Question/Suggestion: Option for 3d-printed tube using transparent materials?

[zihotki]

Hey, I LOVE the separator and wanted to build one too. I found that for me the transparent tubes are hard to find and they are quite expensive. Since I had success with using transparent materials for some purposes where you don't need to see many details. I wonder if you considered replacing the tube by a printed one. Using a printed one it may be easier to design the tube to have mounting points built in. A spool or two of a generic transparent filament are much cheaper too.

I wasn't sure what was the best way to share the idea so I followed my programmer's habit via github.

[Makerr-Studio]

Hi Vasili Puchko!

Thank you for responding!

Your idea of printing the tube in a generic transparent filament i considered myself for a moment in the beginning. I did not liked the extreme shipping cost of the PVC tube to send it to the EU. But for me it was the easiest way forward and i have no experience with printing clear filaments.

I am testing a EU alternative Acrylic tube 150x3mm = https://www.kunststofforte.nl/product/transparante-acrylaat-buizen-xt/ It is way cheaper!

Maybe in the future i will design a complete printed version. For now i am focusing on the performance part to squeeze the max out of it.

Ruud

[zihotki]

@Makerr-Studio I think we can collaborate a bit on the separator. At the moment I'm working on DIY version of vacuum similar to Record Power CGV286-4 based on idea of Ingos Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-J8GXajv78 but with 3d-printed motor housing. So far the total price of all components is about 170 euro including filament. And for that I'm also building a Thien's cyclone separator ( https://www.jpthien.com/cy.htm ) since it's a simpler version compared to one you're working.

I'm also planning to build the version you're working and It would be great to compare the performance of the solutions. And I can play around with the printed version of the tube as well.

[Makerr-Studio]

Please tell me, can you read my mind.. (Or we draw inspiration from the same videos :D ).

I have a ultimate goal in my head to end with a modular system out of Festool/Tanos SYS3 XXL Systainer. One for the 2 camvac motors, frequency controlled + filters (Only i am not a electrical engineer :D). And one for the separator. A bit like a mix-and-match system that can be adjusted according to the situation. I asked myself the question: What if Festool designed a portable dust extractor with a hi-volume? How would it be like?

Tree days ago i ordered a simple 120L trashcan to make a $2 dust separator for it (Level 1). I also will make a Thien Baffle cyclone as a Level 2 separator. I also ordered a Oneida-Air Super Dust Deputy 4/5 cyclone a month ago, (only in Holland it has a delivery time of 2-4 month) so still waiting on that to be delivered. I am very curious about how they perform in relation to each other.

My coal for the channel is to develop a test-rig/test protocol that is accurate and repeatable to compare the different Levels of dust separators (and optimize mine even more). I will also measure airflow, pressure loss and count the partiles from 0,3 μm, 0,5 μm, 1,0 μm, 2,5 μm, 5,0 μm, 10,0 μm with a particle counter. Still figuring out the best setup for it and a way to automatically feed the material, i do have some ideas already.

No one on Youtube does that. And measuring the particle size that is not filtered out is the most important thing for a good dust filter i think.

So feel free to contribute! Do you also have a youtube channel or something?

[asucks]

I have a ultimate goal in my head to end with a modular system out of Festool/Tanos SYS3 XXL Systainer. One for the 2 camvac motors, frequency controlled + filters (Only i am not a electrical engineer :D). And one for the separator. A bit like a mix-and-match system that can be adjusted according to the situation. I asked myself the question: What if Festool designed a portable dust extractor with a hi-volume? How would it be like?

Awesome. Been working with stuff that creates super fine dust for 20 years now and have never found a perfect solution in a dust collector. I started researching again recently and came to the same conclusion that you did, that it has to be some sort of hybrid system that combines high flow and high pressure (I've always had high flow and CFM, not enough pressure because of restriction).

A couple months ago, I stumbled upon @pilsonguitars centrifugal dust separator videos, but it still seemed too advanced and technical for me. But it did seem very promising when I had more time to research and learn. I started researching again a week ago and found your video, and realized we had a lot of similar goals, skills, and equipment.

Both you guys are way smarter than me, but I do own a small manufacturing firm, I have a 3D printer, and I am willing to make an exact copy of what you are so we can make sure your testing results are accurate. I've already got the majority of the parts 3D printed, just waiting on the tubing, which will be here in a few days.

My coal for the channel is to develop a test-rig/test protocol that is accurate and repeatable to compare the different Levels of dust separators (and optimize mine even more). I will also measure airflow, pressure loss and count the partiles from 0,3 μm, 0,5 μm, 1,0 μm, 2,5 μm, 5,0 μm, 10,0 μm with a particle counter. Still figuring out the best setup for it and a way to automatically feed the material, i do have some ideas already.

Perfect. I'm totally willing to get the same testing equipment and develop measurement standards so we can verify the data. I don't have a YouTube channel or have the time to run one, but I can film any test equipment you need me to and transfer it over for you to use. My main goal is to get the small stuff too, for the health and safety of my employees and myself, so getting the right equipment and making sure it was really capturing it would be a bonus for me.

I also have some additional ideas that I think will get it to 100% capture rate with an additional stage. Any way we can setup a zoom call so we can bounce some ideas around, I can show you my setup, and you can verify some things for me as I continue my build?

[Makerr-Studio]

@asucks Awesome you stumbled upon oure centrifugal dust separator video's! Nice to hear you are printing one yourself. I found out thad the right tolerances are critical. So thats why i add the scaling ring to the files to make it fit perfectly in the tube!

Back to the design. At first glance I also thought the centrifugal dust separator looked very complex. The design really fascinated me because it looked cool and technically challenging and it is compact in height, which is exactly what I needed for my small space.

Not much research has been done into these types of separators. And the Harvey system is very expencive with mixed feedback from end users. Some say it's marketing only and it doesn't work. Others are very enthusiastic about it (not clear what is PR). I would like to quantify that, and compare it with other type of separators. To see what works best for a certain type of dust mixtures.

I realy like to hear more about you usecase! Only my English is very rusty at the moment. So a zoom call is a bit challaging for me to speek it live. On camera i can record many takes :P. I work one day a week on the project. Still having a fulltime job. So time management is key for me on the project. Maybe you can record a short movie from your situation and send it to: maakhet@makerr.nl

[schmidtw]

Has anyone tried printing a clear tube yet? I am just getting into 3d printing & ordered some clear PETG to try printing a clear tube. I'm not sure it will be clear enough for what we want based on the research, but the proof is found by doing.

The other ideas I have regarding the tubes:

• Instead of using one long tube per separator we could attempt to use several shorter tubes & print connectors so the tubes fit into connectors (that can also hold the turbines/etc where we want them)
• Resin cast shorter segments of tubing & bolt them together (this seems like a lot of work)
• Try using cardboard concrete tubes if we don't need to see the dust moving around. At least in the US a 2m long tube is $10USD if you can get it locally.

[Makerr-Studio]

No I have not tried printing a clear tube yet. Looks like the more layer thickness for the part the less clear it will be. It is somewhere on my list to try in the future. Did you try it already?

I also though about the idea to make it more modular.. with quick connect fittings so you are able to put together the best modules of the separator for the tool you need it for. That is quick connect I don't figured out yet. To get a realy good seal is a bit hard I think.

Cardboard can be a option, only I like to pay more to see the dust flow. Also for filming it is better to have a clear tube.