Every woodworker knows that having a good, reliable dust collection system is absolutely essential for workshop safety. A high concentration of loose sawdust floating through the air is a huge fire hazard, since one errant spark could ignite said sawdust and cause a massive explosion. A good dust collection system removes excess sawdust from the air and helps keep your woodshop from going up in flames.
If your dust collection system has multiple extraction sites and is responsible for removing the dust created by more than one piece of equipment, you should definitely be familiar with blast gates.
There are two main types of blast gates: automatic blast gates and manual blast gates. Both are used to block off certain dust extraction sites depending on which machines are in use. This helps to control the system’s airflow and provide maximum suction at the extraction sites of whichever machines are in use.
Automatic blast gates can be hooked up to a power source and wired to open and close without manual intervention. When the machine an automatic blast gate is wired to correspond to turns on, the automatic blast gate opens in order to allow dust collection at the site of the operating machine. When said machine turns off, the automatic blast gate closes so that suction can be focused at other extraction points where machines are actually in use.
Most often, automatic blast gates are used for dust collection in situations where a certain piece of equipment is turned on and off frequently. This helps streamline operations because it means the person using the machine will not have to go open or close the blast gate manually every time they want to start or stop using that specific piece of equipment.
Manual blast gates are best for applications where switching between machines is done less frequently.
Both types of blast gate play a very important role in keeping workshops where a lot of dust is created safe and dust free.
It is of the utmost importance that every industrial manufacturing operation that involves woodwork has a high quality industrial sawdust collection system.
However, there are a few different varieties of industrial sawdust collection systems to choose from, so it is necessary for anyone in charge of acquiring one to make sure it is the right one for their specific application.
Each of these three industrial sawdust collection systems have their own unique features that make them more well suited to certain applications.
Cyclones are industrial sawdust collection systems that are best suited for applications that involve removing large or rough particles.
Cyclones don’t have any filters, so they are good at removing sticky materials and large wood chunks, but they can only handle particles that are heavy enough to fall out of the airstream on their own, so they shouldn’t be used on their own for applications that involve a lot of finer dust.
Baghouses are industrial sawdust collection systems that are good at capturing dust that is sticky or fibrous.
Complete Design Fabrication (CDF) began over a decade ago with a staff of two working from a small 100m2 factory.
Our company has now grown to employ over 25 full time staff including apprentices to workers with over twenty years of experience in the industry.
Whether you need aluminium gates, pool fencing, automatic gates or spiral stairs, CDF has the solution.Awnings and slat fencing are a few examples of our range of quality aluminium and glass architectural features that we design, manufacture and supply.
