Chapter Five: Maintenance
© 2019 Cutting Edge Optronics, Inc.
35
Iklwa Laser User Manual
Approved for Public Release; NG19-2099 CEO-UMAN-0055E
Prepare for Shipment
It is anticipated that in OEM applications the Iklwa laser will be installed in another
system that will be shipped internationally. The Iklwa optical assembly must be properly
prepared for shipment if internal damage is to be avoided due to possible freezing of
trapped water in the coolant lines. This procedure follows:
1.
Ready a dry gas source in preparation for draining the system. Oil-free, dry
filtered air or (N
2
) is recommended.
2.
Remove coolant connections from back of laser housing.
3.
Connect a dry gas line to the
COOLANT OUT
connector on housing.
Coolant lines must be purged in the proper direction or trapped water may
remain in the lines inside the laser. If this trapped water freezes it can cause
lines to leak water when operation is resumed.
4.
Connect a drain hose with a proper quick disconnect fitting to the
COOLANT
IN
connector on the housing.
5.
Purge the lines with for at least a half hour at 5 psi.
6.
Remove purge lines.
After the laser is dry place it in a sealed ESD bag with a desiccant. Package the laser
securely in a shipping container.
All water will need to be removed from the chiller prior to shipment. Refer to the chiller
manufacturer’s instructions. Do not reconnect chiller lines to laser prior to shipment.
After shipment, if antifreeze was used, drain and clean the chiller. Add a new filter and
clean Optishield Plus coolant before reconnecting the chiller to the laser.
Purge Housing
The Iklwa optics assembly must be kept at low humidity to protect the SHG crystal,
which is slightly hygroscopic, and to prevent the possibility of condensation on the laser
diode arrays. The Iklwa housing provides a level of protection from entry of ambient
humidity, but it is not hermetically sealed. When operating in a high ambient humidity,
precautions need to be taken to keep the interior of the housing dry. The lid of the
housing has a port for a desiccant cartridge, which should be changed when the cartridge
indicator is no longer blue. Also, the housing interior can be purged with Class 0 air using
the valve on the rear of the housing. The inlet line is the stemmed valve and is opened
and closed by rotating the knob on the valve end. Please contact Northrop Grumman
before attempting this procedure.
CAUTION.
The clean dry air input line must be on a pressure regulator and the line
must be filtered.
