dust seperator in systainer

[Alan m]

Hi all
I have been playing with this idea for a while now and finally got it working some way right.
[attachthumb=#]

This is a working prototype but needs tidying up (a lot of tidying up)
I got 2 tlocs. a sys2/3 and a 4. i am sorry now I didn’t get a classic sys4 and 2 extension pieces
I drilled 2 holes in the front of the sys2 for some rainwater fittings (fit the festool hose ends perfectly).
I cut a circle out of the bottom as large as i could .
I did the same to the top of the sys4 . i know i have ruined 2 systainers  [scared] [crying]but only 1 really as I could put the lid of one on the sys4 and get that back .
The 2 systainers are bolted together and sealed . Expanding foam supports the metal wall
i cut a piece of sheet metal to create a wall around for the dust to follow.
[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]

This works ok at the moment as there are a few leaks. Get to that in a mo.

The efficiency is ok 2 but I catch most of it. Only the real fine stuff gets through. I suppose this is how it should be, all the big stuff in the container to be reused and the fine stuff in the one that gets dumped.

I use a reusable bag at the moment but must get a few disposable ones.

Here is a pic of the sys full of dust

there was only maybe 2 handfulls of dust in the bag

Any way my question is.
Where the lid meets the bottom section i am struggling to seal it.
I tried some draft sealer tape. This works good on the bits it stayed on .
Also the back edge of the lower systainer gets sucked in by the vacuum.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to improve this

thanks alan

 

[Alan m]

excuse these pictures please. there is something wrong somewhere , is is putting in pics in places i dont wnt them. hopefully you get the idea

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I'm speachless.  Really I just don't know what to say other than you guys come up with the wackiest contraptions out of these systainers.

Do you have a picture of how all the dust goes back in the systainer?  [tongue]

 

[jmbfestool]

Why not get some like black rubber like sealer or silicon kinda thing  and  go around the edge as best you can let it go off then when you close your lid it squeezes against the sealer making it air tight?    Using a rubber with a slot would be best but I can see that stopping you closing the lid properly.

Jmb

 

[harry_]

just a thought:

Has anyone considered taking a disposable bag, turning it inside out and filling it with some sort of "wire basket" to keep it' inflated. Thus acting as a dust filter in an attempt to keep it `all` out of the DC? I realize that it would probably be too big for this particular application, but maybe a downsized version of the same would do?

 

[Alan m]

all aroumd the outside of the metal sheet is expanding foam, it is a bit dusty thow.
i know it is a bit unrefined but it works.
i was thinking of a sergical tubing or soft tubing and cut a slit in it and put it over the edge. where to get some is the trouble.
i like the silicone idea, it might work

 

[flair woodworks]

Good idea, Alan.  I like the idea of the Dust Deputy, but don't like losing the ability to stack on top of it.  Building a separator inside the Systainer solves the problem.  Plus, I already have empty Systainers kicking around.  Keep us posted on your modifications to the design.

 

[fritter63]

Try some kind of rubber gasket with grooves top and bottom. You'll have to repurpose something, probably from automotive.

Or, make a wood/plastic ledge that hugs the joint there, and then use a door gasket or something in between

 

[Samurai Dave]

Hey Alan

EXCELLENT idea!  [cool]  As long as the velocity of the dust and chips is reduced they will drop out of the air stream, fall to the bottom of the Systainer, and you have significantly reduced what ends up collecting in the vacuum bag.

The suggestion of using silicon caulk for the sealant gets my vote.  It stays flexible, provides a mildew resistant seal, comes in colors, and can be separated if needed for future modifications.

Not that you want to "waste" the surgery on the Systainer, but the in order to eliminate the need for a seal between the two Systainers, a single large Systainer would do the trick.  Granted the amount of space for the chips to fill would be reduced a bit, but it will eliminate the "leak" issue, simplify the build, and reduce the profile.

I assume the sheet metal and foam was intended to encourage a vortex (Dust Deputy) to maximize chip removal in the air stream. Hard to simulate that with the limited space available.  With a single Systainer design, I suggest pointing the 90-degree fitting of the incoming line (from the chip source) toward the nearest side wall.  Then for the line leading to the vacuum have a 90-degree fitting pointing toward the opposite side wall.  This way the path from the entry to the exit is the longest, practical length, giving the chips time to slow and drop.  Of course, some of the fine stuff will still make it to the vacuum, but the vast majority of chips will not.  Without a shroud (sheet metal and foam) in the way, the single Systainer can be easily emptied.

 

[Corwin]

...

Any way my question is.
Where the lid meets the bottom section i am struggling to seal it.
I tried some draft sealer tape. This works good on the bits it stayed on .
Also the back edge of the lower systainer gets sucked in by the vacuum.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to improve this

Hey Alan,

I will suggest you use the lid from a SYS-1 Box (or, just get the lid foam which is available separately) and then use some foam weatherstripping on top of your contraption to seal against the lid foam.

Others that have mounted a cyclone atop a Systainer have lined the Systainer with a plywood or MDF box.  This may also work well for your application to prevent the Systainer from imploding.  You could also use the lid foam in your lower Systainer and weatherstripping on the top edge of this plywood or MDF box to seal this area too.

Also, you might consider the addition of a ramp and/or diffuser to your setup.  Check out the images of Clearvue's new Mini CV06 for ideas...

 

[mwildt]

In terms of sealing the two I'd take a piece of a bike cycle inner tube. Cut it length wise so I only had one thin layer. Then just put that as a gasket between the two halves. Silicone sounds great but getting a nice bead can be tricky and messy.

 

[wow]

Resurecting this thread to find out if there have been any revisions or modifications since this was posted?

 

[Alan m]

It doesnt work well enough to use. Too much  air leakage

 

[Wuffles]

Have you looked at the Thien separators? I built one out of a round can and had it reinforced with a tube of 2mm steel (after an incident with a blocked hose and a collapsed can).

I'm sure a sheet metal fabricator could easily make a round can that would fit inside the largest systainer, and then you'd have it all in one. Couple of holes in the lid and I reckon it'd be a goer.

Mine sits on top of my vac and it a pain as the stacking area is gone, but it cost me about £20 to build and works very well.

http://www.jpthien.com/cy.htm