I have added an Optlaser XT8 to my AltMill and would appreciate advice on the best ways to exhaust smoke from the laser. Is it possible to use the AltMIll dust shoe or some modification to collect the smoke near the production site? I have a 1.5 hp exhaust fan previously used for dust collection that I thinking of using to exhaust the smoke through the wall of my shop. One thought is to have a Y in the dust collection from the AltMIll with one arm being used to exhaust and using “blast gates” to direct to inside dust collector or outside exhaust? Is this feasible? Would just a hose above attached to the spindle work well? Please advise what has worked well for you.
Sounds like a sound plan. Adding an exhaust fan has been a game changer for me. I don’t have dust collection setup (yet) but had to do the exhaust. My eyes would be watering/burning when I was using my laser - a respirator eliminated the lung irritation, but not the eye. I have a hose connected to an exhaust fan that I hold near the laser head to capture the smoke. I had to put a screen on it so small off cuts (or parts) would not be sucked into the fan. I’m using a 6" Inline Duct Fan that moves around 390 CFM (This one from Amazon)
James.
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