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projects:lasercutterventingsystem

Laser Cutter Venting System

NOTICE:
Laser cutters are expensive and dangerous.
All of our laser cutters are ducted and require venting.
YOU MUST turn the ventilation system on before you use any of the cutters.
Do not leave them unattended. It is a fire hazard.
Some jobs take a long time to run. If you need to run to the bathroom or something, find someone to watch it for you.
A full tutorial is in progress: Laser Cutter HOW TO
60-watt Operation Training Video

Verison 7.0 - August 2023 - Present

Description

  • Designed and built by Brant H, John K, Anna K, Geoff L, Markus S
  • Installation started on 9/9/2023, mostly done by 3/29/2024
  • Extension of existing laser lab exhaust to the East Room
  • Added slide gate dampers to all machines

Connected

Exhaust louver out
2 HP fan
8“ muffler
8” duct main
8“ wye fitting 8” wye fitting
8“ flex to filter box 1 8” branch to filter box 2
Filter box 1 Filter box 2
Four 4“ ducts 6” flex
Right Shark 8“ branch
Katy Perry 8” branch 4“ to Baby Shark
Left Shark 8” branch 4“ to Jabberjaw
8” branch 6“ for future
8” to vac former 6“ for future
Future/capped 4” for future

East Room Exhaust Ducts and Filter Box 2

Existing Exhaust Fan and VFD Motor Drive

Existing Exhaust Ducts and Filter Box 1

Fan Motor Drive (VFD) Settings

  • p031 motor nameplate volts = 230
  • p032 motor nameplate hertz = 60
  • p033 motor overload current = 6.0 (motor nameplate is 5.4)
  • p034 min freq hertz = 0
  • p035 max freq hertz = 60
  • p036 start source = digital input
  • p037 stop source = digital input
  • p038 speed ref = internal pot/knob
  • p039 accel time = 30 sec
  • p040 decel time = 5 sec
  • p041 reset defaults = no

Verison 6.0 - Oct 2018 - August 2023

Photos

Description

  • Designed and built by Markus
  • Installed by Markus, Brant, Tony, Kathy C, Marcin, and Robert S.
  • In the direction of air flow:
  • Installed on Space Improvement Day, Oct 28, 2018
  • One can be removed from each box for replacing filters/parts
  • Markus estimated the charcoal filter would need replacing in about 2-3 years
  • Existing 2 HP fan increased to from 48 to 54 Hz on VFD above Craft Lab ceiling
  • Initial (clean) filter box drop approx. 0.50“ w.c.

Notes

  • None

Verison 5.5 - Lenox (Apr 2017 - Oct 2018 )

Photos

Description

  • Sterilite plastic container with two 4” atrium grate drains and a DIY charcoal filter
  • Seems to be working OK as of May 2nd, will check again
  • PVC cement failed on 5/12/17 while BrandonM. was cleaning around the machine
  • Filter repaired and cleaned on 5/30/17

Notes

Verison 5.4 - Lenox (Apr 2017 - Apr 2017)

Description

  • 4“ subsoil drain pipe with charcoal sandwiched between two layers of 1/8” hardware cloth
  • Installed on the 50 watt, works OK

Notes

Verison 5.3 - Lenox (Mar 2017 - Apr 2017)

Photos

Description

  • 4“ subsoil drain pipe with charcoal sandwiched between two layers of 3/4” fiber roll media
  • Instantly plugged up, very restricted
  • Air assist upgrades completed at the same time
  • Individual controls at each laser cutter and air valves/regulators for each machine

Notes

  • Filter by Brant
  • Air dryers, separators, and filters provided by ChrisH
  • Extra help by TomGz, ShaneT, and TonyW

Verison 5.2 - Lenox (Mar 2017 - Mar 2017)

Photos

Description

  • Added a filter box to the laser cutter exhaust (pollution control unit)
  • Two sets of (2) 16x20x1 furnace filters; one set has activated carbon poured over it
  • Activated carbon available from aquarium supply stores
  • Two 4“ inlets (50 & 60 watt) and one 4” outlet connection
  • No change to the on/off switch in the room
  • Increased fan speed on motor drive from 30.0 to 49.0 Hz
  • Increased static pressure at unused duct drop from 2.0 to 5.0 inches water column
  • EDIT: Did not work, little to no flow at the inlets to the filter box, even after caulking all the joints and resealing the drawers. MDF is just too porous/leaky. Disassembled and abandoned on 6/4/17.

Notes

Verison 5.1 - Lenox (Mar 2015 - Mar 2017)

Photos

Description

  • Minor change to controls only
  • Replaced low-med-high with on-off turn switch (low is the only setting we need)
  • Replaced indicator lights which kept burning out?
  • Removed pressure switch
  • Added emergency stop
  • Plastic box replaced with more rugged, metal enclosure

Notes

  • New controls and vinyl signage by Brant

Verison 5.0 - Lenox (Dec 2013 - Mar 2015)

Photos



Description

Notes

Verison 4.0 - Lenox (Feb 2013 - Dec 2013)

Photos

Description

  • Fan: 1 HP Central Machinery Fan, Model 94029 (Purchased from Harbor Freight)
  • Control: On/Off Switch
  • Ducting: 4“ PVC and 4” Flexible Plastic Duct
  • Discharge location: Outdoors, louver on north side of building
  • Machines vented: (2)

Notes

Verison 3.0 - Chase (May 2012 - Dec 2012)

Photos

Description

Notes

  • Added a flexible plastic duct and tee with slide gate dampers for second machine.

Verison 2.0 - Chase (Jan 2012 - May 2012)

Description

  • Fan: 1/2 HP Vacuum Pump
  • Control: Mitsubishi FR-A204 Variable Frequency Drive
  • Ducting: 1-1/2” PVC
  • Discharge location: Loft
  • Machines vented: (1) Laser Cutter (25 watt)

Notes

  • The shorter duct run improved air flow over Version 1.0.

Verison 1.0 - Chase (Oct 2011 - Jan 2012)

Photos

Description

  • Fan: 1/2 HP Vacuum Pump
  • Control: Mitsubishi FR-A204 Variable Frequency Drive
  • Ducting: 1-1/2“ PVC
  • Discharge location: Loft
  • Machines vented: (1) Laser Cutter (25 watt)

Notes

  • Version 1.0 was scrapped and much of the ducting rerouted when the Laser Cutter (25 watt) was relocated to the south wall of the Workshop.
  • For a very brief period of time we used a shop vac to exhaust the machine.
projects/lasercutterventingsystem.txt · Last modified: 2024/04/01 04:25 by branth