Heyo! We have a Gweike #LG5030 (60w 110v) that recently had its air compressor die on us after 5 years of no problems. We have replaced it with a new one, but this one has been a bit louder and occasionally having extra rattling noises.
We have been trying to determine if the issue is related to the laser, the compressor, or maybe a combination (like the compressor is no good for our laser). Any advice for this would be helpful! This is a laser used by the public in a library so we want to keep it healthy as long as possible. If you need any more details, let me know and I can try to tell you what I know.
Any idea how to figure out if the pressure is too high? It’s been cutting fine, but some people do think it’s been a little stronger than before.
Also any idea if the air flow should be smooth? I’ve noticed this one has been oscillating consistently rather than totally smooth, but maybe that’s expected for this kind of air compressor?
That’s a very big air pump, possibly too big. The pipe diameter and outlet nozzle may not be able to handle that volume of air and there could be pressure build up. That could account for the oscillation of flow but the pump is a diaphragm pump so the output will be pulsating.
Unless you are saying the rattling is coming from the laser, I say your compressor is your iddue.
@Mito is right. If it is a diaphragm pump, the air will flow in pulses. Now the question we have here is, “Are those pulses impacting the motion of the laser?”
The high pressure is making the tubing to the laser stiff.
With high pressure, is that pulsing making the laser head vibrate?
You did not state what pressure you were using. If the tubing is not clamped, I would suspect 20psi would be your maximum value.
It doesn’t seem to be causing any problems like that for anyone as far as I am aware. The only issues are that it seems louder than usual and one patron experienced an issue that led to a material being ignited to much (Small fire). That could have been user error though.
We have the air compressor directly attached with no regulator so I am not 100% sure what the psi is for it. I’ll have to see if I can find something to measure the psi so we can see if a regulator would help improve it.
Though, since one of our main concerns is that the air compressor seems louder, it may be that we got one that’s just a bit louder (or our old one got quieter over time).
Pretty sure air assist did not start the fire. But it did air assist the fire after it started. I hope you have a fire extinguisher close by. Untrained users and in a public library?
Louder than the old one is not a fault. Have you considered making a sound dampening box to go over it? That is what I am considering if I purchase a bigger air supply unit. My Laser Lab is in a bedroom.
That unit is rated 5cfm @ ZERO back pressure. I doubt the pressure is too high. If some people do think it’s been a little stronger than before, that is probably a good thing.