Air flow to keep lens clean

If you have made Upgrades and/or Modifications to your machine, let us know about them here.
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Jonathan Lustenader
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2019
Location: Plattsburgh, NY
Country: United States
Laser Machine Make or Type: Goldmarklaser
Laser Power: 100w
Laser Bed Size: 6090
Home Position: TL
RDWorks Version: 8.01.26
Windows Version: 10

Is there anything that would make adding an additional air port on the top side of the lens a bad idea? The ultimate air assist keeps air flowing to keep the bottom side of the lens clean, I'd like to keep the top side cleaner as well. Might be a little finnicky dialing in the flow at the head so it doesn't starve the air assist when cutting, but that's the only real con I can think of.
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sebastien laforet
Posts: 143
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016
Location: Lyon
Country: France
Laser Machine Make or Type: bodor BCL0605MU
Laser Power: 100W
Laser Bed Size: 60*50cm
Home Position: TR
RDWorks Version: 8.01.19
Windows Version: 7

from my experience, flowing air on the TOP side of the lens is totally useless. never had any residue on this side... this may be the cleanest part of your machine, as the way for the fume to get inside is through the top opening, way higher than the place where the fume is produced.

unless you have absolutely no ventilation in the machine, the fumes should move laterally to the back of the machine, and never go up.
Sébastien Laforet
machine : Bodor BCL-0605 (60x50) with 100W laser with TR origin.
Live in France
Primarily works laser for my wife (school teacher, so lots of boxes, letters, puzzles, ...) and miniature scenery (32mm scale : warmachine, infinity)
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Brian Book
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2016
Location: Burlington, Ontario Canada
Country: Canada
Laser Machine Make or Type: Rayfine
Laser Power: 80W
Laser Bed Size: 24" x 16"
Home Position: TL
RDWorks Version: v18.01.18
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: 10
Accessories: Chuck Rotary

I'm picturing the Air you produce on top of the lens will go directly to your 3rd mirror and if there is any debris it just adhere to the 3rd mirror and you would be worse off .... just my opinion.

Brian
Ray Fine 80w 6040 110v TL
Chuck Style Rotary
RDWorks 8.01.18
Corel Draw 6

Brian
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Eric Fryfogle
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2023
Location: Michigan
Country: USA
Nickname: Eric
Laser Machine Make or Type: HL-1060
Laser Power: 80W
Laser Bed Size: 26X39
Home Position: TL
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: 8.01
Ruida Controller: RDC6445
Windows Version: 10
Accessories: RDWorks is my back up fail over application.

I did it, I like it. It keeps positive pressure on the top side of the lens. I did use a flow control, set screw style so I can control the pressure from both upper and lower of the lens.

My 3rd mirror and lens are never really dirty, however I still pull and clean.
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Ricardo Pinho
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2023
Location: Porto
Country: Portugal
Laser Machine Make or Type: Transon
Laser Power: 100W
Laser Bed Size: 130cm x 90 cm
Home Position: TR
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: 8.01.59
Ruida Controller: RDC6445
Windows Version: 10

Eric Fryfogle wrote: Sat Feb 04, 2023 I did it, I like it. It keeps positive pressure on the top side of the lens. I did use a flow control, set screw style so I can control the pressure from both upper and lower of the lens.

My 3rd mirror and lens are never really dirty, however I still pull and clean.
Hello, this looks like a really good idea! Do you lose a lot of pressure and flow in the nozzle?
Thank you.
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Gareth Lewis
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2022
Location: Aberdare, RCT, Wales
Country: United Kingdom
Nickname: Gareth
Laser Machine Make or Type: Tangerine Tiger
Laser Power: 50W
Laser Bed Size: 300 x 500
Home Position: BL
Control Software: RDWORKS
RDWorks Version: v8.01.47
LightBurn Version: v1.5.03
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: 10
Accessories: Rotary Unit, Camera, digital millammeter, digital thermometer readout
Contact:
Contact Gareth Lewis

I'd agree that the top side of the lens will rarely get dirty. The only concern with your fix is that you're adding weight to the laser head, potentially decreasing your engraving speed.
Gareth Lewis
Forum Owner & Administrator
LaserUser Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)
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Willy Ivy
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2016
Location: Pattison, Texas
Country: USA
Nickname: Willy
Laser Machine Make or Type: KH 7050
Laser Power: 60W
Laser Bed Size: 12" x 20"
Home Position: TL
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: v8.01.18
LightBurn Version: 1.6.03
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: W7 Pro, W10
Accessories: Hot dog rotary
Gantry powered rotary (plans supplied by Gene Uselman)
Lightburn camera
Homemade chiller (mini fridge)
Ultimate air assist
Dad Burn It Laser (.com)
Contact:
Contact Willy Ivy

Aahh, a/c for the lens. Sometimes you just have to feel good about modifying something.
Willy
PLEASE! ;) CONSIDER A DONATION TO THIS FORUM AS THERE ARE COST[s] INVOLVED TO KEEP IT MAINTAINED AND AVAILABLE FOR ALL TO USE. [en]VISION CHINESE LASER HELP WITHOUT IT.https: :o
Thank You
Willy
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