When I first got my laser cutter, it came with an air assist compressor that I had to learn to attach to my machine. I figured it was important, but at the time, I didn’t quite understand its full functionality or how important air assist for laser cutting and engraving would come to be for my projects.
I understood the gist of it. There was a small rubber hose that blew air out while the laser was running. But why? What was the need for it? And how do you properly use it for your laser projects? Fast forward a few years into my laser journey after making and testing a bunch of different things, I now have a much better grasp of its use.
In this blog post, I’ll share what air assist actually is, when and when not to use it, and general settings for some common materials you can use for your laser cut and engraved projects.
What is Air Assist for Your Laser Cutter and Engraver?
Depending on your laser machine, you may either need a separate air assist compressor to hook up to your laser, or if newer, your machine may already come with it built in.
In either case, its functionality is the essentially the same. The goal of air assist is to blow a steady stream of air directly onto your material as your laser is cutting or engraving to help both the quality of your project and overall operation. The pressure of the air can be adjusted using a dial or the software you use, if built into your machine.
Using air assist during your laser cut or laser engraved project can:
- Produce cleaner laser cut edges by pushing away debris and reducing charring
- Preserve your laser lens by keeping smoke and debris clear while operating
- Reduce fire risk by cooling material and burning edges as the laser cuts
When to Use Air Assist for Laser Projects
Air assist is great for laser cutting many different material types. It helps to improve your cuts by keeping them clean and scorch-mark free.
Using air assist while laser cutting can also help cut through thicker materials by keeping the laser path free from smoke. This maintains even and constant contact between your laser and the material keeping power consistent during the cut.
When Not to Use Air Assist for Laser Projects
Although air assist can offer a bunch of advantages to your laser cut projects, air assist may not always be a good choice when laser engraving.
During the process of engraving, your laser is slowly burning away material one line at a time. Although air assist can help to clear burned debris and soot away, which can reduce spark risks, excessive air being blown while engraving may result in less clear detail. This can give your project an inconsistent or blurry looking result. It can also require more clean up of your piece post engraving.
You may also find that using air assist for laser engraving doesn’t give you the darker or “rich” result you’re looking for. If that’s the case, you may need reduce the air assist pressure or turn it off. Running a test is highly recommended.
What Air Assist Settings Should I Use?
Knowing that air assist can be beneficial, but may need to be adjusted for certain laser functions and materials may leave you wondering, “What setting should I use for my project?”.
Here’s a good rule of thumb:
When laser cutting, keep air assist on with higher settings for:
- Thicker materials
- Wood or MDF
- Cleaner cuts and less charring
- Preventing flare-ups
When laser engraving, reduce air assist to lower settings to:
- Avoid blurry or inconsistent results
- Get darker or cleaner engraving results
Just as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to cut or engrave settings for specific materials, the same can be said for air assist settings. It takes testing and experimenting to find the ideal combination for certain projects.
For example, although you may keep air assist low for engraving, you may want to forgo air assist entirely when laser engraving on a particular material type.
Air Assist Settings for Common Laser Materials (Beginner Guide)
Here are some common materials types and suggestions of where to get started with air assist.
| Material Type | Air Assist for Cutting | Air Assist for Engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Wood and Plywood | On; Medium-high for clean & thick cuts | On or Off; Low to no air to avoid unnecessary marking or blurry results |
| MDF | On; High for clean & thick cuts | On; Low to no air to avoid unnecessary marking or blurry results |
| Acrylic | On; Medium for clean & thick cuts | On or Off; Low to no air to avoid cloudy engraving |
| Anodized / Coated Metals | N/A | Off; Typically off for cleaner results |
| Leather | On; Low-medium to control smoke | On or Off; Low to no air to keep engravings detailed and dark |
| Cardboard | On; Medium to prevent flare-ups | On; Low to prevent flare-ups and soot |
Note that air assist settings may vary by machine and material as they aren’t the same across the board. These settings are meant as general starting points and should always be tested before committing to a full project.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
Air assist compressors are a simple concept that can be very useful in helping you to achieve great results with your laser. It can make a world of difference from creating detailed laser engraved projects to helping you laser cut difficult materials and providing clean edges in the process. Additionally, using air assist for your laser cut and engraved projects reduces risks that come with lasering like flare-ups and potential fires.
While air assist works wonders, knowing how it works, along with when not to use it, will ultimately help you create better quality results. While the material guidelines in this article are meant to help you improve your air assist skills, your ideal settings will depend on your particular laser machine and settings and materials used for your project. Running small material tests is always the best way to dial in the perfect result for your machine and setup.
If you’re new to laser cutting and engraving, you may also want to explore my Laser Learning Hub for Makers, where I cover essential tools, materials, and beginner techniques.
