Exhaust Question

[Bob Kline]

Would this exhaust work with an Epilog 18? It seems less cumbersome than the dust collector I was considering.
Thanks, Bob Kline

http://www.iaqsource.com/index.php?module=product&prod_cat=223&prod_mfg=0&prod_sub_cat=0&prod_id=1770

[Bruce Volden]

Bob,


Sorry, I don't think it will move near enough air to keep the "smoke" down,especially if cutting! Also some laser systems depend on a certain airflow across the lasers tube for cooling purposes. I highly recommend a minimun of a 400 cfm unit as this will also help dissipate quite a bit of odor when you venture on to other materials.

Bruce

[Hale Reider]

A agree, 400 CFM is not enough. I have a 24X26 large format laser with a 660 CFM exhaust. We still get some odor when cutting acrylic.

Best deal I have found is at Harbour Frieght. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31810

Hale Reider

[Joe Pelonio]

Mine is 450 cfm from Granger, and looks like that one but is blue. Cost about the same too. I have a 20' run and sometimes wish it was even more powerful.

[mike klein]

I have a 800cfm exhaust system and will be installing a 1200-1500 in the not to distant future. The problem is when working with wood which extends beyond the pass-thru doors, therefore not allowing the materials to be exhausted properly. My plan is to install a variable speed control on the fan so when I need the extra exhaust when working on wood with the pass-thru doors open it works fine, and when the doors are closed the fan can be slowed down.

I've learned in a short period of time with my laser, it's important to keep the cabinet working area as clean as possible.

[Michael McDuffie]

I have the Grizzly 2HP DC and it works great.

Something to watch out for is whether the motor is "universal (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/dc5.html)" or an "induction (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/dc3-csxl.html)" type.

The universal motor uses brushes and at the size you would be looking at will scream as loud as an router.

Michael

[Mark Sipes]

I use the Fantech Inline Centrifugal Fan on my laser. I vent directly out the wall so the draw from the fan is sufficient. If you need to travel a long ways to vent out, you need more power (cfm). Since I vent direct, the sticky laser dust (crude) builds up on the fan blades so I have to cleam the impellers every 2 months or so. My machine cuts alot of Rowmark on a daily basis. I recently installed a quick release in the vent pipe to set in an inline filter pad to catch most of the gunk before it hits the fan ( no pun intended ) and end up changing the screen every 4 hours or so. I want to see if the 1 min pad exchange is better than the 30 minutes fan cleaning.

Mark

[Patrick Foss]

For your exhaust problem when pass thru dorrs are open:
Try some "curtains".
If your cabnet is a ferrous metal (a magnet will stick to it) glue some felt or other soft material to some flat magnetic material (walmart carries it).
Else try using a tape that won't leave too much residue.

[mike klein]

The magnet idea works just attaching it to some inexpensive lightweight plastic. I have notched out for the boards hanging out either side and it seems to correct the problem.