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
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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.
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