Laser Upgrade! Omtech / Ebay / Chinese Stock Fan Removal and AC Infinity Inline Fan Installation
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- In this video I remove the stock fan from my OMTECH MF2028 laser and install a much higher performance (and quieter) inline fan for fume extraction. This is a pretty common machine, so even if you bought your machine from amazon, ebay, or overseas, you'll find this video helpful! Links to the products I used below.
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Amazon Associate Links Below
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AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S6, Quiet 6” Inline Duct Fan with Speed Controller: amzn.to/3WwTVff
AC Infinity Flexible 6-Inch Aluminum Ducting: amzn.to/3Ywe4Uu
AC Infinity Wall-Mount Duct Grille Vent for 6-Inch Ducting: amzn.to/3PGdTSn
Other useful items:
ForPro 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA): amzn.to/3BKyH5I
Premium Grade - Deionized Water - 1 Gallon: amzn.to/3W0Lskx
Great video😍 Thank you!
This really removed the anxiety.
I'm so glad you found this helpful!
Thanks for the video. BTW. Had the same problem with the screws. They are not #2 screws. They are #1 screws. With the correct screwdriver, they came out easily. Just wanted to let you know.
Thanks! Guess I chose the wrong tool for the job!!
Thank you for your videos. Thumbs up and subscribed.
Two questions.
1. The fan has to be manually turned on each time the machine is turned on? No way to wire it to turn on with each laser fire?
2. It’s ok to vent outside? I don’t first need to filter the smoke with an omtech 4stage filter before dumping it outside? Neighbors should be ok with it?
The way this fan is wired is completely separate from the unit, which to me is a plus. Yes, I have to turn it on before I start a job, but this benefits me in two ways. First, I don't have to hear the fan when the laser is on but not running a job. Secondly, I now have the laser in a small room with A/C and the fan is in the same window in the video. If the fan were always on, it would be sucking the cool air out of the room and blowing it out the window all the time. For your second question... I guess it really depends on what you are cutting, and how close/sensitive your neighbors are. I've never had a complaint, but my neighbors are a decent distance from where my laser exhausts. If you are cutting or engraving wood, it'll smell like a camp fire or chimney smoke. If you cut acrylic or leather, the smell is much worse!
I'm enjoying your videos and looking forward to seeing how you upgrade the air assist. I've had my laser two months and have upgraded to a AC Infinity fan and purchased the American Photonics lens kit, but I'm still running the stock air assist. So far no issues with it.
I'll work on that video! I've changed over to using a compressor. I still plan on doing a solenoid addition so that lightburn can trigger the air assist.
This is a great video. I watch it and learned a lot before I swapped out my exhaust. I didn't have the shrink tubing but I put electrical caps along with electrical tape on the ends. I hope that is enough. Also, I needed to drill holes to attach the the round vent attachment to the actual machine. My model is different than yours but the process is very similar. Thanks!
Really glad you found it so useful! Enjoy your new laser!
Thanks, I think I'm going to try the harder way so that the new fan goes on automatically
Jerry
Let me know how it goes!
Nice video! Any comments on antifreeze in the chiler water to avoid freezing?
The first winter I had my laser I ran antifreeze in the cooler. This is what Thunder Laser recommends - support.thunderlaserusa.com/portal/en/kb/articles/thunder-laser-approved-antifreeze#RV_ANTIFREEZE
@@directedt3ch What about now? You don't use antifreeze anymore?
@@directedt3ch Thanks for this. I guess I'll use this only when necessary. I'll just have to be careful about draining the water out before temps drop too much.
@@smattt I moved the laser into an insulated partition in my garage. It never gets below ~50 degrees in there now. I just run distilled water in the cooler these days.
Thanks for the video. Does the original exhaust need to be removed? Can the in-line just work as extra pull from down the line?
You'll lose efficiency with the inclined still in. It has a much lower output than the external fan so it becomes an impediment to airflow.
Another great video! I'm looking forward to more!
Thank you so much Brandon! I've been busy working on several more!
The perforated plate the original fan was mounted on should normally be reinstalled to the inside of the laser cutter/engraver. Its purpose is to serve as a spark arrestor, thereby preventing hot debris large enough to cause a fire from being pulled into the exhaust stream. The 6" AC Infinity fan is rated at 405 CFM at full speed, which is high enough to pull in debris from laser operations. While the aluminum duct isn't flammable, accumulated debris could catch fire within the duct and burn through.
When designing a solution, always think of the most unlikely things that can happen...because they very well may if not prevented. Over the years, I've presented case studies during weekly safety meetings of workplace incidents which were 100% preventable but resulted in serious injury or death.
Be safe! The one thing you can't make is another you.
Appreciate your insights!
Hi,
Just saw your video and will be installing the fan upgrade this week.
Just curious, why did you opt not to use the existing old 120V fan wiring and an outlet box to power your new fan automatically?
Thanks,
Jerry Kornbluth
It was just easier to plug the new fan in to my power strip.
I always wanted to consider going this path because I used an inline fan in my tubing part way away from the laser (about 6') to create a stronger vacuum, but it isn't as effective as this. What CPM rating did you suggest? I see this one is 402CPM which sounds decent. The bigger question is if there isn't a fan directly IN the laser on back, how far could this fan be placed before you lose appropriate suction? Unfortunately for me, I've got a rising 13' distance from my laser to an external vent source.
With the run you describe you might want to get the next size up in the Infinity line (if you go that route). Most people advise keeping the fan closer to the exhaust side since if you are pushing smoke through a long run of tubing, any tiny holes in your ductwork are just places for the smoke to exhaust into your workplace. If you keep the 'vacuum' side long, those holes just let in a bit of air to your run but the smoke stays out of your workspace.
@@directedt3ch You said it brother. Thanks! Always appreciative of your videos. Keep on burning!
@@NFOsec You're very welcome! More videos soon!
Can the stock fan be left in?
It's less than ideal to leave it in. I restricts the airflow greatly and it's something you'll have to clean.
@@directedt3ch so I'd have to remove the fan from a new machine (I've ordered xTools P2, not even sure if the fan can be removed/switched off) even if I had the AC infinity around 3 metres from the back of the laser? Would the S4 still cause air flow issues if the stock laser fan was left in/on?
@@neilrisley6667 I wouldn't remove the stock fan on a machine like this. The omtech I own is a lot easier to work on and upgrades like the one in the video are expected. I'm sure you'd immediately void your warranty with xTool if you cracked it open to remove anything.
@@directedt3ch the CFM is 145 with the P2 fan & I want to exhaust out of a window around 10 metres away. I thought having an inline fan half way between the laser & the window would help pull air out. Are you saying the AC infinity S6 or S4 would be more of a hindrance than a help then? Because I'm not sure the power of the fan in the laser would carry fumes out through 10 metres of exhaust pipe 🤷♂️ Apologies for the questions btw...this will be my first time properly exhausting a CO2 laser outside
@@neilrisley6667 It'll probably help to have the AC Infinity to assist with fume removal with that length of duct run. It might not be as efficient as it could be with the other fan in the way, but it'll probably be a net positive.
ya these chineese screws are junk.. The metal they use in their production is way inferrior to USA's
It was definitely a challenge getting them out!
i just had the same issue too had to use an extractor.. oh well.. :)@@directedt3ch