LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

Hello.
My first post. I don't have a laser yet. I plan to get an Ebay Chinese 50 watt, blue machine like Russ has. I plan to make every modification Russ made to his and use his techniques.
I live in Brenham Texas. It's hot in the summer. I have a 30x40' wood shop. It has no air conditioning or heat. I have a 10x10 room in the shop I plan to put the laser. I will insulate it and put a portable heater in there for the winter.
Do I need to add air conditioning and keep it cool all year round?
Will it survive the heat? I can put in a small air conditioner.
Also, how many amps does a 50 watt machine pull?
I have to do the wiring for the room too.
Thank you for this forum. It is very helpful and I read it every day. I have viewed about half of Russ's videos.
I will be getting my laser in a few weeks. Once the room is ready.

RP

I use a 60-watt laser in an un-airconditioned garage in the Chicago suburbs in the summer and the refrigerated chiller that came with my laser, a CW-5000, seems to keep the cool enough in the summer when the garage can approach 95 °F in the afternoon. I use a 1 kW space heater in the winter to keep the coolant water from freezing.

I haven't measured current on mine, but a 50-watt machine should not draw more than around 8-10 amps, but do research with the seller and verify that. If it helps, I use the same 15-amp circuit for both the laser and the chiller as well as the air assist pump and exhaust blower.

I have been avoiding using my Laser on hot days (much over 25C) as I don't 'need' to use it for a production setting but cooling the water reservoir and or preventing the loop freezing during winter is the most key part of it. The Electronics, steppers and drive systems should be fine from zero to circa 40C otherwise.

We were discussing adding loop cooling recently here using tanks in fridges. I need to move a three door fridge and drill some holes to make it happen for me. viewtopic.php?f=125&t=4435&p=24188#p24188

In terms of laser operation, like mentioned above, a good chiller (at least a CW5000) would be my first purchase. It will chill the tube directly where cooling is needed most. Air conditioning will be nice for you body be remember that your exhaust fan will be sucking out a lot of the inside air that the air conditioner is trying to cool.

Willy Ivy is in your neck of the woods I believe and uses his laser a lot for production- he would be a good person to talk to. You can send him a PM at that name.

Robert Edington wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2020 Do I need to add air conditioning and keep it cool all year round?
Will it survive the heat? I can put in a small air conditioner.

unless this get very hot (>35-40°c), your electronics won't have a problem. the laser tube must have its own cooling, so you have to get a chiller, and a "real" one, not just a bucket of water at ambient room temperature it you are above 25°c. a CW-5000 is ok for any tube < 100W.

the ejection of fumes will draw air from your room and you will have a hard time to keep your room hot enough in winter, unless you can design a direct air entry from the outside to your laser (which not commercial laser has!). so be prepared to be cold in winter. also, if you keep doors and windows closed, your room will be in depression and cold air will force its way inside through any gap, so it's better to have at least a window open during the laser operation.