Panels, cleaning, and access

At first glance, the three elements in this heading might seem unrelated, but in reality, they absolutely are. You want to have panels that open easily and provide maximum access to your work area as well as the controls on the machine itself. Of course, removable panels or a way to remove the entire enclosure for cleaning also means you have a way to control the spread of any debris that collects with each cutting job. Panels provide the means for ventilation and cooling you need to drive harmful fumes away from your machine and work area or let in air to keep your workpiece or toolhead cool. Also, with panels, if you are using a laser, make sure that you can safely view your machine in action without jeopardizing your eyesight. These same panels may also provide you with access to your emergency stop switch, power supply, and USB cables, and also confine any sparks or flames (should your workpiece ignite).

What you do for your enclosure panels depends...