Thankfully, the creation of dust collectors has allowed companies to meet strict regulations relating to environmental pollution of dust and fume control. The important issue is to remove any excess dust and fumes from your industrial machinery and in the surrounding air. In turn, this provides a cleaner, safer working environment for staff. To ensure a dust collector is working to its full potential it is imperative to maintain it on a regular basis.
This will keep it running smoothly and also extend its shelf life. To make things easier for you, or whoever it is that will be in charge of maintaining the dust collector, we recommend creating a maintenance schedule which details what needs to be done on a frequent basis and what needs to be checked every now and again. This schedule could compile daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly and yearly tasks however the more common the maintenance is, the better your dust collector will run.
Below are a few simple, yet effective tasks you should incorporate in order to maintain you dust collector.
-
We would suggest using a pressure gauge (magnehelic gauge) that is attached to the dust extractor where it can be easily read each day or so. Just like the gauges in your car, if the temperature rises there is a problem and you can sort it out immediately before causing major issues to your engine. The magnehelic gauge is similar it will tell you if the filters are blocked. If this is the case then there is a check list:
-
This one is quite possibly the simplest there is. You should regularly empty the dust bin or bag. If it gets too full then the dust will potentially stay up in the filters. These then become blocked which lessens your suction performance at the machinery pick up points.
-
You will need to keep an eye on the filter cleaning system. If your dust
Collector’s filters are clogged it is not going to be very effective. Pressure will build up and loss of suction. If there are holes in the filters the dust and fumes will pass back into your factory or outside, all over your cars or your neighbours cars. A properly designed self cleaning system (e.g. Reverse Pulse Dust Extractors that use compressed air, set on a timer or pressure timer, blast a shot of air back on the filter and releases the dust into the bin) will maintain a good lifespan of the filters and prevent blockages.
-
Keep an eye out for any leaks. You do not want any leaking ducting connections or flexible hose leaks in the system as the dust and leaking ductwork can have suction problems at the machinery extraction points. If you do come across any holes in the hoses etc., you can patch them up yourself, or replace the entire hose. Or get an expert in like Dust Extraction Solutions.
-
Clean any switches and electrical boxes on the dust collector. Dust particles and fumes can make their way into improper electrical enclosures and components. This runs the risk of fires or corrosion, so it is important to make sure you use industrial certified IP enclosures and switch gear especially around explosive fumes and volatile dusts.
-
Ensure the exhaust fan is always in prime condition. Any unusual vibration and noise should be immediately checked by a specialist like Dust Extraction Solutions. Hot bearing housings, loose belts and fan vibration are warning signs.
Most importantly, when working with heavy machinery, your safety is extremely important. Make sure you adhere to health and safety guidelines to prevent any accidents from happening. Isolate the fan and lock it out.
This checklist will steer you in the right direction to begin regular maintenance work on your dust collector, however, every piece of machinery is different. Some will require more maintenance work than others, but if you take the time to monitor your equipment regularly, you shouldn’t face any expensive breakdowns.