Chinese Laser Air Assist (Poor Mans)

thingiverse

My son bought the Ebay Chinese 40W Laser engraver/cutter for a steal. It's not bad for the price, considering it's a high-quality machine. I decided to try a homemade air assist system instead of buying an expensive compressor and curly hose setup. I designed a simple fan mounting bracket that attaches to the head of the laser cutter. This design is my third attempt, and it works best because the fan doesn't obstruct the range of motion. Early tests show promising results, with noticeable improvements in smoke and flame marks when cutting or engraving wood and cardboard. Plastic cutting hasn't been attempted yet. The design and implementation are rough, but I'm working on a better solution. The assembly is held together with wire, and the OpenSCAD file needs improvement. I'm experimenting with ways to connect the 12v supply to the head in a more efficient way. Take this as an early prototype and proof of concept, as there's no fan support bracket yet. Feel free to improve upon my design!