gundog
03-05-2014, 01:55 PM
I have been meaning to post about my Vacuum setup for a while so here it is.
I use 2 lighthouse Vacuum motors 220 volt 7 amps each. The motors can be ran 1 at a time or in parallel. I did not plan to run them in series due to overheating reported by other who have tried this.
I have a knife valve RV type for each motor. The motor manifold and main trunk line is made from 3" ABS the individual vacuum ports are 1 1/2" ABS each port also has a knife valve RV type on it. The RV type knife valves made by Valtera are rated for vacuum.
The motors are located outside my main shop building in a loafing shed to keep the noise out of my shop. The motors are not inclosed and are open allowing good air flow for cooling.
The manifold motor brackets I made from scrap 1/2" Seaboard plastic I had laying around. I will post DXF files of these parts they could be easily made from something else MDF or plywood. I work with plastic so that is what I had on site. I used clear silicone to seal the parts and 1/4" all thread to hold the manifold motor brackets together.
The mufflers were from Lighthouse but they don't do a lot and were expensive for what they are. I would make my own next time by using 3" ABS with sheet foam on the inside and 1.5" fittings on each end that is basically how these are made.
I will also post a DXF of my vacuum plenum. The plenum is easily designed to suit your own needs. I designed to small zones for a job I do drilling my fillet/rigging tables as a secondary operation. The drilling is done on the bottom of the table with machining on both sides.
I used an inexpensive automotive type vacuum gauge. I am not concerned with vacuum accuracy it is used as a go no go type reading the actual accuracy of the number of inches of vacuum is not important. Knowing what the reading is in order to hold your parts tight is all that is necessary for my use. For me 3" - 5" is good above 5" and you may burn up a vacuum motor. The vacuum motors need some air flow to cool.
I use 2 lighthouse Vacuum motors 220 volt 7 amps each. The motors can be ran 1 at a time or in parallel. I did not plan to run them in series due to overheating reported by other who have tried this.
I have a knife valve RV type for each motor. The motor manifold and main trunk line is made from 3" ABS the individual vacuum ports are 1 1/2" ABS each port also has a knife valve RV type on it. The RV type knife valves made by Valtera are rated for vacuum.
The motors are located outside my main shop building in a loafing shed to keep the noise out of my shop. The motors are not inclosed and are open allowing good air flow for cooling.
The manifold motor brackets I made from scrap 1/2" Seaboard plastic I had laying around. I will post DXF files of these parts they could be easily made from something else MDF or plywood. I work with plastic so that is what I had on site. I used clear silicone to seal the parts and 1/4" all thread to hold the manifold motor brackets together.
The mufflers were from Lighthouse but they don't do a lot and were expensive for what they are. I would make my own next time by using 3" ABS with sheet foam on the inside and 1.5" fittings on each end that is basically how these are made.
I will also post a DXF of my vacuum plenum. The plenum is easily designed to suit your own needs. I designed to small zones for a job I do drilling my fillet/rigging tables as a secondary operation. The drilling is done on the bottom of the table with machining on both sides.
I used an inexpensive automotive type vacuum gauge. I am not concerned with vacuum accuracy it is used as a go no go type reading the actual accuracy of the number of inches of vacuum is not important. Knowing what the reading is in order to hold your parts tight is all that is necessary for my use. For me 3" - 5" is good above 5" and you may burn up a vacuum motor. The vacuum motors need some air flow to cool.