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Data recovery and disk repair questions and discussions related to old-fashioned SATA, SAS, SCSI, IDE, MFM hard drives - any type of storage device that has moving parts
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DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 16:49

I finished version 2 of my DIY clean chamber this week, salvaging as many parts as I could from the earlier version. An airflow test shows there is plenty of air flow over the working area. Being new at creating videos, the one I created while testing airflow is too large; I'll try to create a new one in lower resolution to reduce the file size. If these can be of some help to others, great!

Image

More photos:
http://tinypic.com/m/ibju6c/3
http://tinypic.com/m/ibju6d/3

Drawings:
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuas/3
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuaq/3
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuau/3

Parts list:
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuys/3

Video:
http://goo.gl/h4Ku4h

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 17:09

Very nice!

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 17:18

I have some doubts about building design concepts for hdd recovery laminar flow benches.


Definetely nice!



Haltec

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 17:25

I must admit, it looks pretty good!

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 19:56

When is the LS-CC Mark I due out for sale? :)

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 21:06

Thanks for your kind comments.

Haltec wrote:I have some doubts about building design concepts for hdd recovery laminar flow benches.

In general, or the design I used? I'd be interested to know more.

My only concern is the efficacy of the HEPA filter. It's claimed to be a "True HEPA" filter with 99.97% effectiveness at removing particles 0.3um and larger, but I'd love to know for sure. I left enough room to add a second HEPA filter sandwiched to the first, but doubt it will be necessary. Perhaps I can find a local lab that will test it for a reasonable fee.

HaQue wrote:When is the LS-CC Mark I due out for sale? :)

I'd rather start earning some money using what I have than become a full-time carpenter/manufacturer. :)

Edit: Make that "My wife would rather I start earning . . . . "

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 24th, 2014, 23:03

Sorry, can't edit the earlier URL to the video. Here's a slightly smaller-sized version: http://goo.gl/cgB78D

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 25th, 2014, 2:46

very good project.
You can earn also with clean chambers :D

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 26th, 2014, 5:19

Maybe i will buy one from you Larry :)

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 26th, 2014, 5:26

HI Larry! veri jod job!

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 26th, 2014, 9:01

Thanks, Jerovšek, Michael and hddrec (I assume Google Translate mangled your kind comment, hddrec. lol) I included the drawings in my OP so anyone interested could easily build their own. Shipping lumber doesn't make economic sense, but a pre-cut and drilled kit would make assembly relatively easy. Perhaps I should partner with IKEA? :mrgreen:

Things I would do differently:
1. use two adjacent HEPA filters (or use a longer filter) for complete coverage of the enclosure
2. substitute ordinary screening for the cold rolled perforated steel screen to cut weight and cost.

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

September 26th, 2014, 16:53

hhddrec wrote:HI Larry! veri jod job!



Hahaha!!

I think google is cleverer than mine.

But i insist, Very good Job!

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 12:02

LarrySabo wrote:I finished version 2 of my DIY clean chamber this week, salvaging as many parts as I could from the earlier version. An airflow test shows there is plenty of air flow over the working area. Being new at creating videos, the one I created while testing airflow is too large; I'll try to create a new one in lower resolution to reduce the file size. If these can be of some help to others, great!

Image

More photos:
http://tinypic.com/m/ibju6c/3
http://tinypic.com/m/ibju6d/3

Drawings:
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuas/3
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuaq/3
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuau/3

Parts list:
http://tinypic.com/m/ibjuys/3

Video:
http://goo.gl/h4Ku4h

The video link is down, can you check it?

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 12:23

As mentioned above:
Sorry, can't edit the earlier URL to the video. Here's a slightly smaller-sized version: http://goo.gl/cgB78D

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 12:28

Larry ,
I Am Also Gonna Design My Own Its a Totally Different Design Then Yours

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 14:19

@Amarbir, I decided to design my own because I do very little DR, just as a compliment to my PC repair business. The shipping cost of certified HEPA filters is ridiculous, so I decided to go with a readily-available HEPA filter designed for an air purifier (99.97% @ 0.3 micons). I considered using a ULPA filter (99.999 % at 0.1 micron: http://goo.gl/KU6gfr) but believe that would have required a more powerful motor than I already had on hand. Anyway, good luck with your build, and I hope you share whatever design you end up with, please.

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 19:09

Hi Larry, I wonder if you have used any commercial cabinets and if you can comment on the practical and physical differences, if any.. such as when you are working in one or the other.. is comfort the same, any difference in noise levels, does one or the other produce a variance in cleanness?

I appreciate you sharing the process and results with us, it is a very nice looking job!

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 21:47

Hi Brian. There are a number of youtube videos (http://goo.gl/Qr0rgM) by a local DR provider showing head swaps up close, airflow noise included. Mine is quieter, I think, but it uses a smaller motor and has less total air flow, so that's to be expected. You can feel the breeze in the face with mine but I wear glasses and don't find it objectionable. I sometimes work with the cover lowered, which eliminates the breeze in the face and provides higher air flow over the work area. Some prefer a vertical flow unit for that reason (no breeze in the face).

The commercial bench he uses offers a *lot* more working area than my DIY chamber/bench and I suspect the airflow is higher, but adjustable. I haven't laid my hands on a commercial bench myself, so can't fairly compare them. I find mine perfectly comfortable to use, thanks to it resting on a cart that places the working area at just the right height. It wheels around very easily and I just keep it to one side in a parking area when I'm not using it. Otherwise, I wheel it up to beside my desk where I do most of my work. As far as cleanliness, it works great. Rarely do I find any dust on the platters, and it's usually deposited from the HDD cover if there is any. Notice in one of the cited videos, that he blows dust off the platters with a can of compressed air before closing up the drive, so I think my chamber/bench is perfectly fine.

Thanks for the kind comment. If I build another one, it will probably use a ULPA filter and look like HDDSurgery's prototype (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... jqkyIcqyuo). :)

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 5th, 2015, 22:38

Thanks Larry, very inspiring work. Thanks for the reply, I would love to build one myself and I think your posts help a great deal :)

Re: DIY clean chamber, v2

January 16th, 2015, 11:01

I'll be getting one cut out soon, thanks to access to a local business with a CNC 2400x1200 system. Was going to use 12mm clear acrylic and a 12V car air blower motor so I can adjust the speed with ease if required. The filters I was going to try initially were the Nilfisk Extreme H14 rated units ( probably 2 or 3 of them ).
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