Black Box Vac Source

[frank134]

Hi Gary I had a question. Did you put a filter in between your vac table and the black or did you just pipe it stright thru so the dust go thru the vac motor? BY the way It really work great. I still have a hard time beliving how good it work.

[Gary Campbell]

Frank...
No filter installed. Glad its working out for you.

[Gary Campbell]

Guys...
A few notes on this system. Now that I have built, sold and installed a number of these systems, Most are being switched to full manual control.

Reasons are:
1) cost (saves a few hundred $)
2) I have noticed on mine that the vacuum varies much more than I originally thought. From a freshly surfaced spoilboard to 25 sheets into a job I may have almost 2 inHg difference. This moving target of initial vacuum made the hysteresis settings a real pain. In the end, sheets were initially cut with 2 motors and 4 are used to add hold down for the cut thru.

I was hoping to automate this switching, but it appears that either another approach to the control or full manual is the answer.

[jim_vv]

Greetings, Gary

Thank you for this post and for the knowledge that you have shared on this forum. I have gleaned much from you (and all who have contributed).

It has been about eight months since your update and I am wondering if you have any more updated information on how your system is working.

I have been using two Feins on four valved zones for the past several years, but one of them has now melted all of the internal plastic parts for the second time. Rather than the cost of another repair and another failure, I have ordered two LH 6765-13 vacuum motors from Ward and I am preparing to build a two motor box similar to yours with manual switches.

I have read every post that I can find regarding vacuum boxes and have seen two schools of thought regarding filtration on the intake side of the vacuum system. Are you and the others that you have built for still running without intake filtration?

Kind regards,

JIM

[dlcw]

Jim, I built Gary's vac box and put 4 motors in it. They are divided into two chambers inside the box. Each chamber has two motors. Two motors are used to hold 90% of what I cut. The additional two motors can be turned on to increase the CFM to more securely hold the parts when necessary.

I've opted to run mine without input filtration. I have set mine up where I have a simple little desk fan to blow clean fresh air in to the intake part of the box so the motors are always getting clean fresh air. I check the motors regularly to see if there is any dust or debris build up and so far, after about 4 months of running daily, I've had no problems.

Gary did a fantastic job on the design for this box. It works great and my hold down capabilities on my sliding-valve controlled 7-zone table could not be working better. I am extremely pleased with the performance. Even at an altitude of 2500' ASL I still get 7"-8" of vacuum.

[garyc]

Jim...
Along with Don, I have given info to a number of guys that self built, sold a half dozen outright and sold and installed a few more. Other than using a manual switching system instead of the digital switch and relays, no other changes have been made. No changes have been made (by me) on the box design.

So far, no complaints. Mostly good reviews, similar to those by Don. Even better news: No motor failures that I am aware of. Most of my sales have been to commercial shops.

Since 4 of these motors (I used the 240V LH-7123) cost less than a new Fein, consider the advantages of over 400cfm. The 240 V versions use half the amps, have more power and generate less heat. Vacuum is like money; you can never have too much.

I am sure that is not impossible to pick up some debris, but if care is taken to clean the tubing and a fully adhered spoilboard is used, very few that I have seen use a filter. That said, no one could argue that it is a good idea.

[jim_vv]

Greetings, Gary and Don

Thank you for your replies. Gary, I was able to switch my motor order to the 240V LH-7123s. Ward is great to deal with. I am going to build a four motor box with a partition to divide the vacuums into two sets like Don did (no check valve). For now, I will just use two motors as they will provide much more vacuum than I have been using for the past years. When I can afford it and have the time to add another circuit I will add two more motors.

Would ether of you be willing to share or sell your box plans? I understand the pictures that are posted, but I would like some dimensions as your boxes seem to work quite well.

Kind regards,

JIM

[garyc]

Jim...
My plans, which I sent to Don were designed in eCabs and processed as a TWD file thru the SB Link. I havent taken the time to convert them to DXF or PWks files.

[dlcw]

Jim,

I have the check valve in my vac box with two motors in each chamber. 90% of the time I use only two of the motors. I normally switch on the 2nd set of motors (which opens the check valve) when I go to cut through smaller parts. It sticks them to the table like glue.

As Gary said, he sent me the plans from eCabs and I cut the parts through the ShopBot Link. The only thing I can think of would be for you to sign up for eCabinets (it's free), download it, bring in Gary's files, then use them to create the Partworks/Aspire files from the dimensions.

[jim_vv]

Gary and Don,

Thank you. Don, PM sent.

Kind regards,

JIM