METAL DUST & VFDs

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 04/05/2022 09:14:14:

Posted by Emgee on 03/05/2022 22:38:04:

Posted by mgnbuk on 03/05/2022 20:40:48:

…

I work for a graphite machining company & the talcum powder fine stuff defies all attempts to totally keep it out of enclosures despite my best efforts – and that is IP66 industrial enclosures.

Nigel B.

Sounds like the enclosure is not up to the specification, …

Emgee

I suspect they might be – in the test, IP66 is only dust proof for 2 to 8 hours and not waterproof. Next level up (IP67) is only rated water immersion proof for 15 minutes.

Dave

Dave
Not what's stated for the 2nd digit in IP66, Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

I think Nigel needs to suggest some better extraction on machines in the factory which takes the topic back to Noel's question.

Emgee

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

The medium specified in the IP5x test is talcum powder. This is non conductive. To test with anything else would not be compliant with the standard.

I have looked at several cheap VFD and their claims for compliance generally were dubious.

Robert G8RPI.

P.S. Part of my day job is witnessing compliance testing and reviewing other peoples tests. I also sit on a committee that defines a environmental test that includes dustproofness.

Edited By Robert Atkinson 2 on 04/05/2022 13:08:33

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

I can't think of a time where I produced dust finer than talc when using my belt grinder. When I sweep the floor I normally gather grit from the belts and whatever material I was grinding…can't say the metal is dust, it's more of a grit – definitely not going through a sealed enclosure such as an IP54.

Of course you can get a better rated enclosure, you can immerse it in sealant, you can extend the wiring and place it in the attic etc etc, whatever makes you happy, but I am of the opinion that for a normal workshop use, there's no need of anything higher than IP54.

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

Posted by John Doe 2 on 03/05/2022 10:21:13:

Can I just say, ChrisB, what a nice installation you have built there ! Good engineering to keep the heatsink cooling air completely separate from the electronics, and well done for lining up the front panel with the circuit board switches – that must have taken a couple of attempts.

And proof, if it were needed, that the front panel switches of a VFD are not designed for heavy use – you can see (the five yellow dots near the readout display); they are just tiny circuit board switches, not designed for heavy regular workshop use.

Thanks John. Yes alligning the front panel to the buttons was a pain, an exercise of measure a thousand times, cut once and trim a bit more!

I wanted the vfd to be easy to connect and disconnect because I plan to use it for other machines I plan to build, and good quality vfds don't come cheap!

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

My workshop is two separate areas with a dividing door, one shop has the precision equipment the other is where all the dirty work is done ,ie bench grinders,angle grinding ,welding, tool and cutter grinding,linishing and cleaning off rust with a heavy wire brush etc.keep any metalic and abrasive dust from machine tools.

[Neil LickfoldParticipant @neillickfold44316]

When someone is using the linisher at work, I can smell quite often what is being linished . A lot of electronics things are coated these days, to protect them from damage. The best solution is to keep the dust creating processes away from things that matter. It is why industrial power points have little spring covers.

Prevention is always better than a cure. Just a simple filter will greatly reduce the amount of dust getting into the cabinet of the vfd as shown already.

Neil

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