My design for a sysclone (not built yet, but hoping to get feedback)

[jonim8or]

I got inspired by an other post on an attempt to make a sysclone (systainer cyclone), and by timothy's MFTB .At home I have the CTL-SYS (small shop vac in systainer format). The CTL-SYS contains of two parts: a hose-storage part, and the actual vac. (including dust bag)

The idea is that my sysclone fits between the hose-storage part and the vacuum cleaner part.The dust will be collected in a box inside the sysclone that can easily be emptied in a trash bin.
To make the whole solution air-tight, glued rabbet joints will be used everywhere, and rubber strips will be placed along all the edges where the box opens.
video of my design
One difficulty in the design is that I need to convey the air stream from the center-top of the thien baffle, to the bottom of the sysclone to connect it to the vac. The way I hope to solve it (shown in the end of the video) is to have the lid consist of one 24mm thick layer of plywood, with an air canal cut out of it, which is sandwiched between two layers of plywood.
Something else I am not sure about is whether the dust collection box is deep enough. It is currently 233x270x152mm, but I dont know how far it can be filled till it hampers the dust separation.

I would love to hear any ideas or remarks on this design.

 

[cblanton42]

What is the purpose for your idea, to save bags?
CB

 

[jonim8or]

Mainly to save bags indeed. Bags for the CTL Sys are small and expensive, so I'd like to keep using one as long as possible

 

[cblanton42]

Ok,  These aren't available here in the U.S. so I'm just going by what I can see from the videos and most are in a foreign language ???  Can you try a totally different approach, instead of catching it before the bag, increase the bag size!
    I noticed in a video there is actually not even a full bottom in the CTL systainer directly below the bag and the little box in which it is contained, right?  I'm assuming this is the exhaust area since the air has to go somewhere!  If so, why couldn't you do this:
1.  Cut the bottom and sides off of the little box but keep the top part as is.
2.  Cut the bottom of the CTL systainer itself only enough to put a piece of PVC pipe (or whatever type of pipe that will work)up to the bag mount and extend through the bottom of the CTL-Systainer maybe 3-4 inches or so.
3.  Cut a hole in the lid of a Systainer 4 the same size as the PVC pipe and lined up so you can attach that Systainer 4 to the bottom of the CTL-SYS.
4. Put a larger/largest Festool bag in the Systainer 4 and connect the bag to the pvc pipe that's sticking through the lid of the Systainer 4.  Then set the CTL-SYS onto the Systainer 4 and lock with the T-loc. 
    I could be missing something but it seems like it would work!!
CB

     

 

[jonim8or]

wow, that is a quite literal way of "out of the box thinking".
I didn't know the CTL SYS was not available in the US. The exhaust area is to the side. The little bucket-like box (shown in this movie, at 3  minutes has a filter at the side facing the vac engine, through which the air is sucked. So the air does not go out at the bottom but at the side.
Therefore I'm afraid your idea will not work.

And, I think I'll void my warranty if I modify anything of the CTL SYS itself. 

But thanks for thinking along. I like this kind of original ideas

 

[cblanton42]

    I probably confused everything with my exhaust area comment and now I see the actual exhaust port in this video, but isn't your air flow thinking backwards?  The air doesn't get sucked through the filter into the box, it gets blown out through it so I still think this might work.  That's the filter before the air gets exhausted into the room.
    *Modified idea now that I see the filter in the side of the box, leave the small box intact and just cut a hole in the bottom of it to attach the pvc pipe to go through the bottom to the bigger bag.  (I certainly understand you not wanting to cut up your brand new tool though so ship it to me and I'll do it). [scared]
    Good luck!  CB
 
     

 

[Chippy85]

Hi I've been working on a similar thing because I want to save on bags and make trips to the skip super easy.
I basically just put a Dust Deputy inside a SYS 5 container and then put another SYS 5 below as the collector.
I would have bought and used the version they make for Festool vacs but it doesn't look that great outside a work shop and I work in people's homes.

Positives so far
It looks better, empties easier and stores the 2m hose inside next to the dust deputy cyclone.
Drawbacks... This is a Very expensive dust bin
2x SYS 5
1x DUST DEPUTY ANTI STATIC DIY KIT
2m Festool 50mm anti static hose
Loads of Festool hose parts etc
You get the idea.
I'm still only testing it, the box needs an internal brace and seal to withstand the vacuum. For my first tests I used friction fitted cross bracing and adheasive strips (sticks and tape) and it worked very well!!
Ill get some better pics to show how I'm making it.

 

[Pancha]

Chippy85,  I would enjoy watching your progress.  Maybe start a new thread for yours so we don't hijack jonim8or's.  I would actually really like to to see how you brace the inside of the systainers and maybe even the deflection without them.video?..  I have been wanting to do a similar system for quite some time.