[Robotgroup] Dust collection system & Static?

[Leslie Filip]

This is from a woodworker. Do not under any circumstances try to use  
metal air conditioning ductwork for a dust collection system. It will  
collapse under the slight vacuum faster than you would believe. As  
far as the actual risk of dust exploding from static buildup, I have  
an in-depth article about it I can dig up some time next week. I am  
under deadline at the moment.

The grounding wire is to protect YOU from the static buildup. I have  
personally seen blue sparks that look like tesla coil discharges  
after vacuuming up sawdust off the floor on a dry day.

Les


On 30 May 2007, at 1:19 PM, Vern Graner wrote:

> A friend of mine has a dust collection system he made in his wood  
> shop.
> It uses 4" PVC pipe to distribute the vacuum from his collection  
> system
> around the shop to various tools.
>
> He had heard from other wood workers that you need to use some sort of
> grounding as the sawdust moving through the PVC can lead to static
> buildup causing 1) dust to get clogged up in the pipe and 2) possible
> static discharge that can spark a dust explosion.
>
> Does anyone have details on this? is it a major concern and, if so, is
> there a "normal" method that can be used to alleviate this problem?
>
> Vern
>
> -- 
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