I have the latest model. Air assist is built in. Previous models had a switch to adjust air assist. For whatever reason, GWEIKE tech support knows nothing about my model. I suspect it is not working. Tech support told me to put a tissue under it to see if it is blowing. I told them it is not. Then they said it only turns on when cutting. Since the machine will pause when cutting, that won’t work. Then the rep told me to get a magnet and kludge it so it will hold the tissue …. Um, yeah. My time is worth more then whatever a better air assist will cost. I think I can cut the hose off the built in pump and route it outside the case.
Has anyone done this? I’m guessing no unless you have a new machine. Thanks in advance!
The Ruida has two current sinks, Status and Wind. The Status goes low when you execute any layer. Wind (if enabled in the controller) goes low when the air assist option is enabled on the layer and that layer is executing.
I have an external 20G tank compressor that feeds the system. Arrow is pointing at the chillers connection to the Ruida for a fault detection. The hose on the right comes from the compressor.
The way most of us use it, is to enable the air flow with Status, via a solenoid then it runs through a restrictor giving you low pressure air.
When Wind goes low it operates a solenoid valve to bypass the restrictor.
This allows a low pressure air flow for lens protection and the ability to use high pressure via the air assist on the layer… This is a picture of the solenoids and restrictor.
So, I think it runs on electricity … Captain America to Ironman, regarding the state of a space ship control panel
There are no openings on the back of my GWeike. I thought I could feed a tube in and connect with the existing tube. From what I read, I thought it was a simple turn it on, turn it off. Is what you are saying that for some burns air assist is used and others it is not? Thanks!
I just received my Gweike Cloud Pro 2 a few days ago. I noticed that when using the air assist when cutting, it takes a few seconds for the air to ramp up to speed. The first part of the cut has no air coming out of the nozzle. I was using their offline software. I just upgraded my Lightburn to the DSP version. The other problem is that the air intake for the air assist is inside the enclosure. It’s pulling in smoke from the cutting, and pushing it through the nozzle. Not one of the reviewers talked about this problem. After I received the unit, I saw a review that was just published by Samcraft on Youtube. I am planning on trying an external air compressor that has the intake outside the enclosure. If this works, I will post the details in the forum. I really don’t want to have to modify it, but if I want to use it, I am going to have to. I still have some time to send it back, but I’m sure that will be a hassle. The other thing that I was thinking about is adding an offline controller. I have seen this done with the Omtech Polar. That may be an option.
These operate a bit differently from the OMTech polar, so I don’t know the ramifications of this mod, but if possible I’d consider it… At minimum it would allow changes in the IP and the ability to set the origin, making Lightburn start from: User origin location usable. And other things that can only be done via the control panel.
This is a good comparison video…
We can help you with air assist for your Ruida also…
I’ve had nothing but frustrating experiences dealing with Gweike. If it works at all (I can’t tell) my air assist works poorly. Speaking with a “Gweike engineer” I repeatedly got answers that were not relative to my model. I also could not get the camera to work. I found a recent review on YouTube and the guy said that a lot of people couldn’t get the camera to work (he rated it as not recommended). Given it cost half of a Glowforge, I’m starting to look at it as a high-quality version of the $500 Chinese laser and accept that I have to add air assist and a camera. I am an old-school hacker; this is not a user error. I just wish I knew what I was getting into upfront.
Where did you set your focus? For 1/8” (3mm) I give the z axis -10. For thicker, I subtract more. I am guessing there is a Lightburn setting someplace for this. I do love the Lightburn software. I even booked the hotel for the conference later this year.
I’m running about the same Z settings for 3mm material. I had been using Gweike Cloud offline software. It’s buggy, and it takes a long time to use move the laser. There is a considerable amount of delay. I just got the DSP license upgrade for Lightburn. I will reply with my settings using Lightburn. I’m going to try to mod the air assist. I have an airbrush compressor that I’m going to try. It has a moisture trap and a regulator. I have not tried the camera. I was thinking about getting one of the real Lightburn wide angle cameras. I have one of the Lightburn cameras on an Xtool D1 and it works great. I’m not sure about doing the mods, because once I do, I can’t return it. The Xtool P2 is not much more than I have already spent on this, and seems to be more capable. It also has a larger bed. I’ going to spend a few days working on it and I will post what I found.
So I drilled a hole in the bottom of the cabinet and added a snorkel:
After making that fitting for the air pump inlet, I discovered the pump connector pulled right off, so the snorkel became a lot simpler than I expected.
