DIY Clean Box

[DanR]

I was wondering if anyone on this forum have tried to make a 'DIY clean box' and if they have had any success with it?

Obviously it would be near impossible to create a Class 10/100 clean room environment but I am interested to see how 'clean' you could possible get.

DR.

[HDD Spaz]

the question would be, why?

[loki]

the question would be, why?

I'm guessing that they want a CHEAPER option rather than spending £3000+ on a laminar work bench or more for a clean room + servicing & HEPA filters.

[Vulcan]

@DanR:

I am interested to see how 'clean' you could possible get.

Personally I doubt that those people who make a DIY clean box, will have the necesssary equipment to measure how clean it is - so the answer to your question will likely be "they don't know".

[BlackST]

@DanR:

I am interested to see how 'clean' you could possible get.

Personally I doubt that those people who make a DIY clean box, will have the necesssary equipment to measure how clean it is - so the answer to your question will likely be "they don't know".

They have the answer at first disaster....

[fzabkar]

There are plenty of commercial laboratory units that boast 99.99% "cleanness" for less than US$500 FOB China:
http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/laminar ... bench.html

[BlackST]

Try to import something like that and see if you still pay it $500. FOB is very different from CIS, so why give false illusions to people ?

[fzabkar]

Try to import something like that and see if you still pay it $500. FOB is very different from CIS, so why give false illusions to people ?

£3000+ is the "illusion".

BTW, all illusions are false by definition.

[BlackST]

3000+ is not an illusion if you can afford it. All the rest is window shopping.

[grindo]

Came across a few websites where people seem to have made them themselves.

Couple of links

http://www.iheartrobotics.com/2010/02/t ... nroom.html

http://pcbusinessguide.com/index.php?to ... 258#msg258

[Nick_CT]

Those links made me laugh. They are using a little PC case fan from what I could see to get the airflow? That won't pull any air at all through that filter. I had a good attempt at a 'clean box' a while back. Ended up going with a Vortice Lineo 150 fan through 2 HEPAs to get some decent airflow. A PC case fan isn't going to cut it

[fzabkar]

The fan at the first URL is a RadioShack 20W 115VAC 4" unit, p/n 273-241C, rated for 65 CFM (I think):
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F0i917zfySk/S ... oom-21.jpg

The fan at the second URL is a "120mm 115v" unit.

I bet both are a lot quieter than the blower motor out of an old Control Data SMD drive. I still have one somewhere in my garage.

[DanR]

A concept I looked at was using a filter like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DYSON-Replaceme ... 202&sr=8-9

[BlackST]

@DanR

Are you going to use this ... uh... "equipment" or ideas on customer drive or intend to use it on a business ? If so, I suggest you to get a serious insurance....

[DanR]

I don't intend to do either. I was only considering this as a project to see if it would be possible to create your own clean box.

From what I've read, it seems a little impractical. I'll stick with my current Laminar Flow cabinet

[loki]

I don't intend to do either. I was only considering this as a project to see if it would be possible to create your own clean box.

From what I've read, it seems a little impractical. I'll stick with my current Laminar Flow cabinet

Why was you thinking of offering a mobile dr service?
This site http://waysafe.co.uk/products.htm#3 might be worth a look?
has reasonable size, cheap hepa filter etc


Loki

[BlackST]

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's better !

Anyway I built a thing that work, but I had on my side knowing people who make industrial CNC'ing , welding , and have no problem in getting whatever part I want or make it or ask someone to make it from drawing.
At the end, you probably don't save money in comparison to commercial stuff, but if you need custom size or have a specific need, it is a viable option.

I designed also some HDD tools and asked a specialized company to CNC them, they can make it with 1/1000 mm. precision if necessary (it was not needed) from solid AISI steel, they didn't ask the moon for it and I had a prototype in less than a week.... so maybe if you want to develop in-house stuff (possibly not using Suck-O-Lux vacuum cleaner spare parts ) it can be worth. Just don't use it on live drive until you are sure it is OK

[DanR]

@BlackST

Thanks for your suggestion.

Might leave this project in the back pocket for another day.

[LarrySabo]

Below is an update to the forum article describing my clean chamber project, to which someone posted a link above. Mock and ridicule your hearts out!

Larry
==============
Thanks Fred. Yes, I've frequented that forum many times; it's very good, although a little anal-retentive. They are right about airflow being very low and non-laminar, but adding a "booster" fan and a filter enclosure would improve the air flow, and a diffuser plate across the top just beneath the air inlet would improve airflow distribution. Not laminar, but good enough for most purposes. As to its effectiveness, one can get a cheap particle counter made by Dylos that measures accurately down to 0.5 microns for under $265. I can't find a current link to the price, so it may have changed slightly since the time I was interested in getting one. A discussion of the device by the designer is located in this HVAC discussion forum.

Another option for improved airflow in my design, is to replace the whole filter assembly with a HEPA air purifier and aluminum dryer vent ducting, some of which can be found for under $50. I have a Bionaire BAP615 model that I use for sucking up solder fumes and it has a pre-filter, HEPA filter and a carbon fumes filter. That model is no longer made, but they make other similar models for a still-reasonable price. I would skip the carbon filter if I were to use it in this application, as it might spew carbon particles from the filter into the chamber.

While my unit may be "laughable" to the pros on the HDDGuru forum, I think it is "good enough" for someone wanting to learn and develop skills, and even make effective repairs, such as swapping heads, without spending a ton of money. For those with more demanding needs, they can always check out one of the units available from Sentry Air Systems; their 12x12x12" unit for $1,000 is described here.
==============

[cat1x]

Larry, your project is interesting
Have you measured your chamber with any particle counter?