Chapter Five: Maintenance
© 2019 Cutting Edge Optronics, Inc.
38
Iklwa Laser User Manual
Approved for Public Release; NG19-2099 CEO-UMAN-0055E
Check Hold Off
Checking hold off is a technique needed to verify proper operation of the laser. To check
hold off, perform the following steps:
1.
Turn on the laser and run for at least 20 minutes.
2.
Lower the pump current to 10 A.
3.
Set the Q-Switch (QSW) to external trigger mode. Ensure there is no input to
the external gate.
4.
Gradually increase the current to the full operation current level.
5.
Observe the beam output on the power meter. Hold off condition is met when
no green light is visible.
6.
If green is observed, the laser does not hold off and may need internal repair.
7.
Reduce the current to 10 A.
8.
Return the Q-Switch controller to the normal operating settings.
9.
Gradually increase the current to the operation current.
Extend Lifetime of Laser Diodes
The specification for laser system optical output is provided in the final test report
delivered with the system. During its early lifetime, the laser diodes will deliver this
specified power at or below the preset current limit. As the diodes age, an increase in
current may be required to maintain power and beam quality so the diodes can continue
to be used. Once the maximum current of 30 A is reached, consider replacing diodes or
upgrade the laser. Please contact Northrop Grumman for detailed information.
Optimize Laser Performance
Optimization of the laser may be required when the laser is initially installed or the laser
performance has degraded due to aging laser diodes.
NOTE:
Record optimization data on SVC-FORM-0009 (Optimization Worksheet,
Patara/Iklwa Field Service), which can be found on the Knowledge Center.
http://www.ngceoservice.com/Level_1_IKLWA
For this procedure, a green light should be visible from the laser. In the absence of any
visible output, please review
Chapter 7: Troubleshooting
or contact Northrop Grumman
for assistance. To obtain the best performance, small adjustments may optimize the laser.
To optimize the laser, follow these steps:
1.
Wait for the laser reach thermal stabilization.
