More adventures in air-assist… and variations on a theme…
While reworking a different laser machine, I revisited a previous air-assist configuration from the past – an air-mattress pump and router speed control for regulating air flow…
but I noticed that with my last air-assist setup using 4mm/6mm (ID/OD) tubing and ball-valve, the air flow from the mattress air-pump seemed too greatly restricted. So I reworked the printed air-assist nozzle to accept larger 3/8"OD and 1/4"ID vinyl tubing from big-box store…
Clear vinyl tubing installed on Neje A40640 laser module…
resulted in unexpected light show 
3mm birch ply cut at 150mm/min and 100% power, in a single pass, falls through…
blackened, though not charred, edges and holes…
a cross-stitch pendant blank, waiting for my daughter’s inspection and approval…
AFAICT the air-pump and larger tubing are equal to or better than the aquarium compressor and smaller tubing as far as air-assist goes. Whether or not the air-pump holds up to the unconventional use with router speed control and restricted air-flow remains to be seen.
It’s fun to play with though…
– David