# Cleaning out the laser **URL:** \ **Category:** Snapmaker 2.0 (3-in-1)\ **Created:** [March 4, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065 "2025-03-04T19:14:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dbvanhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@dbvanhorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/dbvanhorn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/1 "2025-03-04T19:14:47Z")
I’ve only just started using my laser, but it’s obvious that it will need to be cleaned periodically. Years ago, I would have blasted it with “canned air” which was residue free, but now they’ve added a chemical to keep people from snorting the stuff, and this chemical will deposit on any surface. I’m pretty sure it’s bad for the optics. So what’s the method of choice for getting all the dust out of the laser heads? ---
**Author:** ![xchrisd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.snapmaker.com/xchrisd/32/1503_2.png) [@xchrisd](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/xchrisd)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/2 "2025-03-04T19:46:40Z")
> [@Cleaning the Laser](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-the-laser/27535/6): > > I also run into deterioration of my 10W laser wood cutting performance. Suddenly, 3mm could not be cut properly anymore and the laser spot size obviously increases quite a lot. First, I thought it may had been caused by uneven wood plates with the focus being off or inconsistency of the hardness of the wood. But looking at the lens the reason was quite obvious. I cleaned mine by soaking a cotton swap in an [alcohol pad](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004828873748.html) and wiped the lens clock-wise as described by the [user guide](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/snapmaker.com/download/manual/10W_Laser_Module_EN_V1.0.0.pdf#page=41). This did bring b… ---
**Author:** ![dbvanhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@dbvanhorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/dbvanhorn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/3 "2025-03-04T20:07:59Z")
I’m more worried about the internals, the exterior surface of the lens is easy. ---
**Author:** ![Wyphorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@Wyphorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Wyphorn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/4 "2025-03-04T21:33:08Z")
I had to Clean my 40w laser recently. Espacially the Fan looked terrible. ![threema-20250224-215638154](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/snapmaker/original/3X/b/f/bf79662d368fae3647d0b2ea334d9d955745f6f4.jpeg) This is burned glue? I dont get it. I just lasered wood, lot of cutting. Just special laser wood of SM and XTool. 🤷🏼‍♂️ I cleaned it with nylon brushes on my Dremel. Worked great, after on i used q Tips with less water to clean the rest. I was not able to find the same fan in the Internet. If i could, i would just bought a new one… ---
**Author:** ![Skreelink](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.snapmaker.com/skreelink/32/16398_2.png) [@Skreelink](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Skreelink)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/5 "2025-03-04T22:04:54Z")
> [@Wyphorn](#): > > This is burned glue? I dont get it. I just lasered wood, lot of cutting. ew 🙃 yeah it’s just the gooey tar from burning it. Likely the same sticky resin that’s left on the bed, just aerosolized and sucked into the fan. I find that just plain water seems to clean it up the best (at least from the plate) vs say, alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![dbvanhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@dbvanhorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/dbvanhorn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/6 "2025-03-05T01:34:38Z")
Yeah, this is what worries me. Is the optical path sealed against this gunk? ---
**Author:** ![dbvanhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@dbvanhorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/dbvanhorn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/7 "2025-03-05T01:42:54Z")
Can you share any details on the fan? Size, volts, current? I might be able to find it ---
**Author:** ![Skreelink](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.snapmaker.com/skreelink/32/16398_2.png) [@Skreelink](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Skreelink)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/8 "2025-03-05T14:17:07Z")
> [@dbvanhorn](#): > > Is the optical path sealed against this gunk? Yes, it even has a replaceable lens if it gets dirty/toasted/cracked. ---
**Author:** ![dbvanhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@dbvanhorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/dbvanhorn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/9 "2025-03-05T20:20:29Z")
Ok, thanks. So the bitterant wouldn’t get into the optics ---
**Author:** ![PrintChicken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@PrintChicken](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/PrintChicken)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/10 "2025-03-22T12:44:08Z")
I’ve had this same concern for the fan. Has anyone @Snapmaker-Support responded about the availability of a replacement fan? ---
**Author:** ![xchrisd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.snapmaker.com/xchrisd/32/1503_2.png) [@xchrisd](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/xchrisd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/11 "2025-03-22T12:51:34Z")
I am pretty sure they offer you one: [Support@snapmaker.com](mailto:Support@snapmaker.com) or ticket [https://snapmaker.formcrafts.com/support-ticket](https://snapmaker.formcrafts.com/support-ticket) ---
**Author:** ![Wyphorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@Wyphorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Wyphorn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/12 "2025-03-22T14:50:52Z")
12€ + 14€ shipping. Thats why i cleaned it. 🙈 ---
**Author:** ![Skreelink](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.snapmaker.com/skreelink/32/16398_2.png) [@Skreelink](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Skreelink)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/13 "2025-03-22T17:02:33Z")
> [@Wyphorn](#): > > 12€ + 14€ shipping. That’s usually my issue with buying replacement parts from snapmaker. The part itself can sometimes be fairly reasonable… but then shipping usually is not. ---
**Author:** ![Hauke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.snapmaker.com/hauke/32/5704_2.png) [@Hauke](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Hauke)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 7:57am UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/14 "2025-03-25T07:57:43Z")
Some people created external air intakes for the 40W laser - I could not quickly find anything for the Snapmaker 2.0, but this one for Ray conveys the idea: [SNAPMAKER RAY 40W Improved air intake structure of laser head cooling fan by CHENCHIENCHEN - Thingiverse](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6525592) It avoids that the laser drags in its own fumes. ---
**Author:** ![Wyphorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@Wyphorn](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/Wyphorn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 8:07am UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/15 "2025-03-25T08:07:50Z")
Yes, I’ve already thought of something like that. I’m currently in the process of converting the compressed air and suction system in my workshop. My enclosure will wget a few additional holes. I’m going to install a hose adapter in the back, where I’ll extract dust during CNC and draw in fresh air during laser cutting. I don’t want to clean this mess with q tips and nylon brushes every year. ---
**Author:** ![buckfast\_beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@buckfast\_beekeeper](https://forum.snapmaker.com/u/buckfast_beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/cleaning-out-the-laser/39065/16 "2025-03-25T13:00:50Z")
Grill/BBQ cleaner works very well.