Anyone have an Ortur laser?

[Rolf]

Kevin, I have only occasionally been engraving wood, if I were to work with plastic or anything else, I would absolutely build an enclosure and vent it to the outside. 

[OzarkSawdust]

13 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

How does one deal with the smoke from these things? I don't really see a exhaust for it or since it's all open framed not really a way to exhaust the smoke.. Not a very healthy thing to breath in all the smoke from running one inside.. especially if working with acrylics.. I like the size of the machine as opposed to my K40 but I don't like that it's open framed and no exhaust.. I'd have customers complaining about my scroll work smelling like smoke if I did this in my shop area where I store my scrolled project inventory etc.. That would be a no for me on this unless there is a smoke extractor..   

 

Build something shaped like this from 1/8" BB ply with a hookup for your dust collector on top...??

[kmmcrafts]

30 minutes ago, OzarkSawdust said:

 

Build something shaped like this from 1/8" BB ply with a hookup for your dust collector on top...??

Something similar might work well but I think hooking to a dust collector will just make the dust collector eventually stink and then even if you aren't running the laser the dust collector may smell up the shop like a campfire.. The best solution would be to vent it outside.. 

I guess my real point might be how much money would one have to spend to rig up a venting system.. might look into a better enclosed laser with more speed and power.. My K40 running is vented to the outside via a laundry drier vent type system that is sort of a built in system.. ( though weak powered fan that needs upgraded ).. It pours smoke out like a outside wood burner or a old coal powered train.. I can't imagine running something open framed like this if it smokes as much as mine does.. May not be bad just doing small names once in a while but a larger work area that this has I could see lasering photos and a lot of things where the machine might run a few hours on a project.. that's be some serious smoke in the shop. LOL 

Edited February 6, 2021 by kmmcrafts

[rjweb]

I have a friend here in Texas that has a cnc with laser, has built a plexus glass encloser with an outside exhaust, RJ 

[OzarkSawdust]

I've never had one or been around one working. I didn't know it puts out much smoke or smell. How do other shops that do more laser woodwork handle it? 

Scott...how much smoke/smell does yours put out doing a name or the turtle?

[meflick]

Depends on what you are doing for sure. Many people build enclosures, add air assist, fans, venting tubing, etc. depends on skill level, desires, knowledge, etc. some don’t care, don’t vent. Some use in garages, use a fan, etc. Even with cost of adding those things, you are still well below the coat of the much bigger and more expensive lasers. one thing you want to be careful with is knowing what material you are burning as some can be quite toxic. This is true no matter what laser or setup you use. Some things should not be burnt, some things can be burnt if handled properly with enclosures and proper venting, educating yourself and making sure of proper setup is the most important thing you can do.

I have used mine next to open French doors with a fan when I first got it. I was hesitant to do it, but was doing small test burns on wood so went ahead. That was before winter and weather was good. Worked fine. Even when hubby came home, he could not smell any smoke in house. When winter came more prominently I moved it out to the garage. I have used with garage door partially opened and closed (depending on the weather. ) With fan blowing across, clearly smoke smell more noticeable if garage door completely closed but has never set off the smoke detectors (in house or garage. ) 

one day I will have hubby build an enclosure for it probably with vent if I want to move it inside but since I don’t burn a lot with it, or big projects doing it this way works.

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, OzarkSawdust said:

I've never had one or been around one working. I didn't know it puts out much smoke or smell. How do other shops that do more laser woodwork handle it? 

Scott...how much smoke/smell does yours put out doing a name or the turtle?

Here is a small clip of me making some engraved ornaments..  Pay close attention to the smoke being exhausted out toward the white colored rectangle opening right at the top of the project. That is the built in exhaust on my K40 laser that has a hook-up for a 4" hose connector like a drier vent.. Right now I just have it set up by a window and open window and set the hose to blow out the window.. But I will soon be adding an actual vent system as some smoke can blow back in.. I set up the laser up in my upstairs loft of the garage and when I run it.. even with the exhaust going out the window I can smell the smoke downstairs etc.

I now have air assist and some other upgrade goodies.. But at any rate.. I cannot imagine trying to run a open framed laser without some sort of exhaust.. no matter what I'm engraving / cutting.

Here is the video, 

 

[OzarkSawdust]

Very cool! But yes, that does put out some smoke and I'm sure some burnt smell also.  An exhaust setup of some type would be in order! Thanks for the video! 

I guess I had better rethink this. I was about to buy one and just set it on a table in the shop. In warm weather it would not be a problem. Just open the rollup door and roll the table just outside. I also use a 24" round fan, or is it a 36"?, in summer. But right now, 15* forecast 3*-10* later next week, it would be a problem!! I still love the idea for putting my name, and I need to come up with a logo, on things. I would also like to personalize things too. What are you cutting the ornaments out of...1/8"?

Edited February 7, 2021 by OzarkSawdust

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, OzarkSawdust said:

Very cool! But yes, that does put out some smoke and I'm sure some burnt smell also.  An exhaust setup of some type would be in order! Thanks for the video! 

I guess I had better rethink this. I was about to buy one and just set it on a table in the shop. In warm weather it would not be a problem. Just open the rollup door and roll the table just outside. I also use a 24" round fan, or is it a 36"?, in summer. But right now, 15* forecast 3*-10* later next week, it would be a problem!! I still love the idea for putting my name, and I need to come up with a logo, on things. I would also like to personalize things too. What are you cutting the ornaments out of...1/8"?

Cutting 1/8 BBply in the video.. but I have cut 1/4" Cherry and Oak ply as well.. 1/4" is about the max limit with my 40W laser..

The power output is different between laser types too so do you research on what you intend to do or use it for.. a 20W diode laser is less engrave / cut power than a CO2 laser.. then the same for fiber laser.. though I'm doubtful any hobbyist is going to buy a fiber laser.. LOL Not cheap. Lower powered ones can engrave but may not be able to cut.. time it takes will be different as well..

Just to do a logo maybe a branding iron is a cheaper option.. Guess you have to weigh out what you want to do with it. One could probably put a vent over the top of this like a exhaust range hood and vent it outside.. Not sure how much one of these cost.. I see used ones at restores and garage sales from time to time fairly cheap.. I would be reluctant to buy a new one as it may not have enough air flow to extract the smoke effectively.  An enclosure would work well with a air flow exhausting out the smoke as well.. I want a larger frame laser like this.. and may buy this one.. however I can get a laser unit for my CNC and save room in my shop as opposed to buying a whole new unit to take up space..

Edited February 7, 2021 by kmmcrafts

[OzarkSawdust]

22 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Cutting 1/8 BBply in the video.. but I have cut 1/4" Cherry and Oak ply as well.. 1/4" is about the max limit with my 40W laser..

The power output is different between laser types too so do you research on what you intend to do or use it for.. a 20W diode laser is less engrave / cut power than a CO2 laser.. then the same for fiber laser.. though I'm doubtful any hobbyist is going to buy a fiber laser.. LOL Not cheap. Lower powered ones can engrave but may not be able to cut.. time it takes will be different as well..

Just to do a logo maybe a branding iron is a cheaper option.. Guess you have to weigh out what you want to do with it. One could probably put a vent over the top of this like a exhaust range hood and vent it outside.. Not sure how much one of these cost.. I see used ones at restores and garage sales from time to time fairly cheap.. I would be reluctant to buy a new one as it may not have enough air flow to extract the smoke effectively.  An enclosure would work well with a air flow exhausting out the smoke as well.. I want a larger frame laser like this.. and may buy this one.. however I can get a laser unit for my CNC and save room in my shop as opposed to buying a whole new unit to take up space..

Thanks for all the info Kevin! I'm thinking a good branding iron should work on any type/thickness of wood...and a lot cheaper and easier. That is probably the smart way to go for now as I don't need to "sign" a lot of stuff at this time. This toy can wait till I arrange and setup the shop for the exhaust aspect of it. 

[Phantom Scroller]

I always find what ever you have you always want bigger I have a CNC shapeoko3 and a Laser NEJE master2 20w and I wish both were bigger but you buy cheap to test them out and once you know you can master them you want better but I must admit it's great scrolling while the tools work on there own. Roly

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, Phantom Scroller said:

I always find what ever you have you always want bigger I have a CNC shapeoko3 and a Laser NEJE master2 20w and I wish both were bigger but you buy cheap to test them out and once you know you can master them you want better but I must admit it's great scrolling while the tools work on there own. Roly

I can't agree more with your statement.. and it's just like the scroll saw.. buy cheap and work your way up or buy a high end large one to accommodate your every need...

I have a Nextwave HD4 CNC 24 x 24 inch work area router with water cooled spindle.. I went big on my first CNC.. well there is bigger and better.. I went with the K40 laser because I wanted power to cut through at least 1/8" material.. But the size of the work area of the K40 limited to 8 x 12 inch. I already want to go bigger with this.. More power isn't really necessary for me with the K40 at this point anyway..

There was talk on a laser group I'm in and one guy says he bought a 20 Watt Diode laser and then got a K40.. the diode laser took 30+ minutes to engrave a drink coaster.. same design in the K40 was 3 minutes.. and they was talking about fiber lasers.. and that would take about 30 - 40 seconds.. But that fiber laser price tag for a cheap one is about $6000 and that is a very small work area.. like maybe 8 x 8 inch.. LOL

So I say buy the biggest and most power one you can.. They are addictive just like the scroll saw.. Do your research and get something you can grow into.. I've only used my K40 about 15 hours.. already know I want a larger work area one..