cathode

Just getting some ideas together prior to embarking on a DIY laser CNC project... What would be a good way to cool a laser (for example, a 100W Nd:YAG type)?

Would a liquid cooling system using standard PC watercooling parts be suitable for providing cooling? The laser would not be required to run at 100% duty cycle, and also noise is a nonfactor because a machine like this would be used in a shop where hearing protection is already used.

ShamrockMan

If laser does not require Deionized water, as the ones I work with do, then yes.

Deionized water is highly corrosive and all computer watercooling setups cannot handle it.

MrDeodorant

I have used de-ionized water in my loop for a year with absolutely no visible corrosion. Please justify your claim.

OP: figure out which parts actually need cooling. It may be possible to attach heatsinks to them, and put fans blowing over them. Outputting 100 watts depends greatly on the efficiency of the laser. It may turn out that all you need is something like the MCW30 chipset waterblock, which has very flexible mounting options. I assume other chipset coolers are also flexible, but that's the only one I've personally used.

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ShamrockMan

The deionized water you buy at the store is different than the stuff I'm talking about.

The corrosion to a water cooling loop is relatively minor (need microscope to see), but the water is no longer deionized as it has stripped metals out of your cooling loop until it is balanced again. This makes the deionized water conduct electricity again and shortens the useful life of the water cooling equipment.

The lasers I work with require 0.5-0.7 Mohm deionized water (too low, it conducts too much electricity, too high then it starts to strip the laser itself).

DI water is only compatible with a few stainless steels, titanium and most plastics.

MrDeodorant

Well, he's asking about using standard PC watercooling parts, not immersion-style cooling (I have no idea what the cooling setup on your lasers is, but if conductivity is an issue, immersion seems likely).

I think it will be difficult to suggest a suitable cooling solution without knowing the efficiency of the laser, and what parts he's using.

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cathode

I don't have the laser head yet so i'm not sure exactly how it requires cooling. Since the total power of the laser will be 100W or less I would guess that a simple waterblock would work.