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Prepare Your Workspace

Table of Contents

  1. Electrical
  2. Ventilation
    1. Option 1: Venting Outdoors
    2. Option 2: Fume Extractor
  3. Safety
    1. Emergency Kit Checklist
    2. Fire Extinguishers
    3. Eye Wash Station
    4. Processed Material Handling
  4. Temperature Control

Electrical

Ensure the circuit you plan to connect to is properly wired and grounded. Your Aeon laser requires a 110v/60Hz standard outlet.

⚠️CAUTION ⚠️ A dedicated 20 amp circuit is recommended. However, the addition of an air compressor or inline fan might require going to a 30 amp circuit instead. It’s not enough to upgrade the breaker, you must also use thicker gauge wiring.

Ventilation

Take the time to prep your environment with a proper ventilation system ahead of your laser's arrival. Choose between venting outdoors or using a fume extractor.

Option 1: Venting Outdoors

Venting outdoors

Ensure your exhaust system is set up to where it can deliver the utmost efficiency without any leaks.

💡 Tip: Keeping the exhaust duct length and number of bends to a minimum will help to promote maximum air flow. If using an inline fan, it is recommended to remove the internal blower and install the inline fan as close to the end of the exhaust hose as possible.

Always ensure that fumes are being vented upwards and away from neighboring living spaces

💡 Tip: The higher you position the exhaust hose outlet, the less chances there will be of inadvertently polluting your garden, pets, and the entire neighborhood.

Ensure there is an adequate source of make-up air in order to reintroduce clean air back into your workshop.

⚠️CAUTION ⚠️ An insufficient amount of make-up air can create negative pressure in your workshop which reduces the efficiency of the fan. Ensure your make-up air is being drawn from a location opposite the laser. Otherwise, fumes will get pulled right back inside your workshop.

Option 2: Fume Extractor

If you are using a fume extractor, there is no need to worry about ducting, replacement air, temperature control or harming the environment.

💡 Tip: Choose the proper fume extractor for your CO2 laser. Matching your fume extractor to your laser's cabinet size and to your unique application(s) is fundamental to maximizing the performance of the laser and the life of your filters.

Safety

Emergency Kit Checklist

  • Certified ANSI-approved C02 Safety Glasses or Goggles (AEON CO2 lasers are 10,600 nM in wavelength)
  • Halotron Fire Extinguisher
  • Smoke Alarm
  • Fire resistant gloves
  • VOC detector
  • Eye wash station
  • Big plastic container (filled with sand)

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are an absolute necessity. Not only can the materials being etched catch fire, but the gases released can ignite as they pass through the laser beam.

We recommend a Halotron fire extinguisher or a multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher.

💡 Tip: The Halotron extinguishers are more expensive than a dry chemical, but offer certain advantages should you ever need to use an extinguisher. The Halotron extinguisher discharges a clean, easily removable substance that is not harmful to the mechanics or wiring of the laser system. The dry chemical extinguisher discharges a sticky, corrosive powder that is very difficult to clean up.

Eye Wash Station

Always have access to running water or preferably an eye wash station, in the event that particulate matter gets into your eyes.

💡 Tip: Single-use gravity-fed eyewash stations are inexpensive and easy to setup in any location.

Processed Material Handling

Keep finished product, scrap material, and your honeycomb tray out of your living spaces if at all possible.

☠️Warning ☠️ Processed materials can continue to give off gas and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) long after being lasered. We recommend having some large storage bins to temporarily store finished products and scrap pieces of material.

Temperature Control

The NOVAs and MIRA9 have an AC compressor and can operate as long as it stays above freezing. MIRA9 runs best at a temperature between 60-90 degrees F (15-32C). The MIRA5 and MIRA7 will need to be in an environment with a little more temperature control. The temperature you set the machine will vary depending on the dew point and location of the machine.

Updated on 20 Sep 2023