As you can see the designs are completely different, in fact this tube is different than all the tubes I’ve previously seen… Now as per my other post I have a strange issue with very fine bubbles. The problem with this tube is there’s a ridge where it tapers, this captures the fine bubbles, they accumulate and make big bubbles.
Now to be honest, I usually wouldn’t care what the tube design was (unless this was a proven inferior design) but this design is exacerbating my fine bubble issue. It looks inferior to what’s advertised…
As what I’ve received differs considerably from what’s advertised I’m think of contacting seller to complain, thoughts please.
i have mine tank on a extension out back at laser cutter hight,try lifting end with bubbles 6 inches and chock witb a couple of books ,run pump few hours- water drains back through water pump when off alowing air into tube that is why my tak is at tube hight
Thanks Phillip, but I chocked the tube on an angle last night when I noticed it wasn’t clearing. It’s been like that overnight and all day.
The bubbles are so fine that I’d say they wouldn’t be an issue if the tube was like my others ie it didn’t taper in, which has caused a ridge that traps them. My next test is to swap the pumps over just incase that’s somehow causing them.
Have people seen this tube design before? Also am I being unreasonable thinking I should have got what was pictured in the advertisement (ie metal cap, non tapered)?
Right, I think I misinterpreted earlier. I was thinking the bubbles were forming in the inlet/outlet tubing. Not the laser tube. Makes sense now. To be honest, I think that the seller advertising with pictures of metal cap means they should send a metal cap one. Not something else. Or they should at least have something mentioned in the advert (e.g. your product may vary from pictures shown).
I’d definitely try getting your reservoir tank level or higher than the tube to see if that removes or minimises the issue. I run mine with tank up on a shelf above my head height & the laser at about hip height.
(with water tank higher than the tube) do you get rid of some bubbles ? does new bubble appear ? does the bubbles could be the result of a chemical reaction? (different of air intake in the circuit).
Thanks guys, I’ll try raising the tank, though it’s 20kg so will need to figure out how to do that.
I’ve contacted seller to ask why I’ve been sent something different than pictured. I’ve swapped over the pumps to no avail. Might be a chemical reaction, the washing up liquid and antifreeze? Also tried reversing flow, they now just collect at the other end…
The design is similar to design B in this reference pic: http://bit.ly/1qq8nWB
The glass tapers back in well before the tubes ends. Where it tapers is a ridge and the fine bubbles trap there. As said before if the tube was the same design as my previous ones I’d most likely have never noticed it!
I can’t see bubbles prior to after the coiled glass, though I think it’s more likely the flow of the water slows enough by then for them to gather at the top.
It’s a matter of getting them out, then keeping the positive pressure on the water (i.e. having the outlet pipe submerged). Where the fine bubbles are collecting, is there anywhere nearby that where the bubbles could exit? You might have to tilt the machine slightly to allow the bubbles to float to top & escape out of an outlet pipe. Then once that is done, if your outlet is submerged no bubbles should reintroduce. Unless it is a possible chemical reaction, as suggested by Stephane.
Alternatively just to test, you could lower the laser cutter below the level of the water tank, if that makes it easier than lifting the water tank to somewhere above the laser. If it then works, you can then determine a solution for putting the water tank higher. Fortunately I have a shelf bolted onto the wall in the garage at about eye height (not quite head height as I keep smacking my head on it lol). It seems to support the 25-30 odd Litres that I have in my tank (+ the other random stuff on that shelf).
Ha lucky you, no shelf mounted and only shelving I have in there is cheap and wouldn’t hold the weight.
Nice idea lowering instead of raising. I still don’t get how it will make a difference to be honest. I have two machines both using the same tank, only the one has bubbles. I’m willing to give anything a go so will try it. I’m just hoping it’s some strange reaction and will settle!
As a follow up, when questioned about the different design, seller just stated it was best quality in China. I responded that their eBay ID and advertisement leads people to believe they are selling reci style tubes.
Why do people have to be so devious…
Anyway, machine has been below the tank for about 3 hours now and the bubbles are still there.
Feel like I’m smacking my head against a wall. The seller wants to argue the point, I’ve explained numerous times that the picture differs significantly from the product they are selling, yet seller still wants to argue.
At this stage I would warn everyone against purchasing from reci-laser on eBay (link in OP) as their after sales support is abysmal.
Could only imagine the saga if you actually needed the tube replaced…
If there’s one trick to water cooling its to always have your reservoir at the highest point in the system. Your fine bubbles will go away. Put the laser on an incline and run with the reservoir above the highest part of the tube. Run like that until all your bubbles have moved to the reservoir. Then you can set the laser back horizontal again and run like normal. But your reservoir needs to always stay at the highest point of the loop.
An alternative to keeping the reservoir at the highest point is having a bleed/fill line. Basically a T is installed in the line before the laser. The branch of the T facing up. As bubbles attempt to pass, they instead go up the T. Works best with larger diameter tubing in my experience, but should work here too. If you can’t have your reservoir above your laser for some reason.
