Thread: Laser fumes

If you could guarantee that no spark or hot pieces of material were collected by the DC that would be OK. However, be aware that if they did end up in the collection bin it could start a fire. Personally I wouldn't do it with out a spark arrestor.

This is the spark arrestor I use for my metal grinding and linishing activities.
The flexy is connected to my DC trunk line.
IMG_1615.jpg

However the simplest lowest risk solution is to located the engraver in a booth or cabinet that is vented externally with a couple of low pressure high volume fans (bathroom exhaust) fans.
It's a similar solution to dealing with welding fumes.
Heres my setup for this - its also my spray booth.
Fumehood8.jpg

BTW if anyone with a pleated filter or cloth bags is considering using their DC to collect welding fumes think again as welding fumes can be sticky and may gum up the filters beyond recovery.

Barry,

providing its only for the 'smoke' fumes and nothing solid, this is similar to what we use on our unit.
3'' Inline Duct Fan Hydroponic Extractor Fan Vent Exhaust Air Blower Low Noise . | eBay

Strangely the term hydroponic pops up...

Originally Posted by mannum3

I was asked at the local Men's Shed if dust, smoke, fumes from a Laser engraver could/should be extracted using the Clearvue Max?
I do not think much of the idea, however I said I would ask the experts.

Cheers Barry

Laser cutters vaporise what they are cutting - no dust, just some fumes.

If you laser cut polycarbonate you get a truly obnoxious penetrating and lingering smell - it really stinks - and the easiest solution is to ban the cutting of polycarbonate.

There is only a very moderate smell from cutting perspex or MDF or plywood. Virtually no smell from papers and cardboards. You just need an extractor system; a cyclone adds nothing.

If it is imperative to cut polycarbonate then I suggest that you keep the extractor running for at least 20 to 30 minutes before openning the hood. And the neighbours will complain. Did I say it stinks!

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Laser cutters vaporise what they are cutting - no dust, just some fumes.

If you laser cut polycarbonate you get a truly obnoxious penetrating and lingering smell - it really stinks - and the easiest solution is to ban the cutting of polycarbonate.

PC usually appears on the list of "Do not cut" with laser as the fumes can damage the laser cutter optics.
eg: Laser Cutter Materials - ATXHackerspace

The window of the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. It creates long stringy clouds of soot that float up, ruin the optics and mess up the machine.

yup, agree totally with BobL comments.

sorry but if you start cutting/engraving poly your asking for trouble.
Where do you buy your poly carbonate/acrylic from? ask them.

seriously tried poly carbonate once...never again.

As an aside we pay regular visits to Menzel plastics in Adelaide for acrylic offcuts, have a wonderful time rummaging through their 'scrap section'. much cheaper than ig full sheets.
We are now on terms that last time the mention was from them...'when coming over next time, let us know if you need a stack (big pile) of anything and we could put it aside for you'. maybe they dont like us farting around for so long.

Originally Posted by BobL

PC usually appears on the list of "Do not cut" with laser ........

Hell, Bob, you must have serious insomnia with all those machine handbooks that you most obviously read!

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Hell, Bob, you must have serious insomnia with all those machine handbooks that you most obviously read!

I don't read a lot of manuals, in fact SWMBO reckons I have manual phobia although she admits I have improved the the years. That tip was given to me by a friend who has a CO2 laser engraver but I like to refer to external sources if I can.