Optimizing Air Assist for Clean Diode Laser Cuts
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The Role of Air Assist
Air assist serves two critical functions: it blows smoke away from the lens to prevent contamination, and it extinguishes the flame at the cut point, producing cleaner edges and reducing charring.
Configuration
1. Ensure your air compressor is delivering dry, regulated air. 2. For cutting, use high pressure (30-60 PSI) to blast through the material kerf. For engraving, low pressure (5-10 PSI) is often better, as high pressure can blur fine details by cooling the material too rapidly. 3. Check that the nozzle is centered on the beam.