Adding External Air to your CO2 Laser, this will save you so much time!
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
- In this video I go over what external air means in regards to adding it to your co2 laser. This video is meant for someone that has not dealt with compressors, regulators and such. I show you what my system looks like so you can see what all the components look like. We do some test cuts with and without external air. You will be amazed what a difference it makes.
00:00 - Start
00:06 - Why would you add External Air supply to your Co2 Laser
04:05 - My External Air Setup
05:33 - Basics of a Pressure Regulator
08:10 - Basic Operation of the Regulator
10:33 - Safety Considerations do and don'ts
12:33 - Real Time testing Ext Air vs Stock Air
15:54 - Cutting Text with and without ex air
18:42 - Text Comparison Ext air vs stock air
21:57 - Pro and Cons
22:36 - Closing
Thunder laser USA website link for External Air information
support.thunderlaserusa.com/p...
Digital Air Gauge:
support.thunderlaserusa.com/p...
The Angry Craftsman channel, great channel check it out!
Video link that shows a large air dryer in place
• Air Compressor set-up ...
The links below may be Amazon Affiliate links and I may be compensated a small fee buy you using these links. No increase cost to you.
1/4” NPT Regulator with Dryer
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1/2” NPT Regulator with dryer
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1/2” npt to 1/4” push to connect
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1/2” npt Plug
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1/2” npt to 1/2” barb
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1/2” npt air manifold
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1/4” blue hose
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California Air 8 gallon compressor
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California air 10 gallon compressor
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Lowes quiet air compressor
www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-QUIET... - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Excellent video, very good examples! On reciprocating air compressors used for multiple tools I’ll mention, most if not all are designed for a maximum 50/50 duty cycle in order for the pump to cool. In addition compressed air produced under excessive heat will produce more moisture.
exactly. that’s whey I always recommend an air compressor no less that 24 gallon and be sure to put a regulator with a moisture trap right behind the laser
OMG what a difference! I recently purchased a used 51/130 and the main thing I like to do is paint my wood first and then cut. I was almost thinking I would not be able to do this because I thought the paint was causing the flames and severe burn marks. Introducing external air completely solved this. Thanks a bunch!! And by the way you are an excellent presenter and teacher!
that is so great to hear, I know I wouldn’t give up my external air on any of my lasers. so happy for you.
Thank you for this! I've seen many laser youtubers say "use external air for cleaner cuts," but you're the first I've seen that has compared them. Much appreciated!
Glad it was helpful!
In lightburn under device settings down at the bottom you can tick on "enable job checklist". i use this to help me remember if I've turned on the air, turned on the exhaust, and set the focus. It's a nice helper.
Great suggestion! Thank you
Excellent info. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice Video
Don't have a laser but in my shop I have a contactor in my lighting circuit to turn my 220vair compressor on when I turn the lights on. You could then wire a solenoid at the inlet to the Thunder to the plug on the Thunder that controlled the stock air compressor. Now everything is automatic
Great video! Would you consider doing a video showing how to actually hook up the air compressor system? Or at least walking us through it. I want to set up my compressor to have an air hose I can use to clean stuff off and then have it also connect to my new nova 63. I live in Colorado so have similar humidity (or lack of). Also, would you consider doing a video showing how to add a digital readout for PSI. Your setup on everything looks so nice and clean. Thank you for your consideration.
Thanks!
No problem!
Can recommend the kobalt 26 gal quiet, just picked it up and already noticing the difference. Its also incredibly quiet holds plenty of air for a long laser job. Easy hook up and cheaper solution.
Great to hear, I know of several people that have that unit!
@@computercreationz hii, i have regular air pump that came with it, i am thinking on getting the same compressor
Wanted to know if this can work for hour+ long jobs,
does the air pressure drop or the compressor runs continuously during the process
i have repeatable jobs which take upto 1+ hours, so wanted to know
your insights will be helpful
@@FabledMolar most inexpensive consumer type air compressors will not last. Buy a commercial grade compressor
Very helpful video as I'm building a parts list now. As your method is proven, could you also include parts reference for the 1/2" air hose and ball valves (1/2" and 1/4") you used? Thanks!
thanks for the input!
Great video sir and thank you for it. Do you think that it would be possible to let us know the air flow also? I mean what was the airflow in the nozzle hose during 4 PSI and what during 25 PSI? Unit can be liter or galon per minute, what is closer to you. Thanks a lot!
the digital air gauge is only about 4-5’ for the nosle. relating to psi is only option I have provided air flow in a different manor would confuse people in my opinion. thanks for watching and the comments.
Do you have a video of how to properly install the SMC Guage?
I don’t fairly easy, I powered it off on the light from that side, there is a complete kit on Etsy that has the housing and everything. Search it up. Seem to be pretty nice.
Good video but I think you should have covered the high & low air assist on the laser, what it does or doesn't do and how you may or may not be able to select them in lightburn. I assume you are using the regulator to dial in each air pressure you want, but newbies may look at the air assist and ask "what's up with that? ".
you can’t cover all the topics surrounding air assist in one video. anything over 20 minutes people don’t watch it. on a thunder laser there is an air control panel and the air is controlled with 2 different needle valves on the top of the laser. most of my videos are for the thunder laser.
Thanks for sharing this!! I just hooked up external air with the SMC digital pressure display and my cuts are so much better.
Can I ask you what your setting are on your SMC? I can’t get mine to read above 10psi even when my air is completely open. ie. What the P_1 is set at
Thanks
Make sure your regulator from your compressor is set to 55 psi. even at that my guage reads around 30 at wide open.
Robert thank you for the detailed video. I noticed that Thunder states the PSI Max for all lasers is 55. I see in the video you have yours set to 25. Have you found that 25 is sufficient for most cuts on your machine? I was going to set it up for 55 but maybe that is higher than I need (Nova 24). Also, do I need to adjust the air flow screws on the laser for Hi and Low flow? Or just leave them the same as what they came on the machine?
yes I set my reg behind the laser at 55psi by the time it get to the nosel it’s about 27 psi.
could you do a video on how to install the digital air pressure gauge. I ordered one but it didn't come with wiring harness or instructions. please help.
you only need one pressure gauge. I would reach out to the guage manufacturer for your harness
I am about to get one of these gauges - can you give any advice on your mounting experience?
If you have a thunder there is a nice 3 d printed housing for the gauge on Etsy. Take the power off the light on that side, be sure the air hose that comes up to the gauge doesn’t interfere with the gantry
How does the con regarding the damaged equipment come into play?
The worst would be a fried focus lens. Have a spare on hand. You can alway fire up the job list in lightburn and it will remind you to turn on the air
How you getting on with your fiber? Thinking about getting one.
it’s been really good, doing allot of work with it. very glad I have one!
Of my air compressor only has 1/4” connections would there be any benefit to running a 1/2” hose with an adapter?
If the compressor is not located at the laser then yes you would benefit from doing that
been lasering for a lil while now and have some questions on adding external air,. Do you have a preferred method of contact?I'd love to pick you brain for a moment. I watch all your vids regardless of length.
Computercreations@charter.net
Pressure and airflow aren't the same thing is it? You can have 10 litres/min at both 4psi and 25psi? Right?
your correct but flow through a gives size nossle your only way to have an repeatable measurement is pressure!
@@computercreationzI use a air flow meter AND a air pressure regulator.
When I used only air pressure regulator and measured the time between the starr and stop of my compressor it didn't change much, if anything, despite different pressure.
*Your Better Off Installing a UPS that will Balance the AC Load. Plug your Laser & Compressor into the Battery Backup Side.*
I’ve never heard of this!
It’s not necessary to turn on the external air MANUALLY. You simply buy a solenoid and wire straight in to your laser power supply (same site as the stock pump) and it turns on AUTOMATICALLY when your laser turns on. You simply have to change the setting in lightburn to make sure it is enabled…and you only have to do this one time.
I wanted to but It would have been a 45 minute video and no body would have watched it!