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Question: laser fumes extraction and filter technology indoors 'how too/diy'

Steef66

Steef66

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I want to buy a sculpfun S9 with air asist.
But reading me in this part of our hobby I discover that laser cutting is not something to do indoors. I want to use this printer in my workshop and that giving problems. I live in an appartement, my hobby room doesn't have a window to the open air so all fumes will be in the house.

I can buy these special filters. But my budget is not that big. Where do I have to pay attention on, is there cheap solution? Carbon filtration? Are there good video's? Tutorials?
 
This is a real problem. I think it might be best to mount your laser rig on a trolley and move it to somewhere there is a window. Lasering wood is smoky and smelly and will potentially set off the fire and or smoke alarms in your apartment building.
 
Thanks but...... I want to work in my hobby room. Other places are no option. So my question is how to filter the air. Use these carbon filters of the kitchenette exhaust above the stove for example? Will that work to clean the air?
 
It's all about the cfm's. For example, my microwave over the oven is 400 cfm. I have seen some at 500. Bathroom fans are 80-100 cfm.
That fan that you are looking at is 150 cfm. I don't know if it's enough.
 
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The box around the cutter will be about 50x50x30 cm. it's closed only on the underside open a bit to let air in. on top there will be the exhaust to suck the fumes. so a bathroom fan or less must be enough I think. Only the filtration is for me still a fog.
 
I find a video about the filtration of fumes, smell and smoke.
3 way filters first a dust filter, second a hepa 13 filter and then a active carbon filter. Simpel to clean the air.
 
I'm thinking to make a build-in air cleaner in the back of the housing where the printer comes in.
I found these for a reasonable price


and I have hepa 13 filters what I use for my aircleaner
https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B07FQHYTC9?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title I bought them very cheap, 5 piece for around the 16 Euro. I can use 1 and make it smaller.

But I'm still thinking if I'll buy a laser cutter/engraver or not...
I've learned to wait buying things, that saves sometimes money about things I don't use in the future, and such a machine could be one of them.
 
I had one of those less expensive lasers and I got rid of it. I am going to save up to buy a CO2 laser which is a lot more powerful. I don't know which one yet, but I want to get one that has an air purifier system integrated in the design.

I am at an advantage in that I can exhaust the fumes outdoors, so that is what I would be doing.

Here is an example.

40W Desktop CO2 Laser Engraver, 12 x 8 in, 11.8 IPS Laser Cutter Machine with Water-Cooled Laser Tube - On Sale - Bed Bath & Beyond - 41328304

High Compatibility: Compatible Operating Systems: Windows XP, 7, 8, 10. Supported Graphic Formats: Recognizes all formats compatible with CorelDraw, such as JPG, BMP, AI, PLT, and more.
www.bedbathandbeyond.ca www.bedbathandbeyond.ca
 
My bit, realising I am lucky to have a full work shed of some 5x4 meters. And read as 'trying to support, not trying to tell you to stop'.

These build in air purifiers are ... hmmm. I ended up with building an enclosure around it and adding an outgoing ventilator to the lot. It is not only the fumes (as in toxicity), but the smells are horrible. To note: laser cutting ABS is less of a smelling problem than wood. But I'm sure the lesser fumes are more toxic. And you will be amazed how much dust is being produced, especially when lasering wood.

Key message: not an ideal situation. So whatever you build (and I recognise the limited options in your situation), make sure you spend the little extra to get it right.
- try to enclose the laser cutter (and install a green plexiglass screen to protect your eyes)
- use a sturdy ventilator (nothing expensive)
- create a filter box (basically a big carton filled with filter cloth, nothing expensive)
- create a hole in one side that will take the hose and create some outlet on the other side to ensure there is airflow
- create a hose from the boxed laser cutter to the ventilator and from the ventilator to a filter box

It will at least help getting some of the fumes and dust out of the air.

tempImagevX1RHI.jpgtempImageLomzNt.jpg
 
Jack Sparrow said:
I had one of those less expensive lasers and I got rid of it. I am going to save up to buy a CO2 laser which is a lot more powerful. I don't know which one yet, but I want to get one that has an air purifier system integrated in the design.

I am at an advantage in that I can exhaust the fumes outdoors, so that is what I would be doing.

Here is an example.

40W Desktop CO2 Laser Engraver, 12 x 8 in, 11.8 IPS Laser Cutter Machine with Water-Cooled Laser Tube - On Sale - Bed Bath & Beyond - 41328304

High Compatibility: Compatible Operating Systems: Windows XP, 7, 8, 10. Supported Graphic Formats: Recognizes all formats compatible with CorelDraw, such as JPG, BMP, AI, PLT, and more.
www.bedbathandbeyond.ca www.bedbathandbeyond.ca
Click to expand...
To much for my budget. But I think this one https://hobbylasercutters.com/sculpfun-s9/ with airassit on AliExpress just 220 Euro is a good machine and what I reading about it, it will do things I just need.
But like I said, still in doubt.
 
Marquinius said:
My bit, realising I am lucky to have a full work shed of some 5x4 meters. And read as 'trying to support, not trying to tell you to stop'.

These build in air purifiers are ... hmmm. I ended up with building an enclosure around it and adding an outgoing ventilator to the lot. It is not only the fumes (as in toxicity), but the smells are horrible. To note: laser cutting ABS is less of a smelling problem than wood. But I'm sure the lesser fumes are more toxic. And you will be amazed how much dust is being produced, especially when lasering wood.

Key message: not an ideal situation. So whatever you build (and I recognise the limited options in your situation), make sure you spend the little extra to get it right.
- try to enclose the laser cutter (and install a green plexiglass screen to protect your eyes)
- use a sturdy ventilator (nothing expensive)
- create a filter box (basically a big carton filled with filter cloth, nothing expensive)
- create a hole in one side that will take the hose and create some outlet on the other side to ensure there is airflow
- create a hose from the boxed laser cutter to the ventilator and from the ventilator to a filter box

It will at least help getting some of the fumes and dust out of the air.

View attachment 473336View attachment 473337
Click to expand...
Nice setup. I seen that fan too, you'd installed, just 20 more than that one I choose in my earlier post. Still an option.
Where do you live in in our country? I'm from Ittervoort.
You know tomorrow there is in Amsterdam a meeting? look at here: https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/threads/expo-historische-scheepsmodelbouw-2024.288186/#post-4345815 Maybe we could meet there.
 
 
Steef66 said:
Nice setup. I seen that fan too, you'd installed, just 20 more than that one I choose in my earlier post. Still an option.
Where do you live in in our country? I'm from Ittervoort.
You know tomorrow there is in Amsterdam a meeting? look at here: https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/threads/expo-historische-scheepsmodelbouw-2024.288186/#post-4345815 Maybe we could meet there.
Click to expand...
I’m trying to juggle my diary to see if I can join that thing in Amsterdam.

I live in Almere.
 
Even with full enclosure and external venting laser machines do have a burnt wood odor to them when not in use ( similar to wood stove ) I don't think any kind of filtering will be enough , you really need to vent outside or have machine on cart and burn outside
 
sleepyfish said:
Even with full enclosure and external venting laser machines do have a burnt wood odor to them when not in use ( similar to wood stove ) I don't think any kind of filtering will be enough , you really need to vent outside or have machine on cart and burn outside
Click to expand...
You are quite right. The filter removes particulates, but not the smelly volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde, acrolein, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, acetaldehyde, and furfural, guaiacol, phenol, syringol and catechol. plus many more, some toxic, some toxic and carcinogenic, and some merely carcinogenic.
 
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