vacuum table question

[lutchman]

hey guys, i am thinking of installing a vacuum motor to my table, my plenum is 6 zone, 4'-0" x 8'-0", i looked online at some motors and came up with this, a 2-stage, 5.7 inch, 110 volt Lamb Ametek motor. Waterlift 106.7", CFM 112, AirWatts 404, Amps 10.7. would this be suitable for my table, and does anyone have any idea how to interpret this jargon?

[coryatjohn]

I would guess it would be too little airflow. There needs to be both significant CFM's and vacuum in order to be satisfactory. That looks like a 1HP type motor. I would say the minimum is around 4hp before things start working.

I'm no expert, that's for sure. I suggest reading through this forum for what others have done. I use 2 2HP 1500w regenerative blowers (135CFM) in series. It works pretty good for full sheets but doesn't work well for small parts.

[Simops]

John, how did you hook up the 2 blowers in series.....at what stage along the piping did you join them up?

Cheers

[Brady Watson]

....2-stage, 5.7 inch, 110 volt Lamb Ametek motor....would this be suitable for my table, and does anyone have any idea how to interpret this jargon?

You'd want at least 2, if not 4 of them to really work in a variety of situations.

Waterlift 106.7" / 13.6 = 7.85 Hg" (inches of mercury) which is a little better than a Fein Turbo III shopvac (pretty good)

CFM 112 = Airflow - also OK. Fein @ 126 CFM; Lighthouse Vac around 95 CFM

AirWatts 404 = not very helpful info unless you are UberGeek

Amps 10.7 = Assuming @ 110/120v; This is relevant to how much electricity you have at the shop, and the ampacity of your system with a few of these running, the spindle, dust collection, lights, radio etc at the same time.

It isn't what vacuum you have but how you use it...and it takes an astute individual to leverage hold down with only one shopvac replacement motor as the powerplant. It can be done...don't expect miracles from it. It's already a bargain solution with 4 of them running in unison. The other piece of the puzzle will be bleeder board material. Are you able to get good quality Ultralight MDF where you are?

-B

[coryatjohn]

John, how did you hook up the 2 blowers in series.....at what stage along the piping did you join them up?

Cheers

The output of one blower is the input to the second blower. I set it up so I could run them in parallel or series but it turns out that series works best for most situations. I could have simplified the plumbing and just left it as a series installation.

They run fairly quietly. The noise is more of a low pitch rumble rather than a turbine scream. They're also rated for continuous operation and have a long life expectancy. The cost was a bit more, about $500 each but I think the lower noise level and the longer life makes up for it. No need for any fancy enclosures either. They just sit on a rubber matt.

Here's a picture:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=83&pictureid=679

[David Iannone]

Nice looking Vac setup John.

Thanks for the pic.

Dave

[danhamm]

John...
I have the same basic setup. 2, 2.5 kw pumps single phase in series, most of my work is clamped but its nice when needed, my spoil board is ordinary mdf, not the light stuff, I also have 2 of the same pumps in 3 phase, first order they shipped wrong pumps.

[David Iannone]

John,

Do you by chance know what they register on a decibal meter? I only ask, because as I am building my vac system I am recording noise levels with my iphone app.(i know, pretty crude. but its still a form of measurement right?)
I am hitting average of 93 decibals with 2 light house motors. Not a problem for me cause in the CNC room I always have my hearing protection on. Just curious.

Thanks,
Dave