Is It Advisable to Customize the Design of Your Dust Collection System?

So many things come into play during the dust collection system buying process. Buyers have to consider things like system efficiency levels, pressure levels, energy consumption, dry or wet, and space constraints. Engineers buying dust collection systems must as well have to decide to go for custom-designed or off-the-shelf dust collection systems. Whichever choice you make, it needs careful deliberation alongside proper consideration of the cons and pros delivered from each solution. Learn the basics of using either off-the-shelf or custom made dust extractor filter bags.

The Design Regulations

There are unique regulatory requirements in each of the two dust collection systems. The regulatory requirements for off-the-shelf will not be equal to the custom made dust extractor filter bags. The OSHA, NFPA, and EPA regulations are quite harsh and they usually vary either of the two dust collection systems. In the case where the exhaust gasses should enclose the particulate contaminants under a certain threshold, engineers are advised not to choose off-the-shelf dust collection systems as they will likely not meet those requirements.

These regulatory requirements mostly encompass NFPA obligations on the removal of particulate matter and explosive dust such as flour, OSHA obligations against silica dust, and EPA regulations prohibiting exhaustion of toxic gases, environmental contaminants, and heavy metals into the air. They normally need efficient airflow patterns, physical space constraints, specialized patterns, and lots of other requirements, which the off-the-shelf systems cannot accommodate.

Rare Applications

The next in line when it comes to the considerations to be put in mind when selecting dust collection systems is the purpose they will be used to serve. The most common reason you may want to go for a custom solution rather than the off-the-shelf solutions is if there is a need for materials recovery. A good example will be when using titanium or any other valuable metal, which needs to be cut, sanded and aerosolized as part of the process. The dust generated from these applications will not be a waste but a valuable material that can be recovered.

These setups will often need an advanced equipment design so efficient materials recovery can be achieved. And good enough, custom dust collection systems provide the opportunity for using certain cartridges, filters, collectors, intakes and exhausts, and pre-cleaners for efficient filtering and capturing of metals. While some off-the-shelf systems will have these components, most of them will not.
But under no circumstance should you overreact and assume that your dust collection system should be a unique choice. You should not forget that there are a limited number of dust collection systems that have no precedent or similar models already selling. It may naturally not be easy to remember such things while you are designing the system, but you ought to remember inquiring from a colleague or supplier to know if they have made a similar setup before.

The Quoting Process May Change

In case you settle for a custom dust collection system, you should never forget that the quoting process may differ from one unit and vendor to the other, which in some instances can complicate and lengthen the installation time. A custom system quote will often represent every single aspect of the system, including things like space constraint, filtered gasses/dust, energy consumption, airflow patterns, and regulatory performance/compliance. And here are the main factors that can affect the entire custom system quoting process.

• Spout and filter media
• Temperature gauges
• Pressures and solenoids
• Humidity monitors
• Air pressure sensors
• Paints, finishes, and coatings

In standard systems, these aspects are already defined, but in the case of custom solutions, everything starts from zero. For opting for custom design should ensure their quoted prices evaluate things out of the dust collection system, which includes pickups, plumbing, ductwork, and vent hoods. For these components, custom quotes may require working with the right subcontractor or vendor for the finished system to have the sub-systems that match the scrubber or core collector.

Under all circumstances and with all factors considered, custom dust collection systems have more collaborative and complex quoting processes. And for those who have no prior experience buying a dust handling system, it may mean you seek the help of an experienced engineer for the best solutions. But for those who have experience designing different dust collection systems, you will know how to specify your project as well as have less hassle making a choice.

And before we finish, you must as well not forget to check the total lifetime performance needs of your selected dust collection system. When it comes to highly-specialized, detailed, and complex setups, you will realize that there are significant variations in the operations and maintenance costs between custom and standard systems. A good example will be higher costs of special filter media, compressed air, and energy consumption. Whatever choice you make, it is strongly advised you to work with professional custom dust collection designers for your final project to have the qualities you desire.