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I'm just starting to learn about CNC lasers, so this may be a dumb question...

There are two separate air systems in these devices, the air assist and the fume extraction. What would happen if the air assist were replaced with a vacuum nozzle? It could use the same air pump as the fume extractor.

It seems like a vacuum would do an even better job of keeping the work piece and lens clean, as it would remove the particulates instead of just swirling them around.

What totally obvious gotcha am I missing?

Thanks,
Bob

You would be pulling all the exhaust toward your focusing lense.

kbob wrote:I'm just starting to learn about CNC lasers, so this may be a dumb question...

There are two separate air systems in these devices, the air assist and the fume extraction. What would happen if the air assist were replaced with a vacuum nozzle? It could use the same air pump as the fume extractor.

It seems like a vacuum would do an even better job of keeping the work piece and lens clean, as it would remove the particulates instead of just swirling them around.

What totally obvious gotcha am I missing?

Thanks,
Bob

You would be missing some of the smoke and particles that will inevitably get out the backside of your material on through cuts.