How Loud Are Thunder Lasers?
Today I will explore the sound levels created by a Thunder Laser Nova 35-80 in various stages of operation.
NOTE: This test and the accompanying results are UNOFFICIAL and do not follow best practices and procedures for sound pressure level measurement so its for educational purposes only. Thunder Laser USA always recommends the use of appropriate ear and eye protection at all times. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of these tests or the results.
I performed an informal test with a Radio Shack Digital Sound Level Meter and documented the SPL during power-up, idle, and while running a job on my Thunder Laser Nova 35 80 watt machine. All measurements were A-weighted meaning that the levels were filtered to mimic the frequency range of the average human ear. You can learn more about weighting here.
SIDE NOTE: There's an SPL test video at the end of this article with an AC Infinity exhaust fan & Cali-Air ultra-quiet 8010a compressor.
Here were the results:
- The ambient room noise with all equipment off was around 34db(A)
- The chiller while alarming was around 68dB(A)
- The power-up sequence peaked at about 48dB(A)
- The machine at idle with air assist pump on produced 50dB(A)
- Machine idle plus air and chiller in the compression cycle was 60dB(A)
- Full operation with all systems in operation produced 74dB(A)
Below is a sound level comparison chart for reference:
As you can see my stock Nova 35, in its current environment, is equivalent to running a vacuum cleaner. These values can vary greatly depending on the environment of the machine so if you are unsure, or want to learn more, I suggest contacting an industrial audiologist in your area and have them evaluate your specific setup. This is especially important if your laser is for commercial, educational, or public use. And again, always wear suitable personal protective equipment. Thanks for watching and please take a moment to browse ThunderLaserUSA.com!
NOTE: The Nova 24 and Mini 60 come with an axial inline fan. The Odin comes with a 4" centrifugal fan similar to the 6" versions for the 35, 51, and 63.
Here are the specs for the 6" centrifugal fan that ships with Nova 35, 51, and 63:
We often recommend AC Infinity Cloudline S series ultra-quiet inline axial fans for those who want a serious noise reduction. Below is a test with a Cloudline S-6.
Related Articles
Electrical Noise, Ground Loops, and USB Communication
There is a lot of buzz around the grounding of Chinese lasers. It is generally in reference to earth ground and the safety of the machines. I have been down many rabbit holes about why or why not to add an additional earth ground to the machines and ...Chinese Lasers and 'US Standard' Wiring Myths Dispelled
Overview There is a lot of information and opinion floating around about many Chinese lasers and the insufficient wiring and what the 'standards' actually are. We will dive into all that and more in this article Laser Wiring 101 You probably hear ...Venting The Exhaust From Your Thunder Laser
Preface: This article covers some key points about Venting Your Laser and adapting aftermarket exhaust components Important Considerations: Existing Systems Do not connect the exhaust output of this laser to an existing exhaust system. Please consult ...Thunder Laser External Air Compressor Guidelines
Preface: This article describes adding 3rd party bolt-on performance peripherals. Your stock Thunder Laser will run to our specifications right out of the box with the included high quality accessories. This guide is catered to the newer Dual Air ...Y Axis Motion Noise
When you move laser head front and back, two couplings make a lot of noise. Both sides of transmission shaft are not aligned. How to fix it? 1.Turn off the whole machine power. 2.Take out the belt by taking down the motor. Loosen three screws A ...