OMTech CO2 laser engraving and cutting machine

Before Your Laser Arrives: The Setup Checklist Every New Owner Needs

Before a CO2 laser arrives, sort six things: space and a clear delivery route, extraction ducted to outside, power for the whole setup, water cooling with a plan for frost, air assist, and the fire and laser safety basics. This is the checklist we'd give a friend, from running OMTech lasers in daily production since January 2023.

Choosing the machine is the exciting part. But a laser doesn't just need a corner to sit in — a little planning before delivery day makes everything that follows easier, safer and better for your results.

1. Space

  • Allow more room than the machine's footprint. As well as the laser itself (and its stand), you'll need space alongside for the chiller, extractor fan and air pump or compressor. OMTech's machines ship with a water pump and an exhaust fan, but a chiller is a separate purchase, so plan room for one.
  • Think about clearance: the lid opens upwards, you'll want comfortable access for loading materials, and you'll need to reach the back for maintenance and ducting.
  • Measure the route in before delivery — doorways, corners and steps. These machines arrive crated on a pallet, and they're bigger than the photos suggest. As an example, omtech.uk lists the Turbo-758's crate at about 158 × 107 × 89 cm, with a 103 kg machine inside (October 2026). Check the listing for your model against every doorway on the way in.
  • Pick somewhere dry and frost-free. Damp garages and freezing workshops are hard on electronics and water-cooled machines alike.

2. Ventilation

  • Every cut and engraving produces smoke and fumes, and they need to go outside — this is not optional.
  • Plan the shortest, straightest duct run you can to a window or external wall. Every bend in the ducting reduces how well the extraction works.
  • Put the fan as near the outside exit as you can, so the duct indoors is under suction. Leaks before the fan only cost you suction; leaks after the fan blow fumes back into the room. Seal every joint with aluminium foil tape.
  • The fan supplied with the machine is fine for occasional hobby use, but upgrade it for daily commercial cutting or a long duct run. OMTech lists its included fan at 326 m³/h. Ours is the AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S6, a 150 mm inline duct fan with a speed controller, which AC Infinity rates at about 720 m³/h free-air (real duct runs deliver less). It runs quietly and seemingly forever, and it's the one we'd buy again without hesitation.

What we learned about fumes, sealing and measuring the air is in our post on laser workshop air quality.

3. Power

  • OMTech's Turbo machines run on a standard UK 220–240 V single-phase supply, so a normal socket will do. But remember you're powering the laser, chiller, extractor and air supply together, so think about the combined load on the circuit.
  • Have enough sockets close to the machine. Avoid daisy-chained extension leads, and a surge protector is a sensible bit of insurance.

4. Cooling

  • Glass CO2 tubes like OMTech's are water-cooled, and a stable water temperature means consistent cutting and a longer-lasting tube. OMTech ships its machines with a water pump, not a chiller. For an 80 W machine in daily use, a refrigerated chiller is one of the best investments you can make — read our full chiller guide before buying.
  • Check your warranty before buying third-party parts. OMTech UK's warranty terms (checked October 2026) exclude faults caused by not using an OMTech-supplied water pump or chiller, and alterations or servicing by anyone OMTech hasn't authorised. If your machine is still under warranty, check with OMTech before swapping the chiller, pump or other parts.
  • Fill it with distilled or deionised water, not tap water. OMTech recommends 16–21 °C; we run ours at 18 °C.
  • A UK-specific warning: if your machine lives in a garage or outbuilding, protect it from frost over winter. Frozen coolant can crack a laser tube, a cracked tube can't be repaired, and OMTech doesn't cover freeze damage. Either drain the system or use a laser-specific antifreeze coolant at the maker's ratio — never car antifreeze, which is conductive and corrosive.

5. Air assist

  • Air assist blows a jet of air at the cutting point, clearing smoke from the cut, reducing charring and flare-ups, lowering the fire risk and keeping your lens clean. Run the machine with it on, always.
  • OMTech machines come with a built-in air pump (the Turbo-758 listing gives it as 30 L/min). It works, but upgrading it makes a noticeable difference to cut quality and lens cleanliness.
  • The upgrade we run on both our machines: the Enviro ET-120 air pump — essentially a pond aerator, rated at about 120 L/min against the built-in pump's 30 L/min. The swap takes about ten minutes: unplug the air hose and electrical connection from the built-in pump and connect the air hose to the ET-120 instead. You'll need a reducer to match the hose diameter to your machine's fitting, but the whole job is simple. While your machine is under warranty, check with OMTech before swapping the pump (see the warranty note under Cooling).
  • Why a pond pump rather than a compressor? A compressor is noisier and — critically — introduces moisture into the air hose, which can contaminate the lens and cause problems. A moisture trap is essential with a compressor. A pond pump moves room air without compressing it, so there's no condensate: ours runs all day, every working day, quietly and dry, with no trap required.
  • Whatever you use, factor in its space, power and noise alongside everything else.

6. Fire and laser safety

  • Never leave the laser running unattended, and keep a CO2 or ABC fire extinguisher within reach of the machine.
  • OMTech rates its enclosed CO2 machines Class 1 only with the lid closed and the interlocks working. The tube inside is far above the 500 mW Class 4 threshold, which makes it a fire, eye and skin hazard, so never defeat the lid interlock.
  • Know what you can't cut: PVC and vinyl; neoprene; PTFE (Teflon); ABS; polycarbonate; and anything you can't identify. Vegetable-tanned leather is fine; avoid chrome-tanned leather and most faux leather (often PVC). PVC gives off chlorine and hydrogen chloride, which are toxic and corrosive, and ABS can give off hydrogen cyanide.

Want to see a full setup running?

The easiest way to make sense of all this is to see a complete setup working. We're an official OMTech showroom in Buckley, North Wales, a short drive from Chester, Mold and Deeside, and we can show you the machines, the ducting, the cooling and the air assist all running together, and talk through how it would fit your own space. Visits are free, informal and by appointment; how to book is on our OMTech showroom page.

Once your machine is in, our guide to your first days with a new laser covers software, focus and material tests. We also run a 2-hour training session if you want help setting up.

Ready to order your machine? Our OMTech discount code takes 4% off at omtech.uk (checked October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Does a CO2 laser need to be vented outside?
Yes. Smoke and fumes from every cut and engraving must be ducted outside. Put the fan as near the outside exit as you can and seal every joint with aluminium foil tape, so fumes don't leak back into the room.

Do I need a chiller for a CO2 laser?
OMTech ships its machines with a water pump, not a chiller. For an 80 W machine in daily use, a refrigerated chiller keeps the water at a steady temperature; OMTech recommends 16–21 °C, and we run ours at 18 °C.

Can I keep a laser cutter in an unheated garage?
It's fine only if you keep the cooling water from freezing (drain it or use a laser-specific antifreeze coolant, never car antifreeze) and keep it dry; a frost-free space is better. Frozen coolant can crack the tube, and OMTech doesn't cover freeze damage.

Does a CO2 laser need a special electrical supply?
No. OMTech's Turbo machines run on a standard UK 220–240 V single-phase supply, but plan for the combined load of the laser, chiller, extractor and air pump on one circuit.

How big is the crate an OMTech laser arrives in?
omtech.uk lists the Turbo-758 crate at about 158 × 107 × 89 cm, with a 103 kg machine inside (October 2026). Check the listing for your model and measure your doorways before delivery.

Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, and we earn a commission from OMTech on purchases made with our code or link. It costs you nothing extra.

Sources

Back to blog