DIY Fiber Laser Cutter V2 | Part 9: Gas Control System

[@CraigHollabaugh]

FYI Nu-Calgon 4184-24 is better for leak checking than soapy water. Thanks for the video, excitement continues!

[@diyfiberlaser]

Thanks for the tip!

[@SarahKchannel]

For you Nitrogen needs, looks at a pressure swing absorber, they can deliver higher flow rate gas derived from ambient air - its not the highest purity, but should be fine for your application.

[@diyfiberlaser]

Interesting, thanks I'll look it up.

[@Chris-bg8mk]

Moving along indeed!

[@Mr-on2di]

In an industrial fiber laser cutting machine the gas valves and regulators are always placed on the head side or on opposite side of machine where there are no control electronics or relays etc.

[@diyfiberlaser]

I’ve seen that, I don’t think I have enough room up there to do it that way on my machine

[@lennart2016]

The regulator should be mounted before the valve, if its running without pressure, it may damage itself.

[@diyfiberlaser]

Interesting, I’ve not seen any lasers doing it this way. The solenoid and regulator seem to activate at the same time (within milliseconds) so hopefully this doesn’t become an issue.

[@industrial.inoxidable]

Hi friend...with just the oxygen regulator you can control the exact pressure to cut thicker materials? I'm asking you this because a proportional valve is very expensive.

[@diyfiberlaser]

Yes, you’ll just have to set the pressure manually instead of controlling it through the software…that’s how I did it on my first machine

[@midwestcyberpunk]

Is that a small injection molding machine below that air dryer?

[@diyfiberlaser]

Yes, it's a Morgan Press...if I can ever stop building lasers for a minute, I'd like to do some injection molding content as well.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

On your old system, what PSI did you run your nitrogen? Can you estimate your cut time 2 - 3 hours maybe? Thanks Travis.

[@diyfiberlaser]

175psi…I would guess closer to 1 hour of cut time

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@diyfiberlaser This is unexpected cost to using a laser. I went to my metal yard yesterday to ask some questions, their run 300psi compressed air for everything, only switch to O2 for steel above 3/8". Our N2 tank arrives today, that's another $500. Thanks for the fast reply, may your cuts be straight and clean.

[@lpfdemt]

Hey Travis, great videos. I just ordered my set up for the 1500 W to integrate with my 4 x 8‘ CNC plasma table through SF laser getting your discount. Thank you so much. My question is I just realize that I did not order the gas control system and I have a, very large compressor with a nice dryer system on it if I am going to be using that do I have to have the gas control system kit you

[@diyfiberlaser]

If you compressor is capable, you can certainly use it as a source for assist gas, but depending on what you are cutting you might also want to use nitrogen because it leaves a much cleaner edge, also when cutting thicker carbon steel you will want to use oxygen instead of compressed air. The gas control system contains solenoid valves, and check valves, everything you need to control the gas with your controller, without it the gas would always run continuously, which may not be an issue with your compressor, but for any of the bottled gasses, it would amount to a lot of wasted gas and could get expensive.

[@lpfdemt]

Would the compressor assisted source be ok with let’s say 16 or 18 gauge steel? I cut a lot of 14ga to 10ga but would like to use some lighter steel for decorative signs, etc. thank you sir

[@lpfdemt]

And yes sir, my compressor is an 80 gallon 2 stage and can keep up with anything I cut with the plasma table. Thank you for you help .

[@diyfiberlaser]

16ga it would probably be fine, 10ga you probably want oxygen

[@lpfdemt]

​@@diyfiberlaser last question LOL! Regardless of compressor/compressed air/N2, I will be needing an "Air Gas Assist" set up in order to use the laser?

[@yngndrw.]

Could you do a video covering the down-draft extraction and safety side of it? - I have seen in a video of your previous laser cutter that you just exhaust out of the door but have you got any experience with filtering it? - I couldn't seem to find an answer online, but can you use a water table instead of extraction like you would with a plasma cutter? - What are the safety considerations with such a powerful laser source? Can you fully mitigate the issue with just the enclosure and if so, what kind of material do you need to use to properly block the effects? In particular, I'm wondering about other people entering the room without laser glasses.

[@diyfiberlaser]

Unfortunately, no. I'm in no way qualified to speak to safety. I'm exhausting outside into a carbon filter. I don't know about a water table, but I've never seen a laser with one. Eye damage, toxic fumes, burns, that's what I know of. I think you can minimize risk with a metal enclosure with proper exhaust and laser safety glass for windows. I've seen many videos of operators of open frame lasers not even wearing safety glasses while cutting. I try to play it a bit safer...I'd prefer not to lose an eye from a stray reflection.

[@yngndrw.]

@@diyfiberlaser Thank you for your responses, I didn't realise you used a filter - How quickly does it clog and need cleaning or replacement? I'd assume it doesn't produce as much dust and dirt as a plasma cutter would, but that's just based on intuition more than anything. I do always worry about the open lasers, especially on the large 8x4 router-style tables. I've been leaning towards a fully enclosed, metal-sided setup with cameras for monitoring rather than windows, but I don't know if I'm being over the top in that regard.

[@diyfiberlaser]

@@yngndrw. I've not replaced or cleaned the filter, but I'm not a very good benchmark since I'm not cutting that often. Fully-enclosed with cameras sounds safer for sure!

[@robertfekete1874]

Hello How much or where can you get the editing software that runs on your computer? I see very good software

[@diyfiberlaser]

Adobe Premiere

[@robertfekete1874]

@@diyfiberlaserThank you for your reply, but I'm not interested in the video editing software, I worded it wrong, but 7:40 this video time point shows the software I am interested in, it controls the machine I guess

[@diyfiberlaser]

@@robertfekete1874 Raytools 2DCutAhead, it works with the Raytools XC3000 controller

[@SarahKchannel]

for compressed Air, look at a rotary vane or screw compressor, they deliver constant flow air, granted with higher oil content than a regular piston compressor - but on a constant flow unlike the small shop compressors

[@yngndrw.]

You just have to be mindful that all of the oil content is removed before it gets to the shared pipework, as pure oxygen is also being used as a cutting gas. On the plus side, screw compressors often include proper oil separators because of the amount of oil that they bypass, but ideally, you still need a separate oil filter and an oil mist filter afterwards.

[@diyfiberlaser]

Thanks, I've looked into rotary compressors...it's on my list to get one of these days

[@karlomatuguinas9673]

subbbbeeedddd!!!!

[@jesseservice7828]

😂