Another Dust Collection Question!

[chiloquinruss]

I know, but I really did a search and didn't find what I was looking for. Anyhow to the question: What is the longest reliable run for a dust collection system? I know that this is a loaded question do to all the factors such as cfm and tube size etc,. But to those with dust collection systems, what have you found to be the maximum lift, run length, etc,. I need to go up 15 feet, across 25 feet, and down 15 feet to the system. I will have blast gates at each station but these same specs will be repeated for each of 5 tools. Is there a way to calculate the amount of cfm required to lift, transverse and collect dust? Are there other issues I'm missing? Thanks for any info. Russ

[blackhawk]

Ross - Yes, that is a pretty loaded question. I designed a handful of industrial chip collection systems in my last job. My systems were for metal chips, but the same principles apply. CFM is just one factor, you need to look at static pressure and friction losses also. You can definitely calculate all these things based on CFM required, static pressure of your collector, and friction losses, but it is super boring and probably overkill in your case. I have a pretty similar setup using a Grizzly G1029Z collector. It has 1550CFM at 11" static pressure. I am going up 7 feet with flexible hose, across 20 feet with rigid pipe (4" diameter), then down 2 feet rigid, then connecting to the dust foot with the standard Shopbot clear hose. This setup works great for me. The only chips that I have left are the ones stuck way down in a deep cutout. Flexible hose is a killer on friction losses, but is a necessity at times. Use long sweep elbows and avoid the flexible hose as much as you can and you should be fine if your collector has similar specs. All this is assuming only one gate open at a time.

[Gary Campbell]

Russ...
As Brad says above, all of the questions you ask need to be qualified by the specs of the dust collector you are installing.

I use the Delta 50-850A 1.5hp with cannister filter, 11.4 inH2O, 1200cfm, which is more than enough for the Bot. We also use a Delta 3HP 2700 cfm, 10.5 inH2O for our main system. And a Delta 50-850 with an oversize bag for sanding dust. We run close to 70 feet to the extremeties of the system. We do, however, use a dual pipe to get more CFM to the planer. There are many gates and lifts installed, and as long as the filters are clean enough to allow close to full flow, all works well. If you use a system with similar performance you should have little or no problems.

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Gary

[chiloquinruss]

Thanks guys. Thats what I was hoping you would say. I've have visited two really cool bot shops but they both had real close proximity dust collection systems. I have a very high ceiling (15 feet) and all of my systems will go up to the ceiling then across to the main (approx 20 / 30 feet). I hadn't thought about doubling the leads to get more cfm, thanks. The collector I will be using is from Wood Master Tools and is 4900 cfm.

OK now how about one more question what is agood source for the piping? Do you go to the local sheetmetal shop or heating / air conditioner shop? Thanks again for your time and info. Russ

http://www.woodmastertools.com/NS/accessdetail.cfm?PID=88


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[beacon14]

If you send these (http://oneida-air.com/) folks your layout and specs they will advise you on the pipe sizing and parts. Increasing pipe size is a good way to compensate for long runs but as has been stated there are many variables, one of which is velocity of the air within the pipe. if you go too far oversized the air will not move fast enough to carry the dust.

Oneida will be happy to sell you everything you need but a local HVAC wholesaler will probably be much less expensive.

[road_king]

Russ,
I purchased my pipe, fittings, etc from NORDFAB, http://www.nordfab.com/ . I originally purchased my duct (expensive but worth the $) prior to the shopbot and had to reconfigure the ducting after buying my bot. It was nice not having to unscrew and re-tape all the ducts. I purchase the "quick fit" galvanized pipe. Check out their web page.

[routerman]

Russ,
If you have enough compressed air available you can use an air amplifier. http://www.arizonavortex.com/air-amplifier/
It basically sucks on one end and blows on the other...you can duct it and go nearly 50'. It moves material like no other..just make sure you ground it.