I wonder how much maintenance is required to keep the pitot tubes clean. I’m assuming thats how they are getting the DP for the velocity fpm.
Yep still needs maintenance to keep all working.
If you check out this PDF
there does appear to be a pitot fed in to the brain of the gate. There is maintenance yes, but a proper sized collection system operating under normal conditions will not have the same magnitude of clogging problems we have now. The master controller in this system would throw a warning at the HMI, which makes maintenance significantly easier.
Which just brings us full circle back to same problem/issue, since if we were doing the maintenance required regarding existing dust control issues we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, right?
(specifically NOT addressing this directly to above quotes/genetlemen) There is NOT enough money and technology in the world to solve our basic problem! Why are we, as an organization, so absolutely and ideologically averse to addressing the root problem here, which is: * rules and standards of behaviour are created/implemented; * members are specifically informed of them or at least are told to make themselves informed of them; * members then consciously and willfully ignore said rules and standards of behaviour; * and then NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM, and everyone else around them sees it and internalizes what the real rules and standard of behaviour are.
I really just don’t get it. The Ostrich Effect at play here is really distressing, and is putting the whole Dallas Makerspace at risk, if one accepts that the shuttering of the woodshop is an existential threat.
I was wanting to see really what kind of measuring they were doing. Traditional pitot tubes can become clogged by fine dust. I’m curious on how they solved this issue or what kinda workaround they came up with. It’s just pure curiosity & the documentation I have found so far hasn’t shown great detail.
1 Like
I have just announced a mini-hackathon on this topic to gain a level of interest.
Since recently becoming chair of Digital Media, I have decided we will begin hosting quarterly hackathons and monthly mini-hackathons.
I personally want to automate my home dust collection at every station and was initially going to make it myself, then see if Andrew & Co. wanted to implement the same system in the woodshop. Now I’m thinking automating the dust collection would make for a good first project of a mini-hackathon.
If you are interested in joining the event, please reply to this thread: [Shelved] Mini-Hackathon - Automate Woodshop Dust Collection
Please note, we just agreed to hire a Fire Safety Engineer to evaluate the space, define needed changes, and represent us with the Fire Marshall.
We clearly need to replace the current collection system, since it is simply unworkable. The FSE will end up detailing for us the requirements of the new system based on Fire and Building code requirements. An engineer will be required to design and seal the drawings in order to receive the needed building permit.
So there’s no point in getting busy on anything yet. This isn’t going to be a DIY job. Once we know what we need to put in place, we can start looking into controlling the blast gates. But we’re not there yet. We shouldalsobear in mind, we’ve been working with Robert Davidson on his new RFID interloc system as well. So this isn’t a new discussion.
Dave K is currently screening FSE candidates, and we hope to get them hired ASAP.
The best and most important way for members to help out, is to help clean the filters, clean the tools, and keep the shop as immaculate as possible.
2 Likes
So is the project @Azalaket asked me to do, which is create a notification system when a dust bin is full still something that we will be using? The system I am designing will work with any dust bin collector for which we can drill a 3/4" hole in the top of the bin.
Andrew, please let me know if it is worth me continuing on this project.
This type of damper cannot survive in a vacuum situation
Moot point. It has been decreed that DIY is out.
Please note - I’m not arguing against any of this. I think once the new collector is selected, we’ll still need a way to know when the bin/dumpster for it is full, or ideally when the filters need cleaning. And RFID activated tools and dust gates would be an awesome improvement.
I’m just saying we don’t know what or where the new dust collector will be - yet. Guessing we’ll know a week after Dave locates the FSE.
If we can somehow arrange for a clear or translucent bin, or one with a window of some sort, it would go a long way in helping provide a visual reminder.
3 Likes
Note that a standard waste disposal dumpster is typical an option on all external dust collectors (aka, scheduled pickup, just like the existing dumpster).
Beats the hell out of hauling barrels outside and lifting them up over the edge of the trash dumpster, and the lack of need for volunteers to be hustling the waste outside, will definitely help keep them dumped and running well. Since difficulty keeping the barrels emptied is frequently cited as one of the major issues, we should keep in mind that a new higher powered system will collect significantly more waste (instead of leaving it on the floor, in the tools, in the air, etc), having an indoor collector just aggravates an already difficult problem.
1 Like
An outdoor collection bin would be so ideal. I’m happy to empty a bin everytime I’m there, but eliminating that need would be amazing. My only concern is if we happen to fill the bin before a pickup, what happens then?
1 Like
I think the dust collection dumpsters are designed to be used for transfer, not disposal. If we use a dumpster, I would speculate that the trash company wouldn’t disconnect it, roll it out, dump it, and put it back either.
1 Like
I’ve seen optional racks to accomodate a standard dumpster, not sure whether they have to be disconnected or not however.
In the rush to go with off the shelf tech for this project, the prime design featue I started with has been dropped.
If you want the dist collector emptied promptly, each of the tools needs to shut down at the first stop after the bin signals full. Automatic the gates won’t fix that. The RFID system could be made to do so I suppose. It’ll need power interruption capability.
But asking, posting signs, and reminding does not seem to work well. I doubt the alarm will do any better.
Something to consider in your research.
@wandrson is implementing a loud ass siren in the alarm, this is a feature we haven’t tried in response to people not reading. But it sure does seem promising. I’d imagine someone in creative arts coming to yell at the woodshop about cleaning the dustbins would make it pretty effective
3 Likes