Monport Onyx-R 55W CO2 Laser Production Changes & Upgrades

Monport Onyx-R 55W CO₂ Laser Upgrades, Maintenance, and Cooling Guide

The Monport Onyx-R 55W CO₂ laser cutter/engraver is a powerful desktop production machine. With the right upgrades and consistent maintenance, you can dramatically improve engraving detail, cutting power, and tube lifespan.

This guide covers the best upgrades, cooling options, and maintenance practices — with recommended products available on Amazon.

Onyx-R vs. Onyx50: What Changed?

When Monport released the Onyx-R in 2024, several updates appeared compared to the older Onyx50:

Slightly different case dimensions (important for accessory fit).
More modular internal wiring layout for easier servicing.
Redesigned exhaust pathway for improved smoke extraction.
Full Ruida controller compatibility, making console upgrades even more valuable.

Must-Have Upgrades

1. Air Assist System

Air assist keeps your lens clean and prevents flare-ups. It’s a must-have for both cutting and engraving.

Recommended Products:

💡 Pro Tip: Keep air assist running even when engraving wood or acrylic. It prevents smoke from coating your optics.

Quiet & Ultra-Quiet Oil-Less Air Compressors for Monport Onyx Air Assist

With the Monport Onyx laser, a reliable air assist system keeps the lens clean and helps achieve clean cuts and engravings. Quiet and ultra‑quiet oil‑less compressors offer significant advantages over standard units—especially in shared workspaces, home studios, or small businesses.

Benefits of Quiet & Ultra-Quiet Oil-Less Compressors

Low Noise Levels
Quiet models typically run around 60 dB, while ultra‑quiet units can drop to 40–50 dB—sound levels comparable to a dishwasher or quiet conversation. Standard oil‑lubricated compressors often exceed 80 dB, which can be disruptive in indoor environments.
Oil‑Free Clean Air
These compressors eliminate oil lubrication and oil carry-over, providing clean, dry air—crucial for a laser environment where oil and particulates can damage optics or materials.
Low Maintenance & Long Life
With no oil to change, sealed and self-lubricating designs reduce regular maintenance. Some units feature dual-piston pumps rated for over 3,000 service hours, offering exceptional durability.
Workspace Comfort
Whisper-quiet operation allows uninterrupted focus on laser work, conversation, or collaboration—without ear protection or noise complaints.

Quiet vs. Ultra-Quiet

Feature	Quiet Oil-Less Models (~60 dB)	Ultra-Quiet Models (~40–50 dB)
Noise Level	Around 60 dB—noticeably quieter than typical compressors	As low as 40–50 dB—almost library‑quiet
Use Case	Garage or home studio where noise is a concern, but not critical	Open office, shared workspace, retail environments where silence is essential
Example Models	California Air Tools 8010 (60 dB), 10020C (70 dB but still quiet)	California Air Tools Ultra Quiet Sound‑Proof Cabinets (down to 40 dB)

2. Optics & Lens Upgrades

Upgrading lenses improves cut depth and engraving clarity.

Check and clean the lens regularly

3. Ruida Controller

A Ruida console upgrade gives you error feedback, smoother control, and LightBurn compatibility.

Recommended Products:

4. Exhaust & Fume Extraction

Good smoke management protects optics and your workspace air quality.

Recommended Products:

5. Cooling Solutions

A 55W CO₂ laser generates a lot of heat — cooling is essential for tube longevity.

Cooling Options:

Entry Level: Bucket + pump (not ideal for long jobs).
Better: CW-3000 Fan-Cooled Chiller
Best: S&A CW-5200 Industrial Chiller – true refrigerant cooling for consistent water temps.

⚠️ Avoid Over-Chilling: Keep water between 60–70°F (15–21°C). Too cold can cause condensation inside the tube.

Routine Maintenance

Cleaning Mirrors

Dirty mirrors reduce laser power. Clean them weekly.

Power off and unplug.
Remove mirror with gloves.
Wipe with Thorlabs Optical Tissue and 99.9% IPA.
Reinstall and check alignment.

Cleaning the Lens

The focusing lens collects the most debris.

Unscrew and remove carefully.
Clean with Cloudray Lens Wipes.
Reinstall with flat side up, convex side down toward the workpiece.

💡 If reversed, the beam won’t focus properly → weaker cuts, wider kerf, potential overheating.

Preventive Schedule

After Each Session: Wipe bed, inspect lens.
Weekly: Clean mirrors/lens, wipe rails, check air tubing.
Monthly: Inspect belts, clean exhaust ducts.
Quarterly: Replace cooling water, deep clean optics, check alignment.

Safety Essentials

Protect your workspace and yourself.

Final Thoughts

The Monport Onyx-R 55W is a strong production machine, but it performs best with clean optics, reliable cooling, and smart upgrades. By investing in air assist, better lenses, a Ruida controller, exhaust upgrades, and an industrial water chiller, you’ll extend tube life, improve cut quality, and keep your workshop safe.

All the products above are available on Amazon — making it easy to build a professional-grade setup right in your shop.

Update, 8/1/2024: The new version of the machine is called the Onyx-R and as information is becoming available, it’s obvious the internals of the machine are very different. Even the dimensions of the case are slightly different. Are the changes for the better or the worse? The Laser Channel has started a new YouTube series to cover the Onyx-R, but so far no significant insights.

ONYX-R User Manual (the old machine is called the ONYX50).

I’ve listed accessories that I’ve purchased for my ONYX-R below.

Tips:

Check and clean the lens regularly
- Cloudray 18mm FL50.8″
- American Photonics 18mm FL50.8″ ZnSe
Install a RUIDA Console that displays Error Messages, otherwise it’s difficult to determine why the machine refuses to cut or engrave when the Pause/Stop button glows red
- Cloudray Rida 6442S Controller
Use an external air evacuation fan via the 4″ exhaust port and remove the dc box fan (impedes flow out of the cabinet). You want to extract as much smoke and particulates from the laser working area as possible to limit debris buildup on the lens and laser nozzle and to keep the smoke out of your workshop. Even with the external exhaust fan, smoke ends up coming out of the front of the machine.
When engraving, keep your work away from the edges of the worked – the laser head needs room for overshoot and the machine will not start the job if there’s insufficient clearance
Consider a lens upgrade, like the American Photonics ZnSe 18mm Dia 50.8mm focal length

In January 2024 The Laser Channel on YouTube was commissioned by Monport to do a series on the Onyx 55 desktop CO2 laser engraver. When I received my machine 7 months later there were quite a few unexpected changes. Let’s take a look at what I’ve found so far – images on the left were from The Laser Channel, on the right, my machine.