Infrastucture

With the installation of the compressor the next big infrastructure project for the woodshop is the dust extraction. The shack has been placed outside the WoodShop exit to the right.

Here is a starter list of tasks for this project:

• Collector shack emptied
• The collector needs to be reinstalled.
• Bin connected
• Filter and clean out installed
• Electrical run to shack
• Holes added to shack and building for ducting
• Old duct hole patched
• Ducting around room to blast gates
• Tools ducted to blasst gates

I am sure there is more to add here.

Thanks to Grant and anyone else who has worked on a bin full indicator at the old space. I know it has its chalenges. Here is an idea to make it work . There is also a version that will give an indication if the filter needs to be cleaned. Lets pick a version here if you all think it would work and I will start puting toether parts.

How time flies, haha, sorry. The collector shack has been cleaned out and the dust filter has been emptied and temporarily positioned (put not sealed in place yet). I just have a few questions for the members who had experience with the setup in the old Space, just to fill in a few blanks I have based on what I can see in the shack (having had zero experience with the collector aside from turning it on/off):

-Is there any preference for the main hardline ducting to be metal or plastic?

-Was any caulk used to seal both ends around the dust filter, or just the screws and aluminum tape?

-Will 4" ducting be too restrictive for the main hardline duct before the hoses to the individual tools?

-Related to that, the rectangular-circle transition coming off the cyclone has what looks like a 6 or 7" diameter, was that stepped down gradually or all at once early on after leaving the shack?

Otherwise, in essence, the main duct go straight out of the side of the shack and enter the shop around 6.5 or 7ft to the right of the outside-access door. There will be one branch running down the right side of that door to reach the mitre saw, table saw, and CNC router. The main duct will then run left the rest of the way to the far corner of the shop, where it will be able to supply the lathe, jointer, belt sander, and bandsaw.

I'm undecided on whether to have a splitter (a large version of the example here) beside the yellow shelf to move the active duct to the ports of each tool's duct, or have a single long flex-hose that can reach all of the tools. Or perhaps a mix, and there is one hose to reach the jointer/lathe, and another branch runs over the yellow shelf to supply just the bandsaw and sander?

I will be out of town this coming weekend, and unless someone is already working on this, I'm looking towards next weekend (24th-26th) to at least get v1.0 of the system physically installed (I promise to leave the electrical for someone more qualified). Please let me know if there are any obvious things I am missing.

More specialized issues to tackle as the collection system begins takes shape will be:

-Running power to the shack and wiring in everything inside (the old switch and red "on" light are stored in there)

-The low-profile ducting for a table saw to reach across the floor, and the duct transitions required for it

-Bin and dust filter monitors (detailed by Nicholas in the post below)

-Potentially 3d printing any custom fittings or fixtures we might need (more of the excellent magnetic couplers, a shroud for the CNC router, etc)

-if some blast gates are placed 8ft up the wall with the ducting, installing pull mechanism or levels for people to open/close them from the ground (only if people get tired of stepstools/ladders)

I will be out of town on Wednesday as well, but I will try to get to Hack Night late if anyone wants to discuss the design/layout/shopping list of materials, as well as next Wednesday. Any and all help with the install or feedback would be appreciated!