Laser Cutter

[ABearden]

You could build an enclosure and make a negative air flow. That is pretty much how most work. You need to be venting gasses anyway, after you have done some cutting you will definitely know why. The gases from laser cutting can be caustic and an irritant. They also, even with a vented machine can stink up a space and make people

Troy

Working on that part, though with the shroud and my shopvac vented outside my garage fumes weren't a problem at all. It is readily apparent when the system isn't on though! I'm more worried about incidental laser reflection during a mirror failure.

The failure of the shroud was not enough airflow into the kerf to blow the smoke out of the way, and the weight of the shopvac hose caused it to torque into the laser path which caused fire.

The plan at the moment is to redesign the lens enclosure to strictly protect the lens with positive pressure (might cast it in aluminum), then make a second piece (to avoid torque issues) to house a compressed air hose blowing toward the pickup for the shopvac. When the pickup is so close to the focal point of the laser, it moves more than enough air to keep fumes at bay.