Applies to: MIRA and NOVA
Get your workspace ready before your laser arrives: electrical, ventilation, safety and temperature.
Electrical
Make sure the circuit you plan to use is properly wired and grounded. Your AEON laser needs a standard 110 V / 60 Hz outlet.
Caution: A dedicated 20 amp circuit is recommended. Adding an air compressor or inline fan might mean going to a 30 amp circuit. Upgrading the breaker alone is not enough: you must also use thicker gauge wiring.
Ventilation
Set up proper ventilation before your laser arrives. Choose between venting outdoors and using a fume extractor.
Option 1: Vent outdoors
- Set up the exhaust system to work as efficiently as possible, with no leaks.
- Keep the exhaust duct short and the number of bends to a minimum, for maximum airflow.
- If you use an inline fan, we recommend removing the internal blower and installing the inline fan as close to the end of the exhaust hose as possible.
- Always vent fumes upwards and away from neighboring living spaces. The higher the exhaust outlet, the lower the chance of polluting your garden, pets and neighborhood.
- Make sure there is enough make-up air to bring clean air back into your workshop.
Caution: Too little make-up air creates negative pressure in your workshop, which reduces the efficiency of the fan. Draw make-up air from a point opposite the laser, or fumes will be pulled straight back inside.
Option 2: Fume extractor
With a fume extractor, there is no ducting, replacement air, temperature control or outdoor venting to plan.
Choose an extractor suited to your CO2 laser. Matching it to the cabinet size of the laser and to your applications is fundamental to the performance of the laser and the life of your filters.
Safety
Emergency kit checklist
- Certified ANSI-approved CO2 safety glasses or goggles (AEON CO2 lasers have a wavelength of 10,600 nm)
- Halotron fire extinguisher
- Smoke alarm
- Fire resistant gloves
- VOC detector
- Eye wash station
- Big plastic container filled with sand
Fire extinguishers
A fire extinguisher is an absolute necessity. The material being etched can catch fire, and 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. Halotron extinguishers cost more, but they discharge a clean, easily removed substance that does not harm the mechanics or wiring of the laser. A 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 case particles get into your eyes. Single-use, gravity-fed eye wash stations are inexpensive and easy to set up anywhere.
Handling processed material
Keep finished products, scrap material and your honeycomb tray out of your living spaces if at all possible.
Warning: Processed materials can keep giving off gas and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) long after being lasered. We recommend large storage bins for temporarily storing finished products and scrap.
Temperature control
The NOVAs and the MIRA 9 have an AC compressor and can operate as long as they stay above freezing. The MIRA 9 runs best between 60 and 90 °F (15 to 32 °C). The MIRA 5 and MIRA 7 need an environment with a little more temperature control. The right setting depends on the dew point and the location of the machine.
Need a hand?
Email support@aeonlaser.us or call 321-260-2325. More ways to reach us are on the Support page.