Problem Type: Equipment
Workspace:
Asset: Felder RL 350 Main Shop Dust Collector
Summary: DC Down: Excessive Vibrations
Additional Info: Needs Investigation. Suddenly it started vibrating excessively beyond any normal levels. Most tools are offline until DC is approved to turn back on. I’m working on this now.
Robert
Report generated from a filing. This report has also been sent to Asmbly staff, leadership, and space leads with any contact info that was provided. Provide additional photos or resources here to help. When the problem is resolved, ensure it is marked.
The DC is not clogged. I opened the panel. Front filters look okay, back filters look dirty. But nothing that indicates “this is making me shake like a volcano”
Great question. If a tool has dust collection capacity, Never use a tool without dust collection in this workshop.
Dust build up in a tool can cause clogs in a tool which can build up to create a situation with poor performance in the tool, a massive mess to cleanup, causes some tools to work a bit harder than they need to putting extra wear on them, and creates fire risks (Ask the spindle sander about that one).
I’m in the Felder Support queue now. I’ll post an update later today on what a short term remedy will be in case we need that.
Working on a temporary solution. Hoping to have something available by tonight.
Unfortunately the Felder is down. There is nothing. We can do reasonably by troubleshooting on site without taking things apart that will require some effort.
Felder let me know that they are going to get a service tech sent out as soon as possible. They won’t be able to schedule anyone until tomorrow. It is unclear how long. The machine will be down, but it is under warranty.
Felder is down until a technician can come out. This is really unfortunate and I’m sorry to everyone counting on this, but it will be down for a few days at minimum.
In an effort to keep the woodshop from being fully closed, I will stress the phrase:
Never use a tool without dust collection in this workshop.
This goes for every tool that has dust collection hook ups and is connected to the main dust collector. The tools that are fine no matter the main DC state:
Drill Press
Downdraft Sanding Table
CNCs
Panel Saw
Shaper
Domino
All other hand tools
For all tools connected to the DC, The temporary approach is to remove the hose and hook up an adapter to the tool so a shop vac can pull dust from it.
There are 6 of these adapters that should be attached to each tool needed.
If you run a tool without a dust collector of some kind running, you are jeopardizing the state of the tool and creating a mess for us to clean up afterwards. This is our attempt to keep things open. I understand that not every member reads discourse, for those reading, please help others understand the temporary state of things. If there is abuse or misuse, we will have no choice but to shut off power to the tools until the DC is fixed.
I will be on the lookout for a few shop vacs to help fill the voids. Until then, use the shop vacs. Use the adapters. It isn’t perfect at the moment, so if you have a shop vac or a shop vac hose, please bring it. Post here if there’s something we can do to help make it just a little easier for everyone during this temporary downtime.
It is also evident we don’t have a great “DC Down plan”. Please help us use this to constructively build one so we are more prepared in an unfortunate event in the future.
Are there signs or is there a notification going out to folks so that everyone is aware of what to do until it gets fixed? Apologies if you’ve already sent something out. My email is crazy.
But will folks who haven’t seen this post know to use a shop vac? I haven’t been in so I’m not sure if tags have been posted on machines or if there is a sign by the doors. I just want to make sure all folks know.
Under normal circumstances you dont need a DC down protocol when you have the caliber of the existent one. Has anyone checked to see if is obstructed at the intake side (main pipe)? A few weeks back it was backed up and a side effect is for debree to collect in the pipe as it cannot be pushed forward. Often it will unblock once the hopper of the discharge gets cleared but if not the rotating vortex compacts it down and will continue to build. I remember looking at the photos of the old pipe where it was obstructed when you took it down. DC down protocol an option would be to have a few of the conventional old kind living under the table somewhere. To be easy on the budget, keep an eye for used ones in the Marketplace or Craigslist they come up every so often rather cheap. Shopvacs do not have enough CFM (specially the jointer) to do a good job unless you get the more expensive ones. The bad thing of the old DC’s is that they can take a lot of space but can be broken down for storage.
I’m hoping to get some help sending a formal notice out to folks.
The autonomy of Asmbly is great, but one common communication drawback is that not everyone signs up for or reads Discourse. Not everyone checks their email, not everyone reads the signs placed right on the tool that says “red tag” (I’ve seen it with my own eyes).
All avenues will be exhausted however the best way to help make sure folks know what’s happening is a friendly tap on the shoulder in case something is off. 99% of the time, there was no malicious intent, just a thing that wasn’t noticed.
Jose, I’m going to take the downtime to poke around a bit more to see what’s happening. I’m also pulling off all filters for a thorough cleaning. 2 of the filters in a back row looked completely solid; full of dust. I should be able to verify the intake is clean and free.
I was talking to James a few weeks back about this. As you have time, maybe instal a camera at the end, maybe more in the system. At the end it will not be too intrusive. That way you can check visually without having to open the system. Also plan to cut access points so you can clear the system when it happens. Make traps at the sawstop, the thin cutoffs get sucked into the system but will easily create an obstruction downstream.
This is a great example of how not to do things in general and particularly right now. This is an example of lack of care for the community workshop environment.
Clearly not cleaned up on top, blade still up, tool on. No regard to where dust was going, mess on the back, side, and front of tool.
I received word from Felder reps in Dallas that we should expect to hear from someone tomorrow about next steps.
We have done what we can on-site before breaking any potential warranty stickers. Sarah and I cleaned filters today, Frank helped reinstall them. Evan and I looked around from different angles to see if we could see the other side of the motor to check the impeller for any signs of damage. It seems highly unlikely that any debris made it’s way to the impeller area (it’s pretty sealed off).
Removing the motor ourselves is not going to be easy. It will be heavy, and being up in the air will require some coordination to safely remove it for inspection. This is something we’ll have to consider if there is a long delay and also any reps that comes to look at it will likely need to do something similar. A few other folks have expressed interest in attempting to locate the issue. The only hold up will be if there’s an explicit warranty-voiding sticker in the way.
From me to you: Machines break and need maintenance. Though It is sad that we’re having this issue after only 5 weeks of operations. I’m making it clear to Felder reps that a few shop vacs are holding the space together while the $30,000 machine sits against the wall and watches. Please help us by using the shop vacs and adapters. Clean up any messes being made so the shop can stay useable. I’ll be watching closely and open to any assistance folks might be able to give. We’ll need to get creative soon to assist with this maintenance work.
I worked in the shop this evening and I noticed a small issue with using our shop vacs. We need more of these adapters that connect the smaller vac hose to the larger hose input. Without it the smaller hoses can’t properly connect.
