Originally Posted by
Susan Lamb
This is the only thread I've found about designing dust collection for a group shop with more than one gate open at once. We are in a Seniors hobby workshop and have ordered a Clearvue CVMax to handle 6 machines. We are planning an 8" main duct with 6" drops. 1. Does the recommendation to have area of ports equal area of duct hold true when 2 or 3 gates might be open? Should duct size be reduced toward the end of the run? We do not have the resources to hire professional duct design so are researching this as best we can ouselves.
Susan, a multi-worker shop system is absolutely going to require "more math" when it comes to sizing your drops so that you don't detrimentally reduce air flow speed/volume below the point that you stop collecting. Dust collection is 100% about air flow. 6" drops everywhere with too many multiples open "may" not be practical for a "smallish" (compared to many commercial units) dust collector. Oneida does designs and if one buys the duct material from them, the cost for the design may be mitigated. Other suppliers may do the same.
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