Finally got back to my Dust Collection Automation project.  I wanted to be able to turn on any of my woodworking equipment, that is connected to the dust collection cyclone and have the following happen:

When turning on equipment:
1. Automatically open the blast gate
2. turn on the dust collector, If it is not already on

When turning off equipment
1. Automatically close the blast gate
2. wait 15 seconds and turn off the dust collector if all blast gates are closed

To do this I decided to use:

1. Arduino Mega
2. LCD color touch screen
3. Current sensing relays
4. 12 volt Relay board with 16 relays
4. pneumatic cylinders to open/close the blast gates

Below is the electronics on a test bed and a photo of The pneumatically controlled blast gate as I fabricate all the required aluminum brackets.

I plan on automating 6 blast gate the first go round more later.



 

Interesting, how do you plan to connect the actuator to the gate?
Looks like a two-way actuator, are you concerned that the shaft will flex when opening/closing.
Will you be using solenoid valves to operate the actuators. Might be easier to use a spring to close the gate and air to open only. Then just energize the solenoid for air to open and when you de-energize the solenoid the actuator would be vented to atmosphere and the spring would close the gate.

It would be interesting to see the cost savings vs purchasing an automated system.

Pretty dang cool the OP built it themselves!

Total  $1,036.00 for a 6 tool system

Have you considered iVac Auto Dust Collection Pack? It's wireless and is cheaper.

Good job on the design Greg. Whether going with your solution Greg or the IVac system a couple of price points were missed. Having power available at every station and in Greg's scenario having air available at every station is also a heavy cost consideration not factored into the price comparison. Also the cost to manufacture the homemade solution is not factored in. I've considered both systems in the past and will probably go for the IVac solution in my situation for the simplicity and speed on install. Sometimes what appears to be a less expensive option turns into the same cost when all the factors are put together especially in a production shop. The hobby guy can write the time off not so much for those of us making a living and spending too time in the shop already.

i looked at doing something like this when i set up my new workshop last May, all seemed a bit too complicated, expensive and pointless to have automatic blast gates. i ended up just putting a micro switch on each blast gate which closes a 12v loop to a breaker which turns the extractor on. takes all of one second to open a blast gate every time i turn a machine on, ok i have to go looking for rogue open blast gates when im hopping between machines but it isnt a huge shop (about 110 square meters). i guess it starts to make sense to have auto blast gates in larger shops with multiple people using machines. I appreciate its an interesting project though, i never thought of using pneumatic actuators, good idea that.

How'd this turn out?

Matt

Hey Creg,

 I am looking to do the same system with servo motors on blast gates...Do you have any wiring drawing that you can share/provide I have to see a drawing in order to stay focus... and try to make the wiring , have you installed your Relay Modules in the different outlet boxes?

Would you be kind enough to have a look , if I suggest to you a wiring drawing for my installation I am a bit in the dark here.

Many thanks

Ray   

Sorry - that was reconsider electronic *servos. Your pneumatic system seems much more robust.