Lunar Lander at Parallax
Ken Gracey
Posts: 7,401
Today we installed another interesting machine - a Torit Donaldson cyclone dust collector!
This machine provides the vacuum necessary for an Epilog 36 EXT Laser Cutter and the Haas SR-100 router @1250 cfm. Many of you already know about dust collection because it was your advice that lead to this solution.
The dust collector creates much "interest" among the local air pollution control authorities in California. In fact, they had to issue a $1000 permit for us to use this machine. Guess it would have been easier just to spew the stuff into the atmosphere.
And we will not be doing much wood routing, if any. We'll keep sending the Robot Base Kits out for production.
Next job is the cyclone fence around the dust collector and a giant hole in the wall.
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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
This machine provides the vacuum necessary for an Epilog 36 EXT Laser Cutter and the Haas SR-100 router @1250 cfm. Many of you already know about dust collection because it was your advice that lead to this solution.
The dust collector creates much "interest" among the local air pollution control authorities in California. In fact, they had to issue a $1000 permit for us to use this machine. Guess it would have been easier just to spew the stuff into the atmosphere.
And we will not be doing much wood routing, if any. We'll keep sending the Robot Base Kits out for production.
Next job is the cyclone fence around the dust collector and a giant hole in the wall.
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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
1200 x 900 - 281K
Comments
You should have had Hanno install it. He knows all about the lunar lander.
From his Bio:
Jim
http://www.frontiernet.net/~imaging/lunar_lander_game.html·!!!
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·"If you build it, they will come."
Post Edited (erco) : 6/16/2010 11:32:37 PM GMT
Never did finish it...
Rich H
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The Simple Servo Tester, a kit from Gadget Gangster.
Did you request Parallax blue on the cyclone? [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Jim
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OS-X: because making Unix user-friendly was easier than debugging Windows
links:
My band's website
Our first album on the iTunes Store
Our second album...
Even a small single filter unit like this one will suck lots of air conditioned (or heated) air out of the building with the dust.
This will really cause an increase in the energy bill.
The filtered air can be returned without much of a DT of the air.
The muffler helps to quiet it down a bit.
We use these same Torit systems on Plasama Cutters although they are usually a 4 to 16 filter units.
They burn nicely too. I had a customer who didnt install a spark trap, and we burned up a 75 Horse power unit. Quite impressive.
Any way Im not sure if your laser cutter requires a spark trap. The filter elements are flamable.
Good Luck,
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Alan Bradford ·N1YMQ
Plasma Technologies
Canaan NH 03741
www.plasmatechnologies.com
I could supply you with a lot of it at a quite good price, especially if you come pick it up.
@sylvie369: CNC router will generate some dust from occasional wood cutting and polycarbonate routing. The products being made on the router include robot bases and solar panels. Thanks for the offer for some dust, too [noparse]:)[/noparse]
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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
This CNC machine install has been an adventure for you guys these last two weeks, (and us too, by proxy) --
No one makes a purchase like this without having some plans for how it will be used...
Any chance you can give us a sneak peek at coming attractions (products) which will become available in the future? [noparse]:)[/noparse]
OBC
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Propeller Feature Projects: PropellerPowered.com
Visit the: PROPELLERPOWERED SIG forum kindly hosted by Savage Circuits.
At this moment we're just going to internalize manufacturing of some products that we're outsourcing. Once we get that part under control we'll be able to add production for new ideas.
It's been a difficult six weeks at Parallax. All of this new equipment means training every week, restructuring of various manufacturing processes, revisions of certain product designs, and a ton of electrical, plumbing, air, HVAC, etc. I thought we'd be done with the whole process by the end of June but it'll be more like July. It takes time to learn how to run these tools. The bright side is that it's an investment for the long-term future. Add to it that we're short on staff - four positions are now open for everything from Engineering to IT and perhaps even another job in manufacturing.
So, give us a bit of time to start using the machines and we'll share some ideas for your feedback. Summer is the best time to disrupt the business with these kinds of activities. Although people are gone on vacation, business is usually slower so those who stay around need extra things to do (like pour concrete!).
Also, maybe there are some ideas that our customers should provide for our consideration. I'll show you the various tools during UPEW tours.
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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
It's really interesting seeing how new equipment arrives and is integrated into things. I'd seen those devices before, and had no idea they were dust collectors.
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·"If you build it, they will come."
Just a quick question. Is there a cover or some other provision for keeping rain and other moisture off the motor? I ask only because as a electric motor and motor control repair tech I have worked on dust collectors and other electric motors that are outside. My experience has been that even though the manufactures say the motor can take the elements water seems to find a way into the bearing housings and wash out the grease. It is funny how water is not a very good lubricant. This may not be a problem with your system but I have seen some fairly new equipment fail due to moisture in bearing housings. I don't want Parallax to have to delay production of any of your great products so thought I would mention this.
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· Scott
Cute little unit! Comments about spark control are right on the money. I've seen a big one go into orbit (sort of) due to the wood dust reaching exactly the right proportion of fuel and air and a spark due to static joining the mixture. Because the "pointy end" is on the wrong end, the cyclones don't fly very well!
The motor looks like a TEFC unit so a bit of rain won't bother it.
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Tom Sisk
http://www.siskconsult.com
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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
They said if I covered my central air unit that water could get inside and not dry out because we had a cover on and it would also keep the sun from hitting it.
The best thing is if they could build a roof for it but nothing is going to keep it from getting hit by wind blown (diagonal)·rain.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust
Ken,
I think they have it backwards but they haven't figured it out that the field around Parallax creates more dust than your machine but you don't want to tell them that because they might charge you for your field.· You probably don't want to be grossed out but dust is also a product of dead skin.
Chuck
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The Torit is completely water and weather tight.
The motor will be fine. I have never heard of a problem with an outside installation.
As for the Spark Arrestor, what are you cutting with the Laser?
Does it generate any sparks or hot debris?
The Torrit guys are very knowledgeable about these types of applications and are the first ones you should go to if you have any doubts.
Also if it does catch fire, the outer enclosure will contain it, it just makes a mess of the innards.
It would sorta look like R2D2 it by a Blaster.... smoke leaking from all the cracks and crevases.
Have fun with it,
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Alan Bradford ·N1YMQ
Plasma Technologies
Canaan NH 03741
www.plasmatechnologies.com
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· Scott
Post Edited (Highlandtinker) : 6/18/2010 2:29:35 AM GMT
I have also seen alot of cheap stuff not live up to its name.
I was just trying to say that the Torit is a quality piece of equipment.
With all the government environmental engineers trying to justify their existance, you almost can not sneeze without causing a violation now a days.
There·are been lots of start up companies now making fume extractors.
If you go to the National Welding Shows you will see about 50 new vendors each year.
Some of it is cheap Chinese copies of the brand names and others are over engineered German stuff thast could contain a Nuclear Blast.
Anyway this is a good machine and should last years.
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Alan Bradford ·N1YMQ
Plasma Technologies
Canaan NH 03741
www.plasmatechnologies.com
You are absolutly correct. A large part of our small motor repair is the cheap asian stuff. The German motors are really good until one burns up and we have to rewind it. ( alot of copper stuffed in a small package )
We are a warranty shop for most motor manufactures and see the motors that just don't last so I suppose I see more than my share of problems. The brand of motor used on this Dust collector is a quility manufacturer· ( Baldor ) and should last a long time.
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· Scott