This article will guide you through what type of extractor you need to use, and how hose size affects extraction.
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What type of extractor should I use?
Choose a shop vacuum
You need a system that is able to remove large chips from the SmartBench worktop.
Shop vacs are perfect for SmartBench, as they are designed to pick up a range of heavy debris (such as chips and swarf) from a small space (i.e., the cutting site).
They are also designed to collect waste from a range of materials (not just wood).
What about dust extraction?
Ideally, choose at least an M (Medium) Class shop vacuum that is designed to pick up most dust particles.
This is to protect your lungs from unseen dust, and may also be a health and safety requirement for your extraction system if you are working on site.
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A quick note on “dust extractors”:
Dust extractors are primarily designed to remove wood dust particles from larger spaces. They are not necessarily designed to collect other materials or sharp debris, and could be damaged by them.
Despite having high rates of airflow, they might not have the high pressure required to lift chips and swarf from the worktop.
If you are considering a dust extractor, always check the tech specs!
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Materials
Different materials will come with different extraction requirements (e.g., MDF produces a lot of fine dust compared to plywood). Consider what materials you will be cutting when you choose an extractor.
Bag or bagless?
You can choose an extractor that uses a bag, or not, depending on your needs.
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Pros
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Cons
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Bag
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Easier to empty waste out of the extractor.
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Suction will decrease as the bag fills.
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Bagless
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Suction won’t decrease as the extractor fills.
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Harder to remove waste; involves lifting and tipping the entire extractor.
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Capacity
We recommend a minimum capacity of 27 litres, or 6 gallons.
Consider portability
It might sound obvious, but if you are intending to move SmartBench from site to site, your extraction set up will need to be portable too!
If SmartBench is likely to stay in one place, you might consider a larger and more powerful extraction system.
Check the dimensions and weight of extractors to make sure they are right for you.
Power rating
SmartBench can automatically control your extraction system, providing it meets SmartBench’s power requirements.
The power requirements vary depending on your region and your SmartBench, so click here if you want to learn more about this.
Other features
Pay attention to the other features that extractors have, such as anti-clogging technology, overload or blockage warnings, and filters.
Domestic, heavy duty, commercial?
Regardless of how the extraction system is described, the best thing to do is check the technical specifications:
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Can it meet the minimum requirements for flow rate?
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What is its power rating?
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Is it designed to pick up chips, swarf, and dust?
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Don’t try to “make do” with your old domestic Henry Hoover!
Domestic vacuums are not designed to pick up the high volumes or types of waste created by SmartBench, nor are they designed to run continuously for long periods of time.
Using a domestic vacuum will damage both your work, and the vacuum.
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What size hose should I use?
Hose diameter
Extraction hoses come in many different sizes, and will have different properties as a result:
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Smaller diameter hoses tend to be more maneuverable and flexible.
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Larger diameter hoses can pick up bigger debris, and are less likely to clog.
The size of the hose affects the rate of airflow: decreasing the hose diameter will also decrease the rate of airflow.
SmartBench’s in-built hose has an outer diameter of 38mm.
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Recommended minimum hose diameter
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Inner diameter (ID)
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32mm
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Outer diameter (OD)
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38mm
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You can work out how much a change in hose size will affect your flow rate. The flow rate is proportional to the inner radius of the hose to the fourth power.
If you want to work out what your new flow rate (Fnew) would be if you changed the radius of your hose (Rold to Rnew), you can use this equation*:
*From the Hagen–Poiseuille law.
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Hose length
The longer a hose of an extractor, the more air friction it encounters, reducing the rate of airflow.
For SmartBench, the hose length needs to be short enough that the extraction system still meets the minimum airflow rate requirement of 70 l/s (litres per second).
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Keep the hose as short as possible, to maintain a high flow rate
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L: Hose length.
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You can work out how much a change in hose length will affect your flow rate. The flow rate is inversely proportional to the length of the hose.
If you want to work out what your new flow rate (Fnew) would be if you changed the length of your hose (Lold to Lnew), you can use this equation*:
*From the Hagen–Poiseuille law.
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Hose fitting
The SmartBench extraction connector is compatible with connectors with an inner diameter of 27 mm.
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