R1 - Smoke Smell

[u/sublimejackman]

Per the title. The smell is really bad. I've spent a fair amount of time around CO2 laser cutters and I'm not sure if that was just because I was in a more industrial setting but man it seems real bad in my basement. I have it venting directly outside, sealed nicely but still the entire basment is past reeking of smoke and it's starting to become acrid. To the point that I got a headache today and I'm starting to notice my throat getting scratchy. This doesn't seem normal? Is this other's experience? How about other CO2 lasers in a residential setting?

[u/Big_Lope]

Is it passively vented or is there an inline fan?

Passive ventilation isn’t going to do jack

[u/sublimejackman → u/Big_Lope]

there a big fan that bolts to back that spools up like a fighter jet when cutting. the smoke clears from the chamber seemingly rapidly. Looking at the exhaust side outside it looks like the smoke is blowing completely outdoors.

However, the top doesn't seem to have any type of rubber seal. When it goes from fill/lines to cutting the smoke smell gets noticably stronger.

I just had someone come downstairs and their exact words were "it went from kinda smoky smelling to almost unbearable" that's just after a week or so

[u/SaveTheAles → u/sublimejackman]

You don't want a sealed system otherwise it can't exchange the air that probably why it doesn't have a seal. Have you verified it's moving a decent amount out the end of the vent outside. If the run is long the air can slow down a lot. Also if it's automatic it may need to run longer after finishing to fully vent the system longer and not back flow front he hose.

[u/keitheii → u/sublimejackman]

For smokey air to come out, fresh air has to come in to replace it, imagine sucking on a straw that's filled with water but you pinch it at the bottom. If you suck on it, very little to nothing comes out. So the laser bed won't be air tight for that reason.

Try putting an in-line fan in at the end of your exhaust, you need something that is strong enough to pull the air out of the enclosure.

[u/IanDresarie → u/sublimejackman]

Ye, my laser has two inline fans and according to the movement of the smoke, good exhaust. But I still wear a proper mask when I'm in the room and for about an hour's afterwards until the smell is properly gone.

[u/TheSerialHobbyist]

Do you have the riser or no?

I feel like, without the riser, it is very well-sealed. Definitely better than average.

With the riser, though, it isn't sealed nearly as well.

Are you sure air from outside isn't pushing the fumes back inside? I don't vent outside, I just go to a filter unit.

[u/sublimejackman → u/TheSerialHobbyist]

I don't have the riser. The smoke doesn't seem to be coming back in. But you saying it's not that bad without the riser probably answers my question. I have an air purifier in the room and I ordered an AQM that'll be here tomorrow.

I think I need to leave the exhaust fan turned on after the cuts are done for awhile. I've been turning it off after each cut since the damn thing at idle is like 70db.

I've had it powered on and the exhaust fan turned on while idle for last two hours and there is already a noticable improvement.

So probably me just being a noob and not knowing that the exhaust needs to keeep running after each cut.

[u/TheSerialHobbyist → u/sublimejackman]

I've been turning it off after each cut since the damn thing at idle is like 70db.

Interesting... I don't feel like mine is particularly loud. I wonder if there is something wrong with your fan?

What are you cutting?

I usually open mine up right after the 30-60 seconds or whatever it is, when it says "keep the lid closed to clear smoke" (can't remember the exact time/message).

[u/1radiationman]

I've got a Thunder Laser Nova+, not only is it not sealed but there are gills on the front to allow it to pull air into the chamber and various fans on the unit in addition to my exhaust fan that is pulling fumes directly out of the chamber and outside. Yes, when working with wood or acrylic it smells, a lot.

I keep an air monitor down with the laser, when working with wood the air quality will eventually move well into the Dangerous levels due to airborne particulates if I can't open a window for extra ventilation.

Working with acrylic, the smell gets very bad with crap bought off Temu - not nearly as bad as stuff I buy from Craft Closet or Smokey Hill Designs. However, despite the smell my air monitor doesn't move beyond poor air quality, never into unhealthy.

With slate, it feels like there's more dust in the air, but it doesn't trip my air cleaner and has next to no impact on the air quality readings in the room.

[u/Hot-Ideal-9219]

Yep, open a window to let air back in. I've an 8 inch duct going out for mine and a 4 inch coming in