The Air Brush compressors I looked at HF online seemed to be about .5 to .7 CFM, much lower that what you will need at 1.1. The other option is to buy a standard larger one as suggested and then use a good regulator to drop the PSI down to the 30 you need. Glad you waited and got the specs for the one required.
Last edited by Bill George; 09-22-2014 at 3:38 PM.
Retired Guy- Central Iowa.HVAC/R , Cloudray Galvo Fiber , -Windows 10
The one I linked above will meet your needs and it's quiet which is more than I can say for a lot of other compressors out there. Clean dry air is what you really want to add into your laser source and having something with the ability to deliver more than the suggested CFM is what you want when it comes to most materials. I've met a number of folks who've gone as far as putting in larger lines, openings, etc to get more air through the system.
Last edited by Bill George; 09-22-2014 at 3:43 PM.
Retired Guy- Central Iowa.HVAC/R , Cloudray Galvo Fiber , -Windows 10
This discussion has mentioned all kinds of pumps and compressors. Not everyone reading this forum will know when a regulator is not appropriate. I assumed by "standard larger one" you meant a regular compressor like you would get at a borg but it could have been interpreted to mean a larger airbrush or aquarium pump type.
Shenhui 1440x850, 130 Watt Reci Z6
Gerber Sabre 408
Last edited by Rich Harman; 09-22-2014 at 8:01 PM.
Shenhui 1440x850, 130 Watt Reci Z6
Gerber Sabre 408
Anything that blows air will work. Like, a "regular" air compressor, and a $20 pressure regulator?
Found this on Rabbit Laser's website, for $65, this is a bargain, and it's ALL you will ever need- I have a nearly identical one that came with my Triumph, it's quiet, it blows a ton of air at WO, and being a diaphragm pump, you can totally block the airflow while it's running and it doesn't care a bit...
Last edited by Kev Williams; 09-22-2014 at 9:52 PM.
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ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
FOUR - CO2 lasers
THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
ONE - vinyl cutter
CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle
That's an air pump Kev not a true compressor, while the FAD may be quite high (you can get the ACO series up to 500 litre versions (ACO480/550) ) the pressure is 7 PSI Max, for a western made laser that's like blowing over it by mouth and will achieve very little.
The air *pumps* are to reduce flame ups, NOT to improve quality of cut or efficiency.
Air (or compressed gas) is the *God* of all laser cutting, get it right and it makes 75% to 150% difference!
The only one on this thread that is suitable at semi reasonable cost is the one Rich posted or the larger tanked versions I posted.
cheers
Dave
You did what !
Dave, Rich and everyone else- Thank you for all the input! The one epilog provides is a gast so I think I'll probably just go with that one.
So I am using the "air pump" that Kev posted. So is there an advantage to going with more pressure and CFM on a small Chinese laser like I have? I have a large shop compressor I could hook up via a tee and then install a good regulator.
Retired Guy- Central Iowa.HVAC/R , Cloudray Galvo Fiber , -Windows 10
I've never noticed air ever did anything for my cutting as far as improving the cut or efficiency. But then, I don't cut all that much stuff.
So back to my first statement, it puzzles me that very few people on this forum seems to own a regular air compressor...? I've never been without one, just too many uses for 'em. And as for lasering, with 125psi on tap, you WILL have enough air
========================================
ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
FOUR - CO2 lasers
THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
ONE - vinyl cutter
CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle