Showing 0 products
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does distance from the source matter so much?
Capture falls away extremely quickly with it.
Doubling the gap costs more than doubling the fan.
An arm close in beats a larger distant machine.
A hand's width makes a visible difference.
Position is the dominant variable.
Everything else is secondary to it.
What makes an arm actually get used?
Whether it stays where it is put.
Sagging or drifting arms get parked.
Two-handed repositioning gets parked too.
It must move one-handed while holding a torch.
Joint friction and counterbalance decide this.
Test it physically rather than reading specifications.
How should reach be assessed?
Against the actual working envelope.
Reaching the bench is not reaching the far corner.
Half-covered work means half-captured fume.
Extensions, rails and booms exist for this.
Measure the largest workpiece, not the bench.
Mounting position affects effective reach.
Does hood shape matter?
More than hood size does.
A flange stops air being drawn from behind.
There is no contaminant behind the hood.
Flanged openings capture markedly better.
A small good hood beats a large poor one.
Shape it to the process where possible.
When is a fixed hood better than an arm?
When the process does not move.
A defined station suits a fixed hood.
It can be shaped closely to the source.
Nothing depends on operator behaviour.
Arms suit varied and moving work.
Many workshops need both.
Can several arms share one system?
Yes, with the ducting designed for it.
All arms open at once splits the airflow.
Each then receives too little to capture.
Dampers or automatic blast gates manage this.
Diversity assumptions must be realistic.
Size the fan against simultaneous use.
What maintenance do arms need?
Joints, hoses and the damper.
Friction joints loosen with use and need adjusting.
A loose arm stops staying put.
Hoses abrade and develop leaks.
A leaking hose reduces capture invisibly.
Check them on a schedule.