Is their anything else I need besides the laser to laser engrave?
I think when people jump into the CO2 laser world they think that they are going to require a ton of stuff. Truthfully, it’s pretty simple and not true.
So what do you need to have your brand new CO2 Laser up and running?
CO2 Laser Required Items.
These are the things YOU NEED for running a CO2 Laser:
- CO2 Laser
- Vent Hose
- Water Bucket
- Imaging Software
- An Electrical Outlet capable of handling the lasers electrical needs!
As crazy as it sounds, thats it. When I got into CNC work I had to buy this and then that, it was never ending. Truth of the matter is that if you buy from someone like OMTech, the required items are all included. Straight out of the box.
But, you probably want a few other things.
Items that are "Good to Have" for CO2 laser.
Probably not an all exhaustive list, but this will get you doing all the normal lasering activities:
- Water Chiller
- Fume Extractor
- Upgraded Air Assist
- Rotary Device
- Fire Extinguisher
- Fire Blanket
- Calipers
- Painters Tape
- Upgraded Lighting
- Add-On Camera
- Magnets
Water Chiller
A water chiller is an essential component in many CO2 laser systems. Its primary function is to cool the laser tube, which generates a significant amount of heat during operation. CO2 lasers rely on a high-voltage electrical discharge to excite the gas mixture within the tube, producing the laser beam. This process generates heat that needs to be efficiently dissipated to maintain optimal performance and prevent overheating.
With that said, I live in South Texas where its…. HOT. I have used this water bucket for my 60 watt since I bought it years ago. No issues as of yet, or even signs of issues. I will note, I added the Blue Flow Indicator so I can affirmatively see that the water is circulating. Most lasers come with a water bucket, but it doesn’t have a lid so I bought this bucket from Home Depot and cut a small hole in the top.
Probably a good time to mention it, I am an Affiliate Marketer for Amazon, ToolsToday, SPE Tools and a few others. If you see a link pointing to a product, I likely will make a commission if you buy it. It costs you nothing and makes allows me to keep my website running!
Upgraded Air Assist
Upgraded Air Assist is really number 3 on my list of “nice to haves” but as the picture is here I figured I would mention it. You DON’T need to upgrade your air assist. You don’t. But, it makes your machine more effecient and your etching/engraving prettier or cleaner.
I ran my machine for about a year before I upgraded and OMG, it makes a world of difference. Cuts are cleaner, and so much less smoke marking residue on the product.
Here is a link to how I upgraded my Air Assist.
Fume Extractor
A Fume Extractor to me is really a necessity. Your laser will probably come with an exhaust fan, but it is just not enough. The fumes from lasering range from basically wood smoke (still a carcinogen) to seriously TOXIC stuff like the powder coat from etching a Tumbler.
Fume Extraction removes most of those toxins and allows you to safely laser in an enclosed environment. I only use the AC Infinity series of fume extractors, they are AMAZING.
This is a link to an article I wrote about my Fume Exhaust system.
Rotary Device
I think a lot of people getting into the laser “space” overtly or at least secretly want to etch tumblers (like a 40oz Stanley or Yeti). If that is true for you, you need a rotary device!
I am a staunch supporter of the company Lens Digital and am personally using their PiBurn 4.0 right now. My story? I bought the 4 Wheel Rotating Axis with my laser from OMTech. Shortly after figuing out my laser I tried it and low and behold, it has some serious design flaws that make getting a consistent good engraving almost impossible. Can it be done? Yeah, but I am batching hundreds of tumblers, I need them perfect.
I chose the PiBurn 4.0 Rotary Device and here is an article I wrote about it.
I am NOT currently an affiliate for Lens Digital (but we are talking so maybe soon). My review IS based on my opinion, not monetary gain.
Fire Extinguisher
Do fires happen with CO2 Lasers? Yes. And the more you get into the hobby you will see, YES, alot. But it’s not something to be afriad of, it is something to be prepared for. A Class C fire extinguisher and Fire Blanket will give you the tools to be safe.
For CO2 lasers, which are commonly used in laser cutting and engraving machines, the recommended type of fire extinguisher is a Class C extinguisher. Class C extinguishers are specifically designed to handle fires involving energized electrical equipment, which is pertinent to CO2 laser systems as they involve high-voltage electrical components.
CO2 (carbon dioxide) fire extinguishers are particularly suitable for Class C fires because they work by displacing oxygen, effectively smothering the fire and removing its fuel source. They do not leave behind any residue that could damage sensitive electronic equipment, making them ideal for extinguishing fires involving electrical components like those found in CO2 laser machines.
As with everything, please research about the safety of your device, I am a blogger, not an OSHA expert.
So is fire really a thing with CO2 lasers?
At this point you may be asking, WHY is fire a thing? Well, a laser basically is fire. It is a highly concentrated beam of molecules bouncing angrily off each other onto a surface. That causes heat, heat causes fire.
Etching wood, is burning it.
That brings me back to the Upgraded Air Assist! One of the things that air assist does really well is blows the embers away from the material, hence less possibility of fire. And it really works amazingly well.
Fire Blanket
I personally love Fire Blankets, these are the ones I have. If you scroll back up to the first picture you will see it hanging on my laser.
Quick story about Royce, I had a house fire about ten years ago. Basically the stovetop caught on fire while cooking and quickly grew out of control. We had a cheap fire extinguisher… It didn’t work. The neighbor quickly gave us theirs and we put the fire out (right as the Fire Department got there).
Why do I say all this here? A fire blanket would have put out the fire in seconds and changed $20,000 of damage into maybe $800.
Make sure to check out the rest of my website and blog! My store has many of the common items I personally use and the WHY behind it.
Have a great one!
Royce
Hill Country CNC & Woodworking is an affiliate marketing business, but it is one with ethics and morals. We only promote the items that we use in our daily business. Let’s help each other! I will give you my experience (and discounts sometimes) and you can help me grow.
