Setting Up Air Assist on the Ray5 20W for Cleaner Cuts
ray5air assistcuttingsetup
Air assist blows a stream of air at the laser focal point during cutting. It clears debris, cools the cut, prevents flaming, and improves cut quality significantly.
Why Air Assist Matters
Without air assist:
- Smoke and char deposit on cut edges
- Material can catch fire (especially wood)
- Lens gets dirty faster
- Cut quality degrades over longer runs
With air assist:
- Cleaner cut edges
- Less char
- Reduced flaming
- Faster cutting possible
Types of Air Assist
Integrated (Ray5 has built-in pump): Check if your Ray5 version includes it — some do.
External aquarium pump: Cheap and quiet. 3–5L/min minimum.
Compressor with regulator: Best — adjust pressure precisely. Run at 10–20 PSI for most materials.
Connecting
Ray5 laser head has an air assist nozzle built in. Connect air tubing to the inlet port.
If adding external pump:
- Connect tubing from pump outlet to laser head inlet
- Route tubing away from moving parts
- Secure to gantry with zip ties to prevent catching
LightBurn Air Assist Control
In LightBurn cut settings:
- Air assist checkbox controls the relay-switched output (if your machine supports it)
- Or: leave air running continuously during all laser operations
Pressure Settings
| Material | Air Pressure |
|---|---|
| Wood engraving | Low (2–5 PSI) — strong blast scatters ash unevenly |
| Wood cutting | Medium (10–15 PSI) |
| Acrylic cutting | High (15–20 PSI) — prevents melting |
| Leather | Low-medium (5–10 PSI) |
| Metal (with spray) | Low (5 PSI) — just to clear debris |