The test file is from Make or Break Shop, but there are many around. I am actually looking for a better and smaller one.

You confirmed that my findings. I will track down some tube and try to make my own air assist like you did. Thanks for the videos

Thanks, this is enlightening. I've been using Ortur for a couple of years, and got the LM3 a few months ago. Here's what my experience has been, with escalation to what I'm doing now (cutting/engraving wood): Fishtank pump, adjustable valve, air on all the time, nozzle on: engraving - dirty; cutting - charring Fishtank pump, adjustable valve, air on for cutting only, nozzle on: engraving - very clean; cutting - charring Fishtank pump, adjustable valve removed, air on for cutting only, nozzle on: engraving - very clean; cutting - very clean The caveat: I have to clean the smoke off the lens pretty much daily - Q-Tip and Rubbing Alcohol, not a big deal, the nozzle does show clogging. Not that I won't try an alternate method as above to see how it works, but cleaning the smoke/residue doesn't seem like a need to reinvent the wheel. I'm going to order the Ortur Pump because you did answer a couple of questions that I had: power and noise. It does seem odd that if I use the Fishtank Pump on full blast my cuts are very clean, but when I use the adjustable valve (even wide open) there is too much restriction and I get charred edges when I cut. I'm concerned with the Ortur Pump that the power would be far less than the Fishtank Pump, so I'll have to see how it turns out. The bottom line is that cleaning every day, or after a large job, isn't really a downfall, per se, because it's part of the regular maintenance. But if the nozzle is going to get clogged after engraving, then perhaps a different approach and removing the nozzle altogether might be the way to go.

Great video and I can see how your air assist is better. I also would like to know where you got the test file if you are willing to share.

My experiences are a little different, didn't bought dedicated air assist yet I connect it to a little 5l compressor. It cuts better and clean,but not sure how it would compare to your air assist tho. Also without air assist,my lens got dirty after one engraving or cutting job, cleaned that bugger after a 2-3 project max. With air assist, I keep an eye on the lens and it took almost a week to get a little dirty. Hard to tell what airflow is set, very low setting on pressure regulator.

Another great video as always. Can you tell me where you got your large honeycomb bed from and is it steel or aluminium?

Good video, may I ask where did you get the test card from?

Hi Valley Forged, I love this video as I have been battling back and forth with Ortur about the same issue (I wish they would admit they messed up when designing the built-in air assist and they came up with a mass-produced commercial version of what you have engineered. Can you share the inner and out dimension of the tube you used to make the air assist? I'm from Australia and will have to order it as no hardware store nearby stocks that kind of tubing. Kind regards.

What is that metal tubing called?