Today we will tell you about a cyclone filter for a vacuum cleaner in the workshop, because one of the problems that we have to deal with when working with wood is dust removal. Industrial equipment It’s quite expensive, so we’ll make a cyclone with our own hands - it’s not difficult at all.
What is a cyclone and why is it needed?
In a workshop there is almost always a need to remove fairly large debris. Sawdust, small trimmings, metal shavings - all this, in principle, can be caught by a regular vacuum cleaner filter, but it is highly likely to quickly become unusable. In addition, it will not be superfluous to be able to remove liquid waste.
The cyclone filter uses aerodynamic vortex to bind debris different sizes. Spinning in a circle, the debris manages to stick together to such a consistency that it can no longer be carried away by the air flow and settles at the bottom. This effect almost always occurs if the air flow passes through a cylindrical container at sufficient speed.
These types of filters are included in many industrial vacuum cleaners, but their cost is by no means affordable for the average person. At the same time, the range of problems solved with the help of homemade devices is not at all narrower. A homemade cyclone can be used both in conjunction with planes, hammer drills or jigsaws, and for removing sawdust or shavings from various types of machine tools. In the end, even simple cleaning with such a device is much easier, because the bulk of dust and debris settles in a container, from where it can be easily removed.
Difference between wet and dry cyclone
To create a swirling flow, the main requirement is that the air entering the container does not follow the shortest path to the exhaust hole. To do this, the inlet pipe must have a special shape and be directed either to the bottom of the container or tangentially to the walls. Using a similar principle, it is recommended to make the exhaust duct rotary, optimally if it is directed towards the lid of the device. height aerodynamic drag due to pipe bends can be neglected.
As already stated, cyclone filter Potentially capable of removing liquid waste. With liquid, everything is somewhat more complicated: the air in the pipe and cyclone is partially rarefied, which promotes the evaporation of moisture and its breaking into very small droplets. Therefore, the inlet pipe must be located as close as possible to the surface of the water or even lowered under it.
Most washing vacuum cleaners introduce air into the water through a diffuser, so any moisture contained in it is effectively dissolved. However, for greater versatility with a minimum number of alterations, it is not recommended to use such a scheme.
Made from scrap materials
The simplest and affordable option for the cyclone container there will be a bucket of paint or other building mixtures. The volume should be comparable to the power of the vacuum cleaner used, approximately one liter for every 80-100 W.
The bucket lid must be intact and fit tightly onto the body of the future cyclone. It will have to be modified by making a couple of holes. Regardless of the material of the bucket, the easiest way to make holes is required diameter- use a homemade compass. IN wooden slats you need to screw in two self-tapping screws so that their tips are at a distance of 27 mm from each other, no more, no less.
The centers of the holes should be marked 40 mm from the edge of the cover, preferably so that they are as far apart as possible. Both metal and plastic can be scratched perfectly with this homemade instrument, forming smooth edges with virtually no burrs.
The second element of the cyclone will be a set of sewer elbows at 90º and 45º. Let us draw your attention in advance that the position of the corners must correspond to the direction of air flow. Their fastening in the housing cover is carried out according to the following scheme:
- The elbow is inserted all the way into the side of the socket. Silicone sealant is first applied under the side.
- WITH reverse side The rubber sealing ring is pulled tightly onto the socket. To be sure, you can additionally compress it with a screw clamp.
The inlet pipe is located with a narrow rotating part inside the bucket, the bell is located with outside almost flush with the lid. The knee needs to be given another 45º turn and directed obliquely downwards and tangentially to the wall of the bucket. If the cyclone is manufactured with the expectation of wet cleaning, you should increase the outer elbow with a piece of pipe, reducing the distance from the bottom to 10-15 cm.
The exhaust pipe is located in the reverse position and its socket is located under the bucket lid. You also need to insert one elbow into it so that air is taken from the wall, or make two turns for suction from under the center of the lid. The latter is preferable. Don’t forget about the O-rings; for a more reliable fixation and to prevent the knees from turning, you can wrap them with plumber’s tape.
How to adapt the device for machines and tools
To be able to draw in waste when using hand-held and stationary tools, you will need a system of adapters. Typically, a vacuum cleaner hose ends in a curved tube, the diameter of which is comparable to the fittings for dust bags of power tools. As a last resort, you can seal the joint with several layers of double-sided mirror tape wrapped in vinyl tape to eliminate stickiness.
With stationary equipment everything is more complicated. Dust extraction systems have very different configurations, especially for homemade machines, so we can only give a few useful recommendations:
- If the machine's dust extractor is designed for a 110 mm or larger hose, use plumbing adapters with a 50 mm diameter to connect the corrugated hose of the vacuum cleaner.
- To connect homemade machines to a dust catcher, it is convenient to use press fittings for 50 mm HDPE pipes.
- When designing the dust collector housing and outlet, take advantage of the convection flow created by the tool's moving parts for greater efficiency. For example: a pipe for removing sawdust from circular saw must be directed tangentially to the saw blade.
- Sometimes it is necessary to provide dust extraction from different sides workpiece, for example, for band saw or a router. Use 50 mm sewer tees and corrugated drain hoses.
Which vacuum cleaner and connection system to use
Usually, you don’t choose a vacuum cleaner for a homemade cyclone yourself, but use the one that is available. However, there are a number of limitations beyond the power mentioned above. If you want to continue using the vacuum cleaner for domestic purposes, then at a minimum you will need to find an additional hose.
The beauty of the sewer elbows used in the design is that they ideally match the diameter of the most common hoses. Therefore, the spare hose can be safely cut into 2/3 and 1/3, the shorter section should be connected to the vacuum cleaner. The other, longer piece, as is, is tucked into the socket of the cyclone inlet pipe. The maximum that is required in this place is to seal the connection silicone sealant or plumber's tape, but usually the planting density is quite high. Especially if there is an o-ring.
The video shows another example of making a cyclone for dust removal in a workshop
To pull a short piece of hose onto the exhaust pipe, the outermost part of the corrugated pipe will have to be leveled. Depending on the diameter of the hose, it may be more convenient to tuck it inside. If the straightened edge does not fit slightly onto the pipe, it is recommended to warm it a little with a hairdryer or indirect flame gas burner. The latter is considered an excellent option, because this way the connection will be located optimally in relation to the direction of the moving flow.
In the process of various construction and repair work indoors, there is often a need to remove construction waste. It is not recommended to use a regular vacuum cleaner for this purpose, since there is a high probability of failure of the filter, or even the entire vacuum cleaner. For this purpose, a construction vacuum cleaner is used, which is designed specifically for such work.
Let's look at what a construction (industrial) vacuum cleaner is and its main differences from a household one.
The power of a construction vacuum cleaner is several times greater than that of a household vacuum cleaner and can reach 4 kW. Thanks to this, you can easily remove construction debris, both small and large. With its help, you can easily remove cement dust, fragments of plaster, various fragments and sand, etc. The body of an industrial vacuum cleaner is mainly made of metal.
The vacuum cleaner has a reinforced filtration system. The motor of such a vacuum cleaner can work for a long time and withstand heavy loads, thanks to a special cooling system. The dust collector capacity of a construction vacuum cleaner is much larger than a conventional vacuum cleaner. All construction vacuum cleaners have an outlet for connecting power tools.
Such a vacuum cleaner costs more than a regular one, so many craftsmen try to make a construction vacuum cleaner with their own hands by remaking a household vacuum cleaner, and often encounter certain difficulties.
This article contains the most successful technical solutions How to convert a household vacuum cleaner into a construction vacuum cleaner. If you have a medium-power vacuum cleaner at home, then if you wish, you can turn it into a construction vacuum cleaner. Or you can buy an inexpensive vacuum cleaner and, by improving it, turn it into an industrial one. To do this, you don’t have to remake the vacuum cleaner itself, you just need to make external filter DIY cyclone. Next, we will consider two main options for manufacturing such a filter with and without a cone.
A description of homemade cyclone filters is given in this article mainly to introduce you to general idea and the operating principle of such devices. This means that, having familiarized yourself with the design, you are not obliged to repeat it completely, but can make various changes to it, or using the basic idea, make a cyclone filter of a completely new design.
Operating principle of the cyclone filter
The principle of operation of this filter is based on the passage of contaminated air through an external device, in which large particles settle in its housing, then the air is cleaned of fine dust, passing through the oil filter, and enters the turbine of the vacuum cleaner. Thus, the vacuum cleaner itself receives air that has already been purified from dust and debris.
Cyclone filter option 1 (without cone)
To make a cyclone filter with your own hands, you will need the following parts and materials:
- Oil filter. It filters fine dust.
- Bucket with a tight-fitting lid 20 l.
- Polypropylene elbows, intended for water supply systems, and having an angle of 90 and 45 degrees and a diameter of 40 mm - 1 piece.
- Plumbing pipe, plastic – 1 meter, diameter 40 mm.
- Piece corrugated pipe 2 meters long and 40 mm in diameter. You will need it to log into the device.
Manufacturing process
1. In the lid of the bucket, in the center, you need to cut a hole into which a 90-degree angle is inserted; a vacuum cleaner will be connected to it.
2. Seal the cracks with sealant.
3. Cut a hole in the side wall of the bucket and insert a 45 degree corner.
4. A piece of pipe is used to connect the corrugation to the elbow.
5. For more long service filter, you can pull a piece of nylon tights over it.
6. The filter outlet must be connected to the elbow in the bucket lid.
It may not be possible to fit the filter onto the outlet pipe. For this purpose, you need to come up with some kind of adapter. A piece of corrugation for a plumbing siphon or a rubber hose of a certain diameter may be suitable. It is advisable to coat all connections with sealant. An oil filter can be purchased at a store that sells auto parts.
It must be borne in mind that when closing the inlet, the bucket may crack. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the walls of the bucket in some way, or provide something like a valve. The main thing is not to rush in this matter, measure all the connections, and then you will succeed.
Only one of the options is described above. There are many similar designs. Instead of a bucket, plastic barrels are used; there are designs where the role of a bucket is played by fan pipe. Many craftsmen make their own containers from tin or thin iron.
Some inventors design a cyclone filter using a cone. This design often uses a traffic cone.
Option 2 (using a traffic cone)
The following parts and materials will be required:
- Road cone (can be purchased at a car store).
- Two meter rods 8 mm.
- Washers, nuts and lock washers 8 mm.
- Corrugated tubes with a diameter of 32 mm and a length of about 2 meters - two pieces.
Manufacturing process
- Cut off the stand at the very base of the cone. The cone is inserted into the bucket from above upside down. A tube is inserted inside the bucket. The space between the cone and the tube should be filled with construction foam.
- Cut a square out of 20 mm thick plywood so that the base of the cone fits into it and still has some space left. 4 holes with a diameter of 8 mm are drilled in the corners of the square. A hole is cut in the center for the tube; a corrugated hose will be placed on it, connecting the device to the vacuum cleaner.
- The lid for the bucket is cut out of multi-layer plywood and should fit tightly to the bucket. Glue a rubber gasket along its edges.
- A hole is sawed in the lid with a diameter for the narrow end of the cone.
- After the cone is inserted into the plywood cover, the joint is covered with foam. The cone should be placed upside down on the bucket, and is attached using four threaded rods, 50 cm long and 8 mm in diameter, they hold the plywood square with the cone screwed to it.
- Not far from the base of the cone, in its wide part, a hole is drilled for a tube to connect to a corrugated hose. Various construction waste will be sucked through it.
A fine filter is not used in this version of the cyclone, so fine dust can enter the vacuum cleaner turbine. When constructing such devices, vacuum cleaners with a bag are mainly used. Therefore, fine dust, if it gets inside, settles in the bag.
Options for homemade construction vacuum cleaners with an additional cyclone filter allow craftsmen to test various options, without fear of ruining the vacuum cleaner itself, since most of the debris is retained by the filter.
When making a cyclone filter with your own hands, do not be afraid to experiment, and in the end you will definitely achieve the desired result.
From the very beginning of working in the workshop I encountered the problem of removing dust after work. The only available way to clean up the floor was to sweep it. But because of this, an incredible amount of dust rose into the air, which settled in a noticeable layer on furniture, on machines, on tools, in hair and in the lungs. The concrete floor in the workshop made the problem worse. Some solutions have been to spray water before sweeping and use a respirator. However, these are only half measures. In winter, water freezes in an unheated room and you have to carry it with you; in addition, the water-dust mixture on the floor is difficult to collect and also does not contribute to workplace hygiene. The respirator, firstly, does not block 100% of the dust, some of it is still inhaled, and secondly, it does not protect against dust settling on the environment. And not all nooks and crannies can be reached with a broom to pick out small debris and sawdust.
In such a situation, the most effective solution it would be to vacuum the room.
However, using a household vacuum cleaner will not work. Firstly, it will have to be cleaned every 10-15 minutes of operation (especially if you work on milling table). Secondly, as the dust container fills up, the suction efficiency decreases. Thirdly, the amount of dust greatly exceeding the calculated values will greatly affect the service life of the vacuum cleaner. Something more specialized is needed here.
There are many ready-made solutions for dust removal in the workshop, however, their cost, especially in light of the 2014 Crisis, does not make them too affordable. Found it on thematic forums interesting solution- use a cyclone filter in conjunction with a regular household vacuum cleaner. All of the listed problems with household vacuum cleaners can be solved by removing dirt and dust from the air to the standard vacuum cleaner dust collector. Some people assemble cyclone filters from traffic cones, others from sewer pipes, others from plywood and whatever their imagination allows. But I decided to buy a ready-made filter with fasteners.
The principle of operation is simple - the air flow swirls in a cone-shaped filter housing and dust is removed from the air under the influence of centrifugal force. In this case, the dust falls through the lower hole into the container under the filter, and the purified air exits through the upper hole into the vacuum cleaner.
One of the common problems in the operation of cyclones is the so-called “carousel”. This is a situation where dirt and sawdust do not fall into the dust collection container, but endlessly swirl inside the filter. This situation arises from too high a flow rate of air created by the turbine of the vacuum cleaner. You need to reduce the speed a little and the “carousel” will disappear. In principle, it does not interfere - the next portion of garbage pushes most of the “carousel” into the container and takes its place. And in the second model, plastic cyclones of this carousel practically do not exist. To eliminate air leaks, I coated the junction of the filter with the lid with hot glue.
I decided to get a larger dust collection container so that I would have to take out the trash less often. I bought a 127 liter barrel, apparently made in Samara - just the right size! I'm going to carry the barrel to the trash can like a grandmother carrying a string bag - on a different cart, so as not to strain herself.
Next is the choice of layout. Some install the dust collection unit permanently and lead channels to the machines. Others simply place a vacuum cleaner and a barrel next to each other and drag them into Right place. I wanted to make a mobile unit on wheels to move everything around the workshop in one unit.
I have a rather small workshop and the issue of saving space is very relevant. Therefore, I decided to choose a layout in which the barrel, filter and vacuum cleaner are located one above the other, occupying a minimum area. It was decided to make the body of the installation from metal. Frame from profile pipe determines the dimensions of the future installation.
When installed vertically, there is a risk of tipping over. To reduce this probability, you need to make the base as heavy as possible. For this purpose, a 50x50x5 corner was chosen as the material for the base, which took almost 3.5 meters.
The noticeable weight of the cart is compensated by the presence of swivel wheels. There were thoughts, if the structure was not stable enough, to pour lead shot or sand into the cavity of the frame. But this was not required.
In order to achieve verticality of the rods, I had to use ingenuity. The recently purchased vice came in handy. Thanks to such simple equipment it was possible to achieve precise installation corners
It is convenient to move the cart while holding the vertical bars, so I reinforced their attachment points. In addition, this is an additional, albeit not large, weighting of the base. In general, I like reliable things with a margin of safety.
The barrel will be fixed in the installation frame using clamps.
At the top of the rods there is a platform for the vacuum cleaner. Next, holes will be drilled in the corners at the bottom and the wooden planks will be secured using self-tapping screws.
Here, in fact, is the entire frame. It seems to be nothing complicated, but for some reason it took four evenings to assemble it. On the one hand, I didn’t seem to be in a hurry, I worked at my own pace, trying to complete each stage efficiently. But on the other hand, low productivity is associated with the lack of heating in the workshop. Safety glasses and a welding mask quickly fog up, impairing visibility, and are bulky outerwear hinders movement. But the task is completed. Besides, there are only a couple of weeks left until spring.
I really didn't want to leave the frame like this. I wanted to paint it. But on all the cans of paint that I found in the store it is written that they can be used at a temperature not lower than +5, and on some even not lower than +15. The thermometer in the workshop shows -3. How to be?
I read thematic forums. People write that you can safely paint even in cold weather, as long as the paint is not on water based and there was no condensation on the parts. And if the paint has a hardener, don’t worry about it at all.
I found in the caches an old, slightly thickened can of Hammerite, which I used to paint a horizontal bar at the dacha back in the summer - . The paint is quite expensive, so I decided to test it in extreme conditions. Instead of the expensive original solvent, Hammerite added a little regular degreaser to make it a little thinner, stirred it to the desired consistency and began painting.
In the summer this paint dried in one hour. It’s difficult to say how long it was drying in the winter, but when I returned to the workshop in the evening next day the paint has dried. True, without the promised hammer effect. It's probably the degreaser that's to blame, not negative temperature. Otherwise, no other problems were found. The coating looks and feels reliable. Perhaps it’s not for nothing that this paint costs almost 2,500 rubles in the store.
The cyclone body is made of good plastic and has fairly thick walls. But the attachment of the filter to the barrel lid is quite flimsy - four self-tapping screws screwed into plastic. In this case, significant lateral loads may occur on the hose, which is attached directly to the filter. Therefore, the attachment of the filter to the barrel needs to be strengthened. People have different approaches to solving this problem. Basically, an additional stiffening frame for the filter is assembled. The designs are very varied, but the idea is something like this:
I approached this a little differently. I welded a holder for pipes of a suitable diameter onto one of the rods.
In this holder I clamp the hose, which bears all the twisting and jerking. Thus, the filter housing is protected from any loads. Now you can pull the unit directly behind you by the hose without fear of damaging anything.
I decided to secure the barrel with tightening straps. When I was choosing locks at a hardware store, I made an interesting observation. A five-meter tie-down belt with a foreign-made ratchet lock cost me 180 rubles, and the bare frog-type lock lying next to it cost me 180 rubles. Russian production would have cost me 250 rubles. This is where the triumph of domestic engineering and high technology lies.
Experience has shown that this method of fastening has an important advantage. The fact is that on forums dedicated to these filters they write that barrels like mine, when connecting a powerful vacuum cleaner, can be crushed due to the vacuum that occurs when the inlet hose is clogged. Therefore, during testing, I deliberately blocked the hole in the hose and, under the influence of vacuum, the barrel shrank. But thanks to the very tight grip of the clamps, not the entire barrel was compressed, but only in one place below the hoop a dent appeared. And when I turned off the vacuum cleaner, the dent straightened itself out with a click.
At the top of the installation there is a platform for a vacuum cleaner
I purchased a bagless, almost two-kilowatt monster as a household vacuum cleaner. I was already thinking that this would be useful for me at home.
While buying a vacuum cleaner from an ad, I encountered some inexplicable human stupidity and greed. People sell used items without a guarantee, with a worn-out part of the resource, defects in appearance at prices lower than store prices by some 15-20 percent. And okay, these would be some popular items, but used vacuum cleaners! Judging by the period of posting of advertisements, this trade sometimes lasts for years. And as soon as you start haggling and name an adequate price, you come across rudeness and misunderstanding.
As a result, after a couple of days I finally found an excellent option for 800 rubles. Famous brand, 1900 Watt, built-in cyclone filter (the second one in my system) and another fine filter.
To secure it, I couldn’t think of anything more elegant than pressing it with a tightening strap. In principle, it holds securely.
I had to get a little tricky with connecting the hoses. As a result, we have such a setup. And it works!
Usually when you read reviews from the first use of such things, people are choked with delight. I experienced something similar when I first turned it on. It's no joke - vacuuming in the workshop! Where everyone wears street shoes, where metal shavings and sawdust fly everywhere!
I have never seen this concrete floor, which is impossible to sweep due to the dust stuck in the pores, so clean. Persistent attempts to sweep it up only lead to an increase in the density of dust in the air. And such purity was given to me in a couple of easy movements! I didn't even have to wear a respirator!
We managed to collect what was left after the previous cleaning with a broom into the barrel. When the device is operating, thanks to the transparency of the filter, you can observe streams of dust swirling inside. There was also dust in the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner, but there was a small amount of it and it was a particularly light and volatile fraction.
I'm very pleased with the result. There will be no more dust storms in the workshop. You could say I'm moving into a new era.
Advantages of my design:
1. Occupies a minimum area, determined only by the diameter of the barrel.
2. The unit can be carried and pulled by the hose without fear of tearing out the filter.
3. The barrel is protected from crushing when the inlet pipe is clogged.
After some time of using the installation, I still encountered the problem of a lack of rigidity of the barrel.
I purchased a more powerful vacuum cleaner. Household, but it sucks like a beast - it sucks up stones, nuts, screws, tears off plaster and tears bricks out of masonry))
This vacuum cleaner collapsed a blue barrel even without clogging the inlet hose! Tightly wrapping the barrel with clamps did not help. I didn't have my camera with me, it's a shame. But it looks something like this:
On thematic forums they warn about this possibility, but still I did not expect this. With great difficulty, he straightened the barrel and sent it, fairly dented, to the dacha to store water. She is not capable of more.
There were two ways out of this situation:
1. Buy instead plastic barrel metal. But I need to find a barrel of a very specific size so that it fits exactly into my installation - diameter 480, height 800. A superficial search on the Internet did not yield any results.
2. Assemble the box yourself the right size from 15 mm plywood. This is more real.
The box was assembled using self-tapping screws. The joints were sealed using double-sided foam tape.
The cart had to be altered a little - the rear clamp had to be modified to fit a square tank.
The new tank, in addition to strength and increased volume due to right angles, has another important advantage - a wide neck. This allows you to install a garbage bag in the tank. It greatly simplifies unloading and makes it much cleaner (I tied the bag right in the tank and took it out and threw it away without dust). Old barrel didn't allow this.
The lid was sealed with foam insulation for windows
The lid is held in place by four frog locks. They create the necessary tension to seal the cover on the foam gasket. A little higher I wrote about pricing policy on these frog castles. But I had to fork out more.
It worked out well. Cute, functional, reliable. How I love.
Owners of small workshops and just home craftsmen often have to deal with the problem of air purification after intensive work on wood processing and sanding. metal surfaces etc. Conventional room ventilation will not help here; you will need to install specialized equipment. With known skills, you can do it yourself.
Purpose and characteristics of cyclones
A cyclone is a specialized air purification unit (although similar units are also used as chip ejectors, sawdust and other means for removing waste).
As air purifiers, industrial cyclone designs must provide suction and dust removal with an efficiency of at least 85...90%, when removing dust fragments with sizes of at least 10...12 microns. They are equipped various designs filters. The most effective are electrostatic precipitators, which simultaneously remove static electricity charges from dust particles.
The principle of operation of the cyclone is as follows. Air enters the snail-shaped inlet space of the cyclone at high speed (up to 20 m/s), for which fans are usually used. The air containing dust particles is swirled and then enters the conical cavity of the device. Features of the geometric structure of the cyclone cause a gradual increase in the speed of the air flow containing dust and other waste. During this process, heavier dust particles self-separation from lighter ones. The former settle to the bottom, and the latter, moving in a cone-shaped space, end up in the dust collector, from where they can be easily removed using a bucket or sealed container. The purified air is released into the atmosphere through the pipe.
The number of cyclones, depending on the requirements for the quality of dust removal, can be made different: there are groups of three, four and even eight single cyclones.
Operational requirements for cyclones include the following parameters:
- permissible dispersion of particles that enter the cyclone, microns.
- the efficiency of the process, which is expressed in the maximum weight concentration of particles after dust removal, in g/mm 3 ;
- cyclone productivity, m 3 /h;
- limit temperature of air or gas entering the cyclone socket (more typical for gas cleaning systems than dust removal systems) - usually up to 400...600 °C;
- internal diameter of the cyclone, mm.
Except purely design requirements, the conditions for high-quality installation of air cleaning devices are also presented. For example, if the gaps in the air duct connections are exceeded, air leaks often occur, during which the performance of dust separation from air sharply decreases. Permissible value The suction should not be more than 6...8%.
Cyclones not only remove dust from the ambient air, but can also supply clean air into the room.
Construction of a household cyclone
There are no universal cyclones for performing various cleaning operations. For example, the chip ejector must have increased strength of the pipe walls, which will prevent premature wear. Regarding a cyclone designed to collect and remove sawdust, it is important to ensure minimal losses in the suction air ducts. Providing a cyclone for the purpose of cleaning the air from cement dust arising in construction work, Special attention pay attention to filter design.
In domestic conditions, cyclones that purify the air from coarse dust are considered the most universal. By changing the design of the filters, such devices can be made for dust removal purposes, as a chip suction unit, or for cleaning the air from sawdust in a woodworking workshop (for example, at an operating sawmill).
The components of such a unit are:
- body - includes conical and cylindrical parts, and the shape of the conical part has a predominant influence on the quality of the process;
- pipe - one or more, where the original polluted air enters;
- an exhaust pipe designed to remove dust-free air;
- inlet filter (or their system) as a chip suction device;
- receiving bucket;
- drive motor;
- fan.
All of the listed parts/assemblies can be purchased or made by yourself.
Motor selection
Since a homemade cyclone is installed in a workshop, the main parameter of the engine is its power and the number of rotor revolutions. If there is a fan, the power of the engine does not matter much, since dust particles will still enter the operating machine, sawmill, etc. will not hit. However, the power and diameter of the cyclone scroll must be interconnected. With a snail wheel diameter of up to 300...350 mm, a high-speed (required!) engine of up to 1.5 kW is quite suitable. With smaller diameters, the power may be lower, but the cleaning performance will also decrease. Therefore, if there is a metalworking machine in the workshop, they accept a motor from 1 kW.
The power of the electric motor increases significantly if you plan to build it yourself homemade device outside the premises. Free space will increase, but the cleaning efficiency will decrease, mainly due to losses in the air ducts. It is also worth noting that during the cold season, such a homemade cyclone will effectively “pull” heat from the workshop.
A good option is to purchase an electric motor complete with a volute, the number of which determines the consumer capabilities homemade system air purification. The most common for household use The parameters of the snails and the electric motors recommended for them are given in the table:
The systems are supplied with rubber vibration isolators. They are capable of creating operating pressure from 0.8 kPa and above.
When choosing (or making with your own hands) a snail, preference should be given to a radial air intake pattern rather than a tangential one.
In the latter case for homemade snail unproductive losses increase, and the inertia of the particle selection method for the option with a chip suction device will be very low.
When choosing an engine, it is necessary to take into account that the speed of air movement in the device cannot be less than 2.5...3 m/s. If cleaning is unsatisfactory, the elements of a homemade cyclone like a chip suction device (filter, bucket) quickly become clogged with shavings, sawdust and other small waste.
Manufacturing of cyclone elements
On specialized Internet forums you can find drawings of all components of the unit, which are available for making them yourself. Using improvised means, a household (or better yet, an industrial) vacuum cleaner is often remade. Additionally required:
- a set of hoses made of translucent corrugated material (this will facilitate visual control of dust particles settled inside). For chip extraction, rubber hoses are more practical;
- a soundproofing box that will perform two functions - it will reduce the noise level in the workshop, and additional protection protect all machines and power tools located there from static electricity periodically accumulated by dust. For this purpose, you can make the box yourself from plywood, and decorate the inside with any type of sound insulator;
- air ducts for purified air: assembled with your own hands from thin aluminum sheet, and are connected to each other by folds;
- waste collection container - can be made from an ordinary construction bucket with a capacity of 20 liters or more, which is sealed with the body of a homemade cyclone using a corrugated sleeve;
- filter (you can use a filter from trucks), which is installed on the outlet pipe.
A vacuum cleaner converted with your own hands for dust removal needs is checked: first for Idling, passing normal air through the system, and then connecting the vacuum cleaner to the operating machine.
Making a cyclone for a vacuum cleaner with your own hands will not be difficult if you have experience working with tools. The installation, called a cyclone, acts as an effective air purifier from small debris and dust. Many woodworking machines are equipped with nozzles for chip removal. Homemade cyclone connected to this pipe.
People who were on the territory industrial enterprises, paid attention to the conical structures with their apex facing downwards. These are industrial cyclones designed to clean polluted air. The problem of creating a cyclone filter with your own hands worries owners of home workshops.
The operation of a cyclone is as follows:
- The contaminated air flow flows through a hose from the machine nozzle into a separate chamber;
- Air enters the container through a side pipe installed at the top of the cyclone body;
- At the top of the body, a flexible hose is connected to the vertical air duct and connected to the vacuum cleaner;
- The vacuum cleaner provides traction to the air flow inside the device;
- A vortex flow is created in the chamber, moving spirally along the walls of the chamber - from top to bottom;
- Solid particles fall down into the chamber opening and then end up in the waste bin;
- The purified air rushes upward, passing through the filter, and enters the vacuum cleaner hose;
- At the end of the work, the accumulated debris (chips and dust) is removed from the storage tank.
You can purchase a ready-made product for purifying the air from contaminants (sawdust, dust and debris), but the simplicity of the device attracts many minds to making a cyclone with their own hands. The variety of auxiliary materials, as well as the availability of universal tools, allows you to create cyclones of a wide variety of models.
A self-made filter does not take much time and saves cash. Let's present several options for making cyclone filters with your own hands.
Cyclone made of plastic buckets
As the body of the device, you can use 10 liter plastic buckets from water-based paint. Prepare the following tools and materials.
Tools
- construction knife;
- marker or pencil;
- compass;
- jigsaw;
- screwdriver;
- hacksaw;
- awl;
- glue gun
Materials
- two plastic 10 liter buckets;
- PVC water pipe and angle ø 32 mm;
- car air filter;
- glue stick;
- construction plywood;
- roofing iron;
- self-tapping screws;
- vacuum cleaner hoses;
- wood glue;
- sealant.
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a cyclone
- Remove the lids from the buckets. One of them is cut in half lengthwise.
- The pipe section is enclosed in a box-shaped plywood structure.
- Plywood boards are glued together with wood glue so that the pipe fits tightly inside the box.
- The space between the pipe and the plywood is filled with sealant.
- Make a template from cardboard or thick paper that follows the curve of the side surface of the bucket in its upper part (70 - 100 mm from the lid of the container).
- Having attached the template to the box, draw a bend line with a pencil or marker.
- Using a jigsaw, cut the box along with the pipe, following the intended line.
- The structure is leaned against the bucket.
- From the inside of the container, use a pencil to mark the contours of the pipe opening. This is done in such a way that the pipe enters the hole at an angle downwards (20 - 300 from the horizontal)
- An opening is cut out with a knife.
- Holes are pierced with an awl along the perimeter of the leaning plywood from the inside of the container.
- Using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, attach the plywood frame of the pipe to the bucket through the holes.
- After checking the reliability of the box, from the outside glue gun seal the contact perimeter.
- A circle is cut out of roofing iron with a diameter equal to the inner circumference of the bucket - at a height of 70 mm from the bottom. Marking is done with a compass.
- The tin circle is cut in half from the center to the edge.
- The outer edges of the cut are spread at an angle of 300.
- The shaped insert is installed in the bucket by surprise.
- A screw-shaped tin insert will promote the swirling of sawdust, shavings and dust, which will quickly be sent to the storage tank (1/2 of the second bucket).
- The bottom of the top bucket is cut off.
- The cyclone chamber is tightly inserted into the storage tank.
- A hole ø 32 mm is cut in the lid of the top bucket. This can be done with an appropriate reamer or knife.
- A pipe 300 mm long is lowered into the hole so that a pipe 70 mm high remains outside.
- The joint is treated with a glue gun.
- The side pipe is connected with a hose to the nozzle of a woodworking machine or waste collector.
- The protruding pipe from the bucket lid is connected to the vacuum cleaner hose.
- In order for completely purified air to enter the vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical air filter is placed on the lower end of the pipe.
- A patch is cut out of tin along the outer diameter of the filter. The patch (plug) is cut out with three tongues.
- Three strips of tin are attached to the tongues of the plug with screws or rivets, the upper ends of which are bent.
- The bends are attached to the back surface of the bucket lid with screws.
- The connection between the plug and the lower hole of the filter is sealed with a glue gun.
The cyclone filter is ready for use. As needed, the upper part of the cyclone is removed from the storage tank and its debris is emptied. The filter is periodically cleaned with a toothbrush, moving the bristles into the folds of the corrugation.
You don't have to make a box frame side pipe, and cut and bend its outer edges. Then fasten the bent sides to the edges of the bucket hole with screws or rivets. But such a connection will be less reliable than the fastening described above.
Cyclone with figured insert
Take two plastic buckets - 5 and 10 liters. The cyclone is assembled as follows:
- The top side of a 5 liter bucket is cut off with a knife.
- The container is turned over and placed on a sheet of plywood. Draw a pencil around the bucket.
- Using a compass, mark another circle, with a radius 30 mm larger.
- Inside the ring, two holes are cut with a crown and the contour of the figured insert is applied.
- The jigsaw blade is inserted one by one into these holes and a shaped insert and a fixing ring are cut out. The insert is an unfinished circle with an expanded base (100 mm).
- The ring is applied to the back of the lid of a large bucket and outlined with a pencil.
- The middle of the lid is cut out with a knife.
- Use a drill to drill holes at the top of the small container.
- The fixing ring is placed on the bucket. Using a screwdriver, screw the screws through the holes in the bucket into the ring.
- A circle of lid from a 10 liter bucket is placed on the fixing belt with the side up.
- The circle from the lid is secured with self-tapping screws to the fixing ring.
- In the cyclone body, 2 holes ø 40 mm are made with a crown - on the side and on the top.
- A square is cut out of plywood, in which an opening of the same diameter is made with a crown. The frame is placed on the cyclone body cover, aligning the holes. The frame is secured with self-tapping screws from inside the lid.
- I install the shaped insert just below the fixing ring. Self-tapping screws are screwed into the outside of the container and go into the body of the insert.
- Insert into frame PVC pipe, whose lower end does not reach the figured insert by 40 mm. At the top, the pipe should protrude 40 mm above the surface of the lid.
- The side opening of the cyclone body is expanded in the shape of a horizontal drop.
- A corner PVC pipe is glued into the opening with hot glue.
- I put the chip ejector housing on a large bucket (storage) and snap the lid on.
- A vacuum cleaner hose is inserted into the upper outlet. The side pipe is connected with a hose to the waste collection nozzle.
- All joint seams are sealed with a glue gun or a syringe with sealant. The device is ready for use.
Many may have a question: what is a curly insert for? The insert forms the correct direction of air flow inside the cyclone. At the same time, the horizontal platform repels the air pressure upward and allows sawdust and other debris to gradually settle in the storage tank.
Chip extraction from the sewer riser
To make a chip extractor from plastic sewer fittings, you will need the following tools and materials.
Tools
- angle machine;
- drill;
- glue gun;
- riveter;
- jigsaw;
- construction knife.
Materials
- PVC Sewer pipe ø 100 mm;
- PVC pipe ø 40 mm;
- hose;
- rivets;
- glue stick;
- fixing rings - clamps;
- two 2-liter bottles;
- 5 liter eggplant.
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a chip ejector
- From sewer riser cut off the neck, leaving a piece 1 m long.
- The plastic bottle is cut, leaving a part of the cylinder with a cone, neck and stopper.
- Holes are drilled in both plugs. The plugs are glued together with a gun and tightened with a clamp.
- The cut bottle is inserted into the lower hole of the riser. The connection is sealed with hot glue and tightened with a clamp.
- A hole ø 40 mm is cut into the side of the PVC pipe. A pipe 70 mm long is inserted into it. The joints are sealed.
- 3 circles ø 100 mm are cut out of tin using a jigsaw.
- A hole ø 40 mm is cut in the center of each circle.
- The resulting disks are cut in half.
- The halves are sequentially connected to each other with rivets, resulting in a screw.
- A PVC pipe ø 40 mm is threaded inside the spiral. The pipe is connected to the screw with hot melt adhesive.
- The entire structure is pulled into the riser so that the upper part of the pipe protrudes 100 mm above the riser opening. In this case, the auger must remain inside the cyclone body.
- For a 5 liter eggplant, cut off the neck and bottom so that the lower part of the cone fits tightly onto the upper end sewer pipe. The outer diameter of the connection is glued with a gun.
- The upper hole of the neck is glued to the outlet of the inner pipe.
- A storage bottle is screwed into the bottom cap.
- IN horizontal pipe insert a hose pipe, the second end of which is connected to the nozzle of the shavings and sawdust collector of a woodworking machine (circuit saw, router or other equipment).
- The vertical outlet is connected to the branch pipe by the hoses of the vacuum cleaner. The chip ejector is ready for use.
The debris “flows” down the surface of the auger and ends up in a bottle (garbage container). The air, freed from solid inclusions, goes up the inner pipe. To clean the drive, just unscrew plastic bottle from the cork and shake out all its contents.
Cyclone from a road token
An original method of making a cyclone from road chip attracts many DIY enthusiasts. The shape of the chip is a cone made of fairly thick plastic.
Proceed as follows:
- The bottom and top of the cone are cut off with a hacksaw or circular saw.
- The chip is turned over and inserted into a suitable container, which will serve as a garbage container.
- Measure the diameter of the upper opening and cut it out of dense material round lid appropriate size.
- A hole is cut in the lid with a crown into which a PVC pipe ø 40 mm is inserted.
- Cut out a teardrop-shaped side hole into which a corner PVC pipe is glued.
- All connections are treated with a hot glue gun.
- The chip ejector is connected by hoses to a vacuum cleaner and a chip collection nozzle.
Upon completion of the work, the device is ready for use.
Do-it-yourself snail for chip removal
Power of a household vacuum cleaner for some types of processing wooden blanks may be insufficient. To clean large volumes of air, they make a snail-type chip extractor with their own hands. The body of the device resembles a snail shell in its shape.
Craftsmen make the snail body from two types of materials - metal and wood. Creating a metal case will require the use of welding machine and ability to operate this equipment. There is another way - making a snail from construction plywood.
To work with plywood in a home workshop, you need to have a jigsaw, drill and other woodworking tools. The most important detail The exhaust fan is an air intake wheel. It is made from lightweight materials such as wood, plastic and the like. The impeller is assembled in such a way that the blades are curved or rotated with the inner edge relative to the wheel radius line by 450.
The outlet hole is connected to the cyclone filter using adapter couplings and hoses. The axis of the air intake wheel is connected directly to the electric motor shaft or a belt drive is installed, which is preferable to coaxial joining. Firstly, the pulley on the wheel axle is easier to isolate from side opening snails, which increases the performance of the device. Secondly, the removal of the electric motor contributes to its necessary cooling.
The feasibility of using snails is due to large production volumes. The engine power is selected in accordance with the operating mode of the exhaust fan. Usually it is enough to install a motor with a power of 5 kW to 30 kW asynchronous type. It is advisable to connect the power unit through a shaft speed control device.
Conclusion
A do-it-yourself cyclone filter not only ensures cleanliness in your home workshop or living space, but also protects the respiratory tract and lungs of the people around you. The existence of various “recipes” for making a cyclone with your own hands confirms that, if desired, every lover of making homemade products can do this.
