Keith Phillips
Western Thunderer
What about G1 Autocoach identification boards? I would love a Watlington Branch or Cheriton Branch. They would be a challenge in the smaller scales but I bet you're up to it
Keith
Keith
Brushs Laser Cutting and 3d Printing workbench
- Thread starter BrushType4
- Start date
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
Nothing new to show. So here is a picture of the workshop this evening. The laser is on the right, on the left is the control computer. Duel Screen, one for the laser bed display and the laptop screen for the design software. Either Qcad or CorelDraw.
Underneath the Laptop is the air scrubber that cleans the air before expelling to outside. Twin turbines each shifting 360m3 per hour. A combined 720m3. In theory the air is clean and doesn't need expelling but I prefer to keep the air in the workshop 100% fresh.
Underneath the Laptop is the air scrubber that cleans the air before expelling to outside. Twin turbines each shifting 360m3 per hour. A combined 720m3. In theory the air is clean and doesn't need expelling but I prefer to keep the air in the workshop 100% fresh.
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
The air scrubber is quite interesting. There are sensors in the laser cutter that send feedback to the scrubber and the scrubber is continually adjusting the air flow in response to conditions inside the laser. It’s totally automatic and it starts up and shuts down based on the sensor feedback. Totally hands free.
The extraction unit sucks the air from both underneath and above the laser bed. It’s strong enough to pull a vacuum and this holds the substrate flat to the laser bed. It also sucks away cutting smoke and dust from underneath the work. Smoke and dust are removed from the top of the work too. If I’m only using half the bed, I’ll cover the top extraction vents with tape on the half I’m not using, this creates an even stronger pull of the fumes out of the laser.
The extracted air goes through several filters. The first simply is a box to catch any large particles that have been sucked up. Small parts can easily be sucked out of the laser. It’s literally like a vacuum cleaner.
The air then goes though several more filters, the comfort box cleans the air of smoke. This stage makes the air safe to breath. The next filters are all about making the air smell nice. Some plastics make quite a strong smell when lasered so these last filters reduce that. I wouldn’t say they are 100% perfect. Most people are happy for the air to be recirculated but as previously mentioned, I vent the cleaned air outside. There is one more part of the system. The expelled air travels through a series of baffles that I’ve installed in the loft space. These reduce the noise level of the escaping air. I can still here the fans from outside but it’s just a low hum. A car driving past or even bird song will drown out any noise of the laser and extraction setup.
The trick is to keep the prefilter matts clean. These are reusable and put in the washing machine with my overalls once a week. The more expensive comfort box and charcoal will need replacing every few months.
So now you know that Intentio is doing it’s bit to be as environmentally friendly possible. Filtering particles from the air and reducing noise too. I wonder if this can said of the competition.
The extraction unit sucks the air from both underneath and above the laser bed. It’s strong enough to pull a vacuum and this holds the substrate flat to the laser bed. It also sucks away cutting smoke and dust from underneath the work. Smoke and dust are removed from the top of the work too. If I’m only using half the bed, I’ll cover the top extraction vents with tape on the half I’m not using, this creates an even stronger pull of the fumes out of the laser.
The extracted air goes through several filters. The first simply is a box to catch any large particles that have been sucked up. Small parts can easily be sucked out of the laser. It’s literally like a vacuum cleaner.
The air then goes though several more filters, the comfort box cleans the air of smoke. This stage makes the air safe to breath. The next filters are all about making the air smell nice. Some plastics make quite a strong smell when lasered so these last filters reduce that. I wouldn’t say they are 100% perfect. Most people are happy for the air to be recirculated but as previously mentioned, I vent the cleaned air outside. There is one more part of the system. The expelled air travels through a series of baffles that I’ve installed in the loft space. These reduce the noise level of the escaping air. I can still here the fans from outside but it’s just a low hum. A car driving past or even bird song will drown out any noise of the laser and extraction setup.
The trick is to keep the prefilter matts clean. These are reusable and put in the washing machine with my overalls once a week. The more expensive comfort box and charcoal will need replacing every few months.
So now you know that Intentio is doing it’s bit to be as environmentally friendly possible. Filtering particles from the air and reducing noise too. I wonder if this can said of the competition.
Last edited:
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
My work’s toy...
SNAP! Haha
I’m limited with experience with it but learning as I go. Can’t thrash it too much as it is priority to projects that make the company money. But my employer does let me use it for my own personal projects which Is a massive job perk!
SNAP! Haha
I’m limited with experience with it but learning as I go. Can’t thrash it too much as it is priority to projects that make the company money. But my employer does let me use it for my own personal projects which Is a massive job perk!
Attachments
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
Nice. What do you make with it?
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
The company is a consultancy firm so anything from a bracket to a detailed part! I've been using it for various basic items and slowly attempting to learn new things. I've made brackets out of perspex, box sides and laser cut a little windscreen for my 3D printed diesel. I also laser cut some basic wagon bits to chase my diesel when I ever get the chance to visit a railway with it post lock-down limitations (currently my only track is around 30cm long) I'd love to try making some more model items at some point when spare time allows me to, I've also got in mind some ideas to learn laser engraving images onto wood/perspex/slate for my desk/home. there's some really clever folks who know the machine well here I've just not brushed elbows with them all yet.
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
The
Have you had a chance to build the house up yet?
The Trotec machines are very capable. It’s possible to do similar with the Chinese lasers but it’s harder and takes a lot longer.
Have you had a chance to build the house up yet?
Osgood
Western Thunderer
A shame - whenever I drove past I felt the smell of burned MDF helped in a small but beneficial way to disguise the honk emanating from the upwind sugarbeet factory.....
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
My Single Road Shed kit updated and primed.
Last edited:
simond
Western Thunderer
I have to admit that the extract on my Cheapo Chinese (much modified) laser has been much improved by the donation, by a pal, of a humongous centrifugal fan which disperses the MDF fumes a good mile to the east... there’s not a lot of filtration, and it is entirely “plug it in when you’re cutting” as it draws way too much current for the laser, and I haven’t got around to fitting some kind of clever control yet.
but it does seem to keep the lens & mirrors a bit cleaner.
and I think it’s fair to say I’m not “the competition”
atb
Simon
but it does seem to keep the lens & mirrors a bit cleaner.
and I think it’s fair to say I’m not “the competition”
atb
Simon
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
I have to admit that the extract on my Cheapo Chinese (much modified) laser has been much improved by the donation, by a pal, of a humongous centrifugal fan which disperses the MDF fumes a good mile to the east... there’s not a lot of filtration, and it is entirely “plug it in when you’re cutting” as it draws way too much current for the laser, and I haven’t got around to fitting some kind of clever control yet.
but it does seem to keep the lens & mirrors a bit cleaner.
and I think it’s fair to say I’m not “the competition”
atb
Simon
this is a days worth of crud.
Not much in the big scheme of things but professional laser cutters shouldn’t be pushing that into the air. That’s the stuff that kills people’s lungs.
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
This has sparked a very interesting convo at work.. something I hadn't even thought about asking the experts who trained me on maintaining ours. That looks pretty nasty. does it clean up nicely with a quick once over with a hoover?
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
The hoover will clean it up.
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
Yes you can!!
Al Tait
Western Thunderer
No I can't. You're going to make enough out of me on this build as it is! Maybe on the next layout.
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
A few little bits of engraving I’ve been playing about with.
The shed plates are sticky backed plastic and are just 0.2mm thick.
The shed plates are sticky backed plastic and are just 0.2mm thick.
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
Those lockdown loco trust plates are fantastic! I wish i could produce a larger one for my wall.