Hey everyone. Not what I had hoped my first post would consist of, but I really need some guidance. Hoping someone out there can help.
Have had a Glowforge in my apartment for weeks now, but have been unable to use it. My first test cut set off fire alarms for my entire building. I initially tried to vent out of my window. Unfortunately, the layout of my apartment causes the smoke to blow directly into my neighbors home. That is what set off the fire alarm.
Tried several DIY methods to contain / limit the smoke. None were successful, so I wrote to Glowforge about getting my hands on a filter.
They suggested that I purchase an Alpha 400 from Purex for $2400 plus shippingā¦ which I did.
I only got 8 seconds into my first cut when the alarm on the air filter started blaring and it began to flash red. Tried a second cut, and the same issue occured. Iāve hooked everything up correctly. At least as far as I can tell. The filter is brand new. When the laser is running, the exhaust still smells like smoke and particulates. If I manually stop the laser, but let the filter continue to remove the remnant exhaust, the alarm stops. It only sounds while the laser is operational.
I have no idea what to do. Iāve spent something like $7500 purchasing all this equipment. Just want it to work. Does anyone have any insight into why the Purex might be sounding its alarm? Does anyone live in Seattle who would be willing to help?
I donāt recall anyone from BAMF 2017 mentioning issues with the Purex filters. After the install, I pretty much forgot about them. Did not worry about exhaust fumes and no one of the thousands that stopped by our booth said anything about smell, other than the freshly cut woods we might have done.
So I really canāt help you other than say that it should work well.
Hey. Thanks for your input. That lines up with everything I had read before purchasing. It should work great. Iām wondering if it is an issue with air pressure or the CFM. Both times, the alarm seemed to go off when I turned the fan up higher. There is too much smoke in the bed if I keep the fan on low.
Do you remember how high you had yours turned up? Also, the smell is fairly light. On a convention floor, Iām sure it wouldnāt be noticeable. I live in a micro-apartment though. Less than 100 sqft of living space. My unit is so small that I donāt even have a kitchen. Enclosed area probably playing a role in the smell. Smells nice. I just wasnāt sure if I should smell anything at all.
I donāt recall settings. @karaelena or @takitus would have the technical memory for this. I was pretty much in a dream land the whole time. It was such a blur. But so fun!
Tak and I are friendly off-forum. Heās the only reason Iāve gotten as far as I have. I hate to keep bothering him about every little problem. Have been kind of treating him like my own personal support team. I think he is about as stumped as I am on this though.
any possibility that there is some kind of shipping cover/bung/shrink-wrapped something-or-other in the purex restricting airflow?
ā¦just thinking back to an experience with a small chinese motor running horribly, in large part because the air-filter was factory-installed with shrink-wrap still on it.
Hi! Good thinking, but there doesnāt seem to be any kind of obstruction. Iāve had the whole thing open for examination. Tested it fully before attaching it to the Glowforge as well. It works great, as long as I donāt turn the laser on
Manual dial rather than digital. No display. Just a light that blinks either green or red + alarm. The relevant information is on page 13. It is almost entirely unhelpful. Iāve emailed Purex about the problem and included video & photos. They are a lot more responsive and helpful than Glowforge has been. They still take a few days to respond, however. Iām really hoping someone here can help in the meantime.
Also, Purex is in the UK. Probably not much they can do without having the machine in front of them. I suppose weāll see. Any other ideas though, please do share. I feel like Iāve spent $8k on a paperweight at the moment.
Here is an 11 second video of the filter running, followed by the error.
Well Iām looking at the same info you are, so probably not much help, but in the off chance it can help: (No offense meant by the obvious stuffš)
The manual seems to say that the filter alarm works by monitoring airflow, soā¦
Is it possible that the filter is mid-aligned and blocking something? Or pushed too tight somehow, like can happen with the semi-perforated cardboard flap on shop-vac filters? Or even upside down? Try re-seating the filter?
Could the sensor just be dirty, and needs sprayed with MAF cleaner of some kind?
Kink or blockage in the tube between the GF and filter, restricting airflow? Exhaust-tube ownerās manual sucked in somewhere? (Thatās happened!)
Interface switch set correctly?
Appropriate Vacuum level?
Have you tried altering the length of the exhaust between the gf and filter?
No offense taken at all. I certainly am just as likely as anyone to overlook something obvious. Iām not sure how to check a few of these things. Some Iāve already checked, but can do again. A few I hadnāt considered though. Very interesting.
Seems like a good place to start. Iām not able to test further until tomorrow. Noise curfews, unfortuantely. Iāll check in tomorrow once Iāve had a chance to investigate these ideas. Thank you for all your input!
The external filter was plug-in play. Since the Glowforge team was busy I installed the loaner unit and the filter myself to save them time. Unless the filters were pre-configured (which they may been have. They all had names stuck on them. I think mine was labeled āBobā?) It was just the matter of connecting the 4" hose from one unit to the other. And powering the filter on first.
Had a phone call with Purexās support team. After troubleshooting for several days by email, I wasnāt too hopeful. However, we had the issue solved within 3 minutes by phone.
The problem? There is an entire section missing at the top of the machine. Iām smelling particulates because nothing is going through the filter. In a way, Iām happy this happened as it has. At least we know the alarm works.
Theyāre sending the missing part today. Hopefully smooth sailing going forward.
Yes. It is a displeasing situation to be in. To add a little more background to the resolution:
I had sent them photos and videos showing exactly what was happening. Gave a full account of my experience. Made it clear that fumes were being fully evacuated into my small apartment.
The CS member I was working with first sent me troubleshooting advice for a machine that I do not own. Then went on to offer suggestions for fixing problems Iād never claimed to have. Took several days between some responses. When I repeatedly asked if he had read my messages or looked at the photos/videos, he kept claiming he had. Yet the advice diverged further and further from the issue at hand.
The last straw for me was when he told me to open up the machine and attempt to assess, and possibly rewire, some of the electrical components. He sent along instructions that had big red letters at the top saying:
Warning this procedure should only be performed by a qualified electrical technician. Procedure requires working with powered circuits. There is a risk of electrical shock.
It was at that point that I insisted we do a phone call. I was sure the problem had nothing to do with the areas they were asking me to troubleshoot. Iām quite happy that the issue was such a simple one to resolve in the end. They have kindly expedited the missing part to me. It is expected to arrive on Thursday.
However, I do question why they didnāt ask āIs your machine missing a gasket or other crucial pieces?ā before jumping to āLetās open it up. Maybe move some wires around.ā Had my personal judgement and insistence on a simpler solution been less forceful, it could have led to a far more dire situation. Especially if they had continued to suggest running the Glowforge as part of our troubleshooting process.
