New vs Old Cyclone Filters 2-2-24 Video

History

Below is out of date as of 2-1-24. When we installed a new filter stack and a shaker to the stack for cleaning. More information on how to use to follow.

In addition to the monthly Air Quality Management, the HEPA filters must be removed from the Cyclone and cleaned in order to keep the ambient dust from becoming hazardous.  This process is performed once every two months and requires two people.

How to

Planning

• Request help from members or enlist multiple members of team-shop.

• Reserve enough time (2+ hours) to perform the cleanup by calling dibs on all tools requiring use of the Cyclone as well as a shop vac
  • AMT255 Clear Vue Cyclone
  • AMT196 Floating Shop Vac
  • AMT350 Panel saw
  • AMT273 Table saw
  • AMT355 Jointer
  • AMT354 Planer
  • AMT079 Band saw
  • AMT364 Belt/disc sander
  • AMT028 Large CNC Router
• Add this reservation to the ACE Calendar
• Remind members on slack in #cnc-router and #workshop
• Put a sign on the Cyclone to indicate that it is not available during clean up.

Removal and cleaning

After removing the filters from the cyclone, take them OUTSIDE (not to the loading dock as shown) and remove as much dust as possible with a combination of shop vacs and tapping the filter on the ground.

• Never use the air compressor for blowing dust out of filters
• Only use the gentle tapping method to knock off the first round of dust… make sure not to dent the metal edge supports.
• Attach one hose to the blow side of the shop vac and one hose to the intake
• Use the blow side to gently blow from the outside to the center so the matter can be blown out.

Clean up

When dust stops falling off the filters, clean up the area and pack out the saw dust as you would for any other shop use.

Reinstall

Back in the shop, reinstall the HEPA filters and turn on the cyclone. Run the cyclone for at least 5 minutes, allowing the cumulated dust to be pulled through the system through the clean filters and into the Cyclone can. Bag out this dust as well.

Follow Up

When the clean up is finished, update logs for AMT255 cyclone, un-pin the dibs from the workshop and CNC slack channels and announce to members that normal use may resume.

Check that there is a calendar item in two months for the next time this cleaning is performed.