Photovac Laser – Worldwide

Understanding the Challenges of Repairing the Coherent GEM100 CO₂ Laser and D1000 RF Exciter 

The Coherent GEM100 CO₂ laser is a widely used industrial laser known for its high precision and power stability. It operates in conjunction with the D1000 RF exciter, which provides the necessary radio frequency (RF) energy to ionize the CO₂ gas mixture and sustain laser operation. However, over time, these systems face critical issues that make repairs extremely difficult, if not impossible. 

Why the GEM100 CO₂ Laser Becomes Non-Repairable 

One of the most significant failure points of the GEM100 laser is electrical sputtering of the RF plates located inside the laser cavity. This process leads to severe degradation of cavity optics, resulting in: 

1. Micro-Particle Contamination 

1. The RF plates inside the cavity degrade over time due to high-voltage RF excitation. 

1. This degradation causes metal sputtering, releasing tiny conductive particles inside the laser cavity. 

1. These particles settle on internal optics, including mirrors and output couplers. 

1. Optical Damage & Pitting 

1. The accumulation of sputtered particles on optical surfaces leads to pitting. 

1. Pitted optics lose their reflectivity and transmission efficiency, significantly reducing the laser’s ability to generate a clean, high-power beam. 

1. The result is a non-concentric, distorted, or non-uniform laser beam output, which affects precision cutting and engraving applications. 

1. Power Loss & Beam Instability 

1. As the optics degrade, laser power output drops significantly. 

1. The beam profile becomes irregular, reducing accuracy in applications requiring a highly focused and collimated beam. 

1. Collimating optics further struggle to correct the beam due to its deformed shape. 

Regassing Alone Is Not a Solution 

Many users believe that regassing the laser tube can restore performance. However, this is often not enough to return the GEM100 to optimal efficiency. 

• Why? The primary issue isn’t just the depletion of the gas mixture; it’s the physical damage to the laser cavity and optics caused by prolonged RF plate sputtering. 

• Regassing a laser with damaged optics and cavity contamination will only result in continued poor performance. 

• Additionally, RF-related issues such as exciter inefficiencies and degraded electrodes contribute to ongoing failures. 

Conclusion 

While it is technically possible to attempt repairs on a failing Coherent GEM100 CO₂ laser, the reality is that extensive optical and cavity damage caused by RF plate sputtering often renders the system beyond economic repair. 

• Low power output, poor beam quality, and RF excitation failures make restoration challenging. 

• Even if regassed, a laser with pitted optics and cavity contamination will still underperform. 

For businesses relying on these lasers, replacement or upgrading to a newer system is often the most practical long-term solution. 

For further information, Contact Photovac Laser Corporation, Christopher Zelich, Co2 Laser/Electroptics Engineer. 

Just became available

We have two META BEAM 4C units available for sale, each equipped with a 400-watt laser, cutting table, software, computer, and monitor. These units are in excellent condition and ready for immediate delivery. Capable of cutting up to 0.90″ metal and 1.0″ acrylic, they offer great versatility for your cutting needs.

Price: $42,000
Delivery and setup: $7,500
Included warranties: 6 months on the laser, 90 days on electronics.

Call 614.875.3300
Sales@photovaclaser.com

Dear Valued Customer,

We at Photovac Laser are proud to have been your trusted partner for many years, providing reliable backup solutions for your older Synrad model lasers. The Synrad FSF201, known for its durability and consistent performance, has been a cornerstone of many operations.

Recently, Photovac Laser has enhanced its capabilities by remanufacturing the FSf201 model with brand-new laser tubes. Our upgraded laser tubes feature new plates, optics, and insulators, addressing the most common points of failure in RF laser tubes. With these improvements, you can count on our remanufactured lasers to deliver exceptional performance for years to come.

Trust Photovac Laser to meet your full-service needs with our commitment to quality and reliability. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your operations.

Best regards,

Christopher Zelich
President, Photovac Laser

Photovac Laser Worldwide services Iradion 156FX laser tubes, ensuring they are fully functional and outputting the required laser power. We can regas your laser tube with a proprietary gas mixture unique to Photovac Laser and Iradion Laser, using special isotopic gases that no other company can replicate. Beware of unreliable third-party regas providers. Always check the Better Business Bureau before considering other companies. Trust Photovac Laser Worldwide, a leader in RF laser remanufacturing since 1992.

Dear Epilog Laser Users;

Recently, Epilog Laser, based in Golden, Colorado, informed its dealers of a price increase for their laser regas service. The cost for regassing an Epilog 50-watt laser has risen by $400 to $2600, representing a 16% increase. In contrast, Photovac Laser continues to provide regas and remanufacture services for all Epilog brand laser tubes at significantly lower rates than those of Epilog Laser. We service all makes, brands, and models, and we invite you to contact us today at Sales@photovaclaser.com

Dear Chris and team;

Thank you for the excellent service! We got the laser Friday and we installed it yesterday with no hiccups. Laser has been running great since. 
Cesar

Important Announcement for Coherent Laser Tube Users
If you are currently using Coherent Incorporated laser tubes, including the industrial Coherent G100 and Coherent E150, or the medical Coherent G100M (Laser System), for your medical encore laser system and have been informed that the manufacturer no longer services these models, we have a vital update for you.
Photovac Laser Corporation, the leading third-party specialist in industrial and medical laser tube remanufacturing, is fully equipped and committed to supporting all Coherent laser model tubes. Our extensive expertise and dedicated service extend the life of your laser investment, ensuring operational efficiency and reliability for years to come.
KERN Laser Systems, utilizes Coherent E150 Co2 laser tube in their lower powered cutting systems. KERN now offers their own proprietary laser tube as a replacement to the Coherent E150. Why spend $25,000, plus further power supply and mounting updates, when you can buy a newly remanufactured laser tube for 2/3rds less the cost from Photovac Laser. WHY? When you buy a KERN laser tube, you cannot reliably upkeep the laser when it malfunctions prematurely. There is no software access to you, the customer, to perform routine maintenance to the laser cavity, RF control circuitry, and optical shaping delivery system. Your ONLY option is to accept an exchange for $21,000.00, and you must return the old core for this option. WHY?
Vytek Laser Systems uses Coherent E150 in its laser cutting tables. Photovac is its supplier for repairs to the Coherent E150 laser tubes.
Comprehensive Support & Maintenance ⛑
Photovac Laser prides itself on a vast inventory, including all necessary components like optics, electronics, electrodes, and seals. We utilize proprietary regassing procedures. These resources enable us to offer unparalleled repair and maintenance services, guaranteeing your laser tubes’ performance for the next fifteen years.
Our Technical Prowess
Our capabilities are not limited to mere part replacements. Photovac Laser possesses in-depth technical knowledge and hands-on experience with every Coherent carbon dioxide laser tube model. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Precision Calibration: Ensuring your laser operates at its optimal performance level.
• Electronics and Optics Expertise: From intricate electronic repairs to precision optics alignments, our technicians handle every detail with utmost care.
• Custom Regassing Procedures: Our proprietary regassing techniques restore your laser’s power and efficiency, significantly prolonging its life. Our optical and boiling laser mixture typically provides 15% more power than Coherent’s original installed laser tube.
• Emergency Exchange Service: Understanding the critical nature of your operations, Photovac Laser maintains a stock of lasers for immediate exchange to minimize downtime for our customers.
Why Choose Photovac Laser Corporation?
• Four Decades of Specialized Experience: Focusing on Coherent laser tubes, we’ve honed our skills to provide solutions that the original manufacturer no longer offers. Photovac Laser has been remanufacturing Coherent laser tubes for over thirty of our forty years in business.
• Why trust someone else? Photovac Laser is truly the only one outside of the OEM with the technical expertise for Coherent Co2 lasers. Others say they do it, but it is only a lie. How do you trust a person thinking they can regas a laser when Photovac Laser has had all the tools and knowledge necessary for repairs for 40 years?
• Ready Inventory for Quick Turnarounds: Our extensive stock of parts and complete laser systems ensure swift service and repair, reducing operational interruptions.
• Commitment to Quality and Reliability: Our services are designed to extend the lifespan of your lasers and ensure they continue to deliver the precision and reliability you expect.
Reach Out for Support
Do not let service discontinuation slow you down. Photovac Laser Corporation supports your Coherent laser tubes with expert care, comprehensive services, and a commitment to your operational success. Contact us today to learn how we can help you maintain your laser systems for years to come.
________________________________________
This message emphasizes Photovac Laser Corporation’s commitment to quality, its extensive inventory for quick services, and its capability to handle any Coherent CO2 laser tube. It reassures customers of a reliable service alternative to the original manufacturer.

Dear Laser Users,
I am writing to discuss an essential aspect of maintaining high-power lasers, such as those manufactured by Coherent, Novanta, and Rofin, particularly lasers ranging from 250 to 500 watts. These substantial lasers have larger gas chambers that can provide enduring operation. However, the long lifespan should not be misconstrued as an indication of infrequent maintenance needs.
A common misconception that needs to be addressed is the neglect of timely regassing. It’s a mistake to completely deplete the laser gas, especially when the laser has been operating for an extended period, say 10 years. Ideally, regassing should occur around the five-year mark. This is because the laser gases tend to disassociate over time, causing a reduction in laser efficiency. When the laser power wanes, operators tend to increase the operating duty cycle, inadvertently straining the laser’s electrical system and risking damage to crucial components in the laser cavity.
As laser gas disassociates, it can lead to issues within the laser cavity, impacting the cavity plates, optics, and electrodes. The cavity plates may sputter micro-aluminum particles into the laser gas, which subsequently get embroiled in the lasing process. These microscopic particles, traveling at the speed of light, can damage the laser optics through pitting. This reduces reflectivity and, consequently, the laser’s power output. In most instances of high-power laser system failures, this sequence of events is the culprit, and the costly result is the need for optics replacement.
The good news is that regular and preventive regassing can circumvent these issues and decrease the total cost of replacements over time. Additionally, regassing can also rectify mode problems. Normally, a laser mode is Gaussian or bell-shaped. Pitted optics can alter this mode, producing divergent satellite beams. These mode changes can be easily detected using a piece of acrylic.
Overheating is another common problem caused by poor gas quality. The laser has to work harder electrically to produce the same power output, generating more heat in the process. With increased electrical consumption, cooling systems are strained, further diminishing the performance of the laser due to the disassociation of the poor-quality laser gas. By regassing, not only can we improve the efficiency of the laser but also decrease overall electrical consumption.
Should you observe any of the above-mentioned symptoms, I am here to help. Let’s have a conversation about how we can optimize your laser system for the best performance possible. I look forward to your call.
Regards,
Christopher Zelich, President/CEO