External Air Compressor

Applies to: MIRA Pro (MIRA 7 and MIRA 9)

An external air compressor is not essential with a CO2 laser, but it has advantages. It gives cleaner cuts on a wide range of materials, tends to increase cutting speeds and reduces the need for masking on wood and acrylic.

The smart solenoid

The AEON MIRA Pro includes a smart solenoid. It switches between low pressure, from the built-in air pump, and high pressure, from an external air compressor, from within LightBurn. Toggle the “Air Assist” option to switch between the two.

The smart solenoid also has a safety mechanism. If the external air compressor fails, it reverts automatically to the internal air pump, so in most situations a cut does not run with no air supply.

Set up a California Air compressor

Compressor setups vary too much to cover them all. These steps are for the California Air 8-gallon unit.

What you need

• External air compressor
• Water separator
• Black air hose with 1/4” NPT fitting
• Thread seal tape
• Pliers
• 14 mm wrench

Steps

1. Set up the external air compressor, following the instructions that came with it.

   

2. Assemble the water separator:

   • Cut 2 to 3” of thread seal tape and wrap it clockwise 3 to 4 times around the threads of the gauge, without covering the holes.
   • Twist the threaded fitting of the gauge into the 1/8” NPT fitting on the front of the regulator body. You may need to remove a red plastic piece from the opening first. Screw it in hand tight, with the top of the gauge vertical in line with the body of the water separator.
   • Cut two more 2 to 3” pieces of thread seal tape and wrap them clockwise around the threads on both sides of the 1/4” barbed brass fitting, without covering the holes.
   • Hand screw one end of the barbed brass fitting into the inlet opening on the regulator body, making sure no tape is inside the fitting. You may need to remove a red plastic piece from the opening first.
   • Tighten the barbed brass fitting with a 14 mm wrench.
   • Unscrew the filter cup and set it aside.

   

   

   

   

   

3. Using pliers, remove the brass quick release from the air compressor. Hold the red regulator firmly with your other hand, so it does not move as you remove the brass fitting.

   

4. Carefully hand screw the barbed brass fitting on the inlet of the water separator into the threaded opening on the air compressor. Tighten it fully with a wrench, with the pressure regulating knob on top.

   

5. Screw the filter cup back onto the regulator body, below the regulating knob. You may need to adjust the position of the water separator so the filter body stays vertical.

   

6. In the clear tote that came with your laser, find the length of black hose and the 1/4” NPT to 6 mm fitting. They connect the compressor to the back of your laser.

   

7. Push the end of the hose into the BLOWING opening on the back of the laser. You do not need to open the side panels of the laser.

   

8. Screw the other, threaded end into the outlet opening on the regulator body.

   

9. Plug the air compressor into an outlet.

10. Turn the air compressor on and let it run for 3 to 5 minutes.

11. Check and adjust the three pressure gauges:

    Gauge	Should read	How to adjust
    Tank pressure gauge	120 psi
    Red cap gauge	120 psi	Make sure the red cap is screwed in all the way, so it is tight.
    Water separator gauge	15 to 40 psi	Pull the gray cap up until it clicks, then turn it clockwise until you reach the pressure you want.

    

    

    

12. When you have finished using the external air compressor, turn it off, unplug it and drain the moisture.