I am running a 2'x4' 100watt cabinet laser out of my small garage. I can vent to the outside but am trying to cut down the fumes as much as possible for the neighbors. I am also trying to minimize sound for the same reason (and to save my own ears).
I've made a box to house my air compressor and vacuum pump (grizzly industrial 450 cfm) with flexible hose to a second box containing a homemade carbon filter (activated charcoal laid on a metal mesh about 18"x18") and then to the table. The vacuum pump sucks the air in the box and then vents directly outside and in this way cools the inside of the box. The inside of the compressor/vacuum box is lined with 1/2" foam and then soundboard on top.
The problems are:
1 Trying to figure out how much carbon to lay out on the mesh to effectively filter the fumes and not cut the cfm too much.
2 The noise of the vacuum pump comes straight out the vent to the outside. I saw a muffler at mcmaster for a 4" pipe but it was like $370. I could make a baffle but I'm afraid it would cut the cfm down.
3 Is a 450 cfm vacuum pump enough to vent and pull material flat for a 2'x4' table?
4 Is it a good idea to go with rigid duct over the flexible spiral hose? (the inside is relatively smooth)
Thanks a lot you guys! I figured the hardest part would be setting up the laser but it's all the other stuff!
tony