I love this topic. I would encourage folks to take a really hard look at the cost of another piece of gear, including cost of filters, maintenance, etc. And compare that to the cost of just venting outside and re-heating your space. Depending on where you live and how many hours per day that you’re making fumes/dust, it might just be a wash. For some situations, it’s just not practical to vent outside, but I will maintain that NO…I repeat NO filtering system is as effective as not having contaminents in your airspace to begin with.
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Thank you. Your thoughts make perfect sense. I’ve read comments that state that 200-500 cubic feet/min are needed to exhaust. I have no experience with lasers on CNC machines yet but it seems to me if an exhaust pipe could be placed fairly close to the laser beam it might be possible to use much less. Do you have thoughts on this?
My particular situation…2 car attached garage, well insulated, upper midwest U.S. For sawdust, a dust collector/cyclone vented out a window insert. For laser fumes and light sawdust, such as finish passes on 3d reliefs, I use a simple 8" desk fan ($17) and one of those collapsable fabric “tunnels” that people buy for small pets to play in ($24), and it’s vented out the same window insert. If it’s really cold and I need to run for a long time (not very often) I just put on my overalls or go back in the house and do something else while the machine runs. And there’s always a good quality mask for those quick and dirty tasks. I also have a small sanding/painting enclosure that uses an old bathroom exhaust fan. For me, the annual cost of filters is more than the annual cost of heat.
I should also mention…this is why I advocate for a liquid cooled spindle if possible. There’s no thru air to stir up more dust.
As far as CFM is concerned, I think it would vary a lot depending on duct length and other factors, but in my unscientific opinion, 200 CFM is a good minimum IF you can place the intake right next to the laser.
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THANKS much! I don’t have a window near my CNC in my barn but I could cut a hole in the wall. I’m thinking of getting an Opt Laser XT8 for engraving and some cutting.
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Joe, I do not use that setup any longer as I now have a 60w CO2 laser with proper exhaust. If I use my 7w JTech for anything now, it is small and I just use the 6" exhaust setup the that which goes outside. The carbon filter was not easily rechargeable and did plug up relatively quickly as well.
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Ensuring proper ventilation is crucial when operating laser systems, especially when processing materials like acrylic that emit fumes. Implementing an enclosure equipped with a 4-inch exhaust fan and ducting to direct fumes outside is highly recommended. Additionally, integrating air assist helps in minimizing flare-ups during operation.
Having a proper ventilation setup makes a huge difference, not just for keeping the workspace clear but also for protecting your health in the long run. ps. XT8 has built-in air assist!
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