next
step is to use acetic acid to clean the surface. Acetic acid cleans by
dissolving certain contaminants, but it will not harm the optic’s
substrate or coatings. This acetic acid can be laboratory-grade
(diluted to 50 percent strength) or even common household white
vinegar, which is 6 percent acetic acid.
The cleaning procedure is the same as outlined for acetone,
followed by a final acetone cleaning to remove the acid and dry
the surface. During the final acetone cleaning, the cotton swabs
should be changed frequently to allow the acid/water mixture to be
absorbed completely from the optic surface.
Lightnin
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Lightnin »

Tom .. does that go for the output coupler ?
Dave .. if so, why not the bud ?

I've always used cotton buds and acetone .. gently !
Tom
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Tom »

By the look of the pictures on II VI website the cotton swab is a softer cotton bud
I use Glasses wipes Or IPA and cotton balls and cotton buds
But what ever you use you have to be gentle
Lightnin
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Lightnin »

yep, always gentle .. but the coupler is kind of hard get to without a bud (or something on a stick! )
Daven
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Daven »

I use glasses cleaning cloth and IPA. Double or triple over a rubber ended pencil.
Standard cotton buds can be a bit thin on the end (or the bud drops of if the IPA melt the glue).

You don't need to get the whole lens clean, just the middle. I only clean mine once in a few months but if you extraction is not too good you may find the lens is grubby.

A bit of mirror acrylic is handy to use to view the lens ;)

Clean carefully as a few scratches and it is new tube time!!

Cheers
Dave
Using two LS3060's and an ex 3020 user
Please note I am not employed by HPC, any advice or recomendations I give are based on my own experience and are not necessarily the same as HPC's. First point of contact on any hardware issues should be with HPC
Rick
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Rick »

Hi! Thank you for your perseverance in helping me with this matter. I seem to have got me head around what I am trying to achieve with adjusting the mirrors and am now able to cut again - thank you!

Regards, Richard
Daven
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Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Daven »

That's good - it does take a while (I still have problems once in a while!) key thing is to make one adjustment at a time ;)

Best
Dave
Using two LS3060's and an ex 3020 user
Please note I am not employed by HPC, any advice or recomendations I give are based on my own experience and are not necessarily the same as HPC's. First point of contact on any hardware issues should be with HPC
Rick
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:40 pm
Contact:

Re: Inconsistent cutting with LS3020

Post by Rick »

Thought I had posted a thank-you for this earlier - but it doesn't seem to be here!

Finally got my head around what I was doing and for now all is well - thank you again!
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