Laser Cutting Air Compressor

All Laser Cutters need two additional devices which move air: blower which removes air / extracts smoke from machine and air compressor as a source for compressed air for so called air assist.

Laser cuts by heat, very high heat focused in tight beam. Side products of high heat are smoke and fire, both are not welcomed addition, smoke disperses laser beam reducint it's efficienty and fire causes charring of material / edges and can even get out of control causing serious emergency.

Fire needs air to burn but it will also die if you blow too hard, think of a candle in the wind. This is essentialy what air assist is for: compressed air is extruded directly at the laser head in a very tight stream and is directed at the place where laser touches material.

Pressure of air is key variable for air assist efficienty, in our shop we found out that optimal value is between 2 and 3.5 bar (31-50psi).

To achieve required pressure compressor needs to push certain volume of air through air assist opening, exact volume depends on size of the opening and desired pressure. High quality laser cutter heads have small and finely tuned openings while cheaper chinese cutters just blow in general direction via large holes.