Ortur Laser - Surprised Cutting Balsa Wood With Air Assist!

[@Mparker394]

Thanks for sharing the SVG for the grid pattern on your webpage! Engraved it on a waste board today and it’s already made a big difference in ease of setup for a project!

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

You are so welcome!

[@rangerdavidd]

Hi! Love the info, but your links to the G9 lens isn't working. Can you point to a new source? I have an Ortur 2, stock 20 watt.

[@craftedheritage572]

Sorry if I missed it. What power are you running the laser at on these cuts?

[@GuitarGuys7299]

Hi, thanks for posting this video. I just ordered my first laser engraver / cutter with a 5w laser so I can cut balsa wood R/C airplane kits and I was wondering if you could tell me what power and speed settings I should use for balsa from 1/32 to 1/2 inch thick balsa as well as 1/16 up the a 1/4 inch thick light plywood? I plan to use an air assist system when I can. So for now, I'm going to use either a small fan or use a pump for an aquarium and run a hose with a 90° tube to blow air over the cuts .

[@イエンスヨハンセン]

Love your videos - very methodical and helpful. Sorry if I missed it in the other comments, but how much air pressure do you use in your air assist?

[@AlexDiesTrying]

Good video. I recently bought the Candy by Pichler and the balsa at the edges is a light brown. I hope it doesn't take an industrial laser to do so. Hm, my airbrush compressor might actually work great with a really small nozzle.

[@PourMeAnother]

Wonderful video. Very informative!! Have you done any of these "recipes" with the 20W laser yet?

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

Not yet however planning on it :-)

[@GoldenBearKarl]

Just curious what typoe of laser are you using the 20W?

[@greggonzales2311]

What power percentage are you using?

[@RichardCournoyer]

Trust me, it's 100%. But what I wanna know is what is the volume of air ( CFM) and what pressure he's using. Why is he not talking about this important detail?

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

I always use 100% (no reason to use less for cutting)

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

I am using 6PSI

[@greggonzales2311]

@@DIY3DTECHcom Have you had any issue with the diode using it at 100%? I seem to see a lot of people having issues with their diodes go out.

[@LK-xe4vn]

It is all a bit confusing for me. As I mentioned somewhere in your video before I have 7W laser Ortur Laser Master 2. The weakest one from family (7W, 15W, 20W) and I must say, I cut trough 1.8 - 2.5mm thick material. It is actually hardwood french oak. What I do, I use 12-15 passes on speed 500 and with full power 100%. It goes fine. I cut this way many stuff. For thicker material 2.5 up... did try with 3mm oak veneer I did go for 100speed with 100 power and 2 passes, It also went through the wood. Then I am confused here about balsa. Janka Hardness: 67 lbf (300 N) for balsa vs Janka Hardness: 1,120 lbf (4,980 N) for oak. Which is about 17 times less tough than oak. How your 15W laser does what it does comparing to my 7W, not sure. And it is input 7W, Output I think is about 2.5W. If you like my wood examples and shapes I cut - please email me or contact, will provide it as you know I am not lie to you. Have lots of respect to you, just I am concerned about that speeds and passes. Cheers

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

I must admit that I am surprised on the hardwood, wonder if they accidently gave you a lager laser?

[@richfaraone]

I'm confused with the 5 mm/sec. Are you saying 5mm/sec (300mm/min)? Lightburn doesn't have mm/sec in the settings.

[@BryanClementi]

I pretty much have your exact set up and I'm cutting through ply wood like butter. The problem is that when I replicate your settings above with my laser (20W with air assist), I'm just burning up the balsa. It's essentially catching fire. It almost seems like the air assist is fueling the fire with oxygen. Not sure what I'm missing here. Any recommendations?

[@karetokanojo633]

I think your air is too weak then It almost seems like the air assist is fueling the fire with oxygen. Your Air have to be stronger .

[@danielpais7306]

Can you provide link to the laser you mentioned (G8)?

[@danielpais7306]

I have the newer ortur master 2 (LU1-4, 20w), will the G8 lens work on this laser? Will it improve (cutting 3mm wood)? www.amazon.com/gp/buy/thankyou/handlers/display.html?ie=UTF8&asins=B07D58X7BC&asins=B08CBV9FQ2&isRefresh=1&orderId=111-0574407-9362656&purchaseId=106-7220731-6165040&ref_=chk_typ_browserRefresh&viewId=ThankYouCart

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

what if you hook up a semi strong room fan to blow across the cut area? will that work as air assist?

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

nope, needs to be into the kerf for best results. Blowing across will clear fumes (from the lens) however will not clear the debris out of the kerf...

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

@@DIY3DTECHcom thx!

[@GoldenBearKarl]

can you share the 3d printable part?doesnt seem to be downloadable

[@IIIofV]

So lots of plans seem to be available to 3D print these cool parts.... but..... I don't own a 3D printer and certainly not going to go buy one for this. What is my option?

[@eaman11]

I'd get some strong tape (fiber tape), epoxy resin, some iron wire like those for dress hanger. Design a path with the wire for the air tube with the iron wire and stick it to the laser with tape or make a small frame with wood and glue. You can make a nozzle with the epoxy and then drill it, you could also epoxy the tube to give it a shape.

[@jessetutterrow4320]

Here in Saint Louis, Missouri USA the public library has them. You submit a file, they quote you a price, and if you accept, they will print it and you can pick it up. You might want to check with local libraries to see if they will do it for you.

[@stevomv304]

Speed & Passes shown, but what about power? Thanks

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

I always use 100% for cutting :-)

[@stevomv304]

@@DIY3DTECHcom Doh!! should have realized that.....

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

you ever use 2mm chipboard? or 2mm plywood?

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

3mm yes not so good (plywood) because of the glue and the same with chipboard too...

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

@@DIY3DTECHcom thx!

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

@@DIY3DTECHcom i wana make a bin to hold vitamin bottles. what material do you suggest. i want it durable. like 10 in x 8 in x 6 in.

[@edwardcasati3374]

Just out of curiosity, have you tried 3mm balsa or Baltic Birch?

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

This is balsa sorry have not tried baltic birch

[@bigbeartn]

What is the distance of the laser to the wood?

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

Its a G8 lens so about 50mm

[@davidwhitt3299]

Hi can do video cuting Leather or do I need a co2 lasser

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

Good question! I will work on this one!

[@DoRu42]

Nice but just one more test would have been REALLY helpful. You could have just put a fan blowing horizontally to see if the air assist improvements were from removing smoke or from both removing debris from the cut and removing the smoke.

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

From experience I would say 30/70 for smoke to kerf clearing. Getting the ash out is key as it forms an insulator as you see more of my Monday video when we try leather!

[@DoRu42]

@@DIY3DTECHcom so much better to spend T&E on higher velocity directed stream than just blowing air. Good to know, switching effort to centrifugal fan then. thx

[@bentebrunsvelt319]

SUPER i go try it👍👍

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

All the best!

[@MikeNewham]

Wow. Must figure out how to add air assist.

[@DIY3DTECHcom]

Makes a HUGE differance!

[@NSResponder]

Looks like your laser is just way underpowered for this purpose. Twenty passes? Seriously?