How to determine which downdraft table is the right solution

STEP # 1:

A great place to start is to first determine if you need a dry or wet system. Dry systems are best when you are generating dust or fumes from applications such as grinding, buffing, polishing, cutting, chopping, shredding, sanding, painting, gluing or welding.  However, dry systems can be dangerous to use if not properly configured based on the particular material.  For example, when dust from more than one type of material are mixed it could increase risk of fire or explosion, especially if there is an ignition source such as a spark or welding torch nearby.

A wet system is best used to capture certain combustible dust or flammable materials.  Some combustible metal dusts are required per OSHA/NFPA to be contained in a wet system – these include Magnesium, Titanium, and Aluminum (in some circumstances). Of course from a budgetary perspective, wet systems are more of an investment than a dry systems.  They also require more overall maintenance. 

A lot of times we speak with companies that think just because they are producing Aluminum dust that they need a wet system. As noted above, this is true only in certain circumstances.  As long as the equipment is built safely for Aluminum dust collection (per NFPA 484 guidelines) you can collect your dust in a dry collector. DualDraw downdraft tables for dry aluminum dust collection follow these guidelines. 

STEP # 2

The next step in your Downdraft Table selection process is to determine the size of the table you need, and the proper amount of airflow required for your process. The size would be dependent on factors such as the size of the parts you are working on, and the space available in your facility. Similarly, airflow is dependent on the type of application you are performing and the overall size of the active airflow area (work surface).  Applications such as grinding or deburr create a very high dispersion energy and will require more capture velocity then say a light duty hand sanding application.