SSY-1 Nd:YAG Laser + Universal 1000uF @ 900V Power Supply AN/VVG-3 Rangefinder

Description

This laser is an experimental unit built by me.  It is not built as a finished product and does not comply with safety requirements of a finished product.
The SSY-1 is driven above its ratings.  As such, it is sold AS-IS.
No returns.  If you decide to operate this laser, please understand that its
high voltages that may be
lethal
.  The output of this laser can cause severe harm, especially to the eye, as well as start fires.
Please do not purchase if you don't know exactly what you are buying and how you will use it.
No instructions or support whatsoever are included with this sale.
Absolutely
not for sale outside the US
because these components may fall within ITAR restrictions.  By purchasing this item you agree not to divert or export these assemblies.
Just so you understand the SSY-1's power, please watch:
https://youtu.be/SxZO4HBLYds
(not my video).
This laser is MUCH MORE Powerful!  When focused, it will punch a hole through a razor blade!
This sale is for:
SSY-1 Nd:YAG laser head to which I have removed the Q-switch so that it can be pulsed at very high power (I will supply the original Q-switch)
HeNe laser for aiming (with power supply). The output of this laser must be blocked before the NdYAG is fired because the NdYAG's back output otherwise will damage the HeNe tube
Power supply which includes 110VAC-powered 24V battery charger (batteries
NOT
included), PFN assembly (with 1050uF @ 900V energy-storage capacitor and inductor)
, Ultravolt 1C24-P125 capacitor-charging high-voltage power supply
Piezoelecetric trigger
The power supply operates from two 12V sealed lead-acid batteries.  The power supply has an internal 110VAC-powered charger.
I will not provide these batteries
.  You need to buy your own batteries (hardware store 12V 7.2A type PE12V7.2) and place them in before using the laser.  Alternatively, you may bypass the batteries and supply center-tapped 24V directly through the front panel's bananas (note: this bypasses the switch!).  In this power supply I used a medical-grade power unit and medical-grade DC/DC converters for reliability and safety.
I built the power supply as a universal 1kV 30W capacitor charger.   It can be used as a supply for many other types of pulsed lasers and high-voltage experiments.
This laser and power supply are based on
Shawn's High Energy Experiments with the SSY1 Laser Head as described by Samuel M. Goldwasser in his repairfaq pages on the SSY-1:
www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserscl.htm#sclss1s
The  SSY-1 is the Nd:YAG laser transmitter
of the AN/VVG-3 laser range finder that used to be part of the M1 Abrams Tank.
The AN/VVG-3 rangefinder was developed by Hughes.   It consists of the pulsed Nd:YAG laser, a receiver and timing and logic electronics integrated into the tank's fire control system. The operator aims the rangefinder on the target and fires the laser. The laser beam is reflected back from the target into the receiver and the time of travel to and from the target provides an accurate range measurement for the fire control computer. The rangefinder has a laser firing rate of 1 shot per second and provides range accuracy to within 10m and target discrimination of 20m.
Hughes used an OEM Nd:YAG laser source made by Kigre, Inc, which looks similar to their model MK-367 compact, permanently aligned Nd:YAG laser source. The MK-367 was developed primarily for the ophthalmic market with a usable life in excess 300,000 shots.  Kigre has sold thousands of these units since 1985.
Based on this link, the specifications of the SSY-1 laser are probably similar to those of the MK-367:
Nominal Output:         17mJ with a nominal input of 7J
Output Stability:         Better than ±10%
Beam Diameter:          3mm
Beam Divergence:      90% less than 1mr full angle, and 50% less than 0.8mr
I built this laser based on the experience by Shawn West as described in Sam's repairfaq:
"I've taken a different approach than the others and am pumping it with a long pulse, about 2.5 ms. With my long pulse I have put a 0.020 inch diameter hole in a 0.004 inch thick razor blade. I've punched holes through aluminum foil of different thicknesses too. I've back calculated the energy required to punch the holes in the razor blade and the two aluminum foil experiments. The calculations show that it would have taken 1.7 to 1.8 joules to melt and vaporize the metal in each case (if I did my calculations right). When I hit the razor blade with 800 volts on the capacitor (360 joules) I was able to punch a 0.024 inch diameter hole in the 0.004 inch thick blade. My calculations, which again could be wrong, show that it would have taken about 2.5 joules to do this. These calculations do not include the amount of reflected energy or the energy conducted away from the material. I have also sparked the air using a short focal length (about 1.5 cm) lens. I'ms using a 1,120 uf capacitor with approximately a 0.15 ohm ESR.
My inductor is 820 uH with a resistance of about 0.15 ohms. It is from Parts Express (part #266-760, about ). The inductor is wound with an effective 12 gauge copper foil and has an air core. I'ms using a piezo-electric igniter from a gas grill to flash the tube."
The lifetime of the flashlamp at this type of energy is limited!  Please do not attempt to pulse the laser faster than 1 time per minute
.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
SALE IS FINAL.
NO RETURNS ARE ACCEPTED.
P
lease make sure that you understand what you are purchasing before bidding/buying.
Please visit my store for more interesting electronic/scientific equipment:
http://stores.ebay.com/diyphysics
I’m cleaning up my lab and ham radio shack, so please check my other auctions for interesting electronics, laboratory, Geiger, nuclear scintillation, radiation counters, ham radio, professional RF, EMP/x-flare protection, high power laser, CNC, embedded development tools, robotics, biomedical instrumentation, Quantum Physics, ultra-high vacuum, Quantum optics, radio astronomy, amateur deep space network reception, moonbouncing, and x-ray equipment.
What you see is what you get! Please make sure that you understand what you are getting before bidding. The sale is final.
CONDITIONS FOR SALE
What you see is what you get. No other items included unless specifically stated in the description. Item is believed to be in working condition unless stated otherwise. However,
item is sold AS IS
. No returns are accepted. Please make sure that you understand what you are purchasing. No technical support or other services are sold with the item.
THE SALE IS FINAL.
WARRANTY AND SUPPORT
No warranty is offered.
Item is sold AS IS
. I expressly disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and functionality.
No support is provided with the sale.
PAYMENT AND SHIPPING
Payments accepted via eBay only.
No other payments accepted. No exceptions.
Shipment to US addresses ONLY.
I will not make any exceptions.
I will allow 2 days for contact and 7 days for payment from the high bidder, after that time I will take action through eBay and leave negative feedback. Happy bidding!