Research Project

[jk]

Hello,

I have been given a project of research/marketing and have been given a wood and wood chip/dust collector to investigate, research and market. It is a Clarke Portable Chip Collector & Dust Extractor
, which is portable and is fitted with an 'easily' detachable bag. It has a 100mm diameter inlet where a suction tube attaches to and than I assume would attach to a machine like a immobile planner or circular saw.

Can people please tell me the range of applications which it can be used for so I can understand what markets to aim it towards. And also, does anyone know if it can be used as some sort of a pump, as it obviously intakes air in ine side which inturn is blown out the other, so can this output pressure be used for anything other than directing dust/wood chippings. Thanks, James

 

[lurker]

James is this "project" for a college course or what?

 

[PAC1]

James

On Monday you were thinking of buying the named extractor and were seeking our comments on the named extractor! Todsy you have a project seeking views on the named extractor! One wonders who you work for???

 

[TheTiddles]

if it is a company, it needs to work on its market research techniques!

Aidan

 

[jk]

I am student in uni. of Coventry.

 

[Ironballs]

I'm assuming you're not reading English :wink:

 

[beech1948]

jk,

Its a shame you have gotten off to a poor start with us. Next time just be upfront and obvious.

Clarke Portable Chip Collector & Dust Extractor

Market Segmentation
1) Hand held Dust collection ( DC)
2) Workshop DC - a bit like an upright hoover
3) Workshop Can style DC - Record and Camvac
4) Large bag collectors such as Clarke
5) Multi bag collectors.

Market Positioning

Clarke machine is in segment 4.
Clarke is supplier of cheap, no nonsense machines
Clarke is often seen as close to the bottom of the pile in quality and price
Clarke would be a hobby use and not a trade or industrial use.

Market Applications

Large bag collectors are used to extract chips and shavings from machines called: Planer Thicknessers, Planers, Spindle moulders, Radial arm saws, table saws, dimension saws. These machines are moderately large and all produce large volumes of saw dust or chips.

Large bag collectors have no other applications unless heavily modified and the "pump" feature you mention is not useful and is not used.

Large bag collectors work by creating a low pressure air flow from the machine to the bag. It may be low pressure but it will move many cubic meters of air per hour.

Critical parameters ( to a woodworker)

1 Air volume moved. Typically ranges from about 750 m3/hr to 2200 m3/hr
The higher the better. A good system is in the 1900 to 2200 m3/hr range.
These will be more expensive than the Clarke

2 Hose connection needs to be 100mm (4inches) and not 105 or other odd sizes in order to connect to PVC pipes (soil pipes) or plastic flexible hose or even metal trunking at industry standard sizes.

3) All are noisy but some are noisier than others. The less noise the better. The level of noise produced is enough to use ear protectors.

4) The upper bag is used to filter out particles down to 5 micron size say. But all smaller particles are allowed back through the upper bag into the workshop air. Two methods are used to cope with the smaller particles. a) Replace the upper bag with a bag or filter which capture particles down to 2 micron or ( more expensively) down to 0.5 micron. b) Use of a separate dust collector hung from the ceiling of the workshop which processes/captures all particles down to 0.5 micron. OR use both methods

Thats probably enough to go on with. Look at the web site www.axminster.co.uk and search for dust extraction. Read the specs, look at the types of machine. Failing that then call Camvac or REcord makers of these machines and telephone and talk it through with an expert.

Finally if you are in Coventry then you can visit a local Machine Mart shop
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/pages/stores/location/coventry

and look at the Clarke machine yourself and ask the shop assistants about it.

I have no special knowledge of DC so don't use my words in your report. Go find out.

regards
Alan

 

[TheTiddles]

Hi James,

As you're a student I think we will probably now help you instead of just being mean! If you put together a concise list of questions I'm sure we will pile in with our opinions, not something that is in short supply here. We pretty much all have dust extractors and if you compile it well you should be able to get plenty of information from here. Have you thought about compilling a simple online questinnaire? They can be very effective for such things.

Aidan

 

[filsgreen]

jk,

Its a shame you have gotten off to a poor start with us. Next time just be upfront and obvious.

Clarke Portable Chip Collector & Dust Extractor

Market Segmentation
1) Hand held Dust collection ( DC)
2) Workshop DC - a bit like an upright hoover
3) Workshop Can style DC - Record and Camvac
4) Large bag collectors such as Clarke
5) Multi bag collectors.


Market Positioning

Clarke machine is in segment 4.
Clarke is supplier of cheap, no nonsense machines
Clarke is often seen as close to the bottom of the pile in quality and price
Clarke would be a hobby use and not a trade or industrial use.

Market Applications

Large bag collectors are used to extract chips and shavings from machines called: Planer Thicknessers, Planers, Spindle moulders, Radial arm saws, table saws, dimension saws. These machines are moderately large and all produce large volumes of saw dust or chips.

Large bag collectors have no other applications unless heavily modified and the "pump" feature you mention is not useful and is not used.

Large bag collectors work by creating a low pressure air flow from the machine to the bag. It may be low pressure but it will move many cubic meters of air per hour.

Critical parameters ( to a woodworker)

1 Air volume moved. Typically ranges from about 750 m3/hr to 2200 m3/hr
The higher the better. A good system is in the 1900 to 2200 m3/hr range.
These will be more expensive than the Clarke

2 Hose connection needs to be 100mm (4inches) and not 105 or other odd sizes in order to connect to PVC pipes (soil pipes) or plastic flexible hose or even metal trunking at industry standard sizes.

3) All are noisy but some are noisier than others. The less noise the better. The level of noise produced is enough to use ear protectors.

4) The upper bag is used to filter out particles down to 5 micron size say. But all smaller particles are allowed back through the upper bag into the workshop air. Two methods are used to cope with the smaller particles. a) Replace the upper bag with a bag or filter which capture particles down to 2 micron or ( more expensively) down to 0.5 micron. b) Use of a separate dust collector hung from the ceiling of the workshop which processes/captures all particles down to 0.5 micron. OR use both methods

Thats probably enough to go on with. Look at the web site www.axminster.co.uk and search for dust extraction. Read the specs, look at the types of machine. Failing that then call Camvac or REcord makers of these machines and telephone and talk it through with an expert.

Finally if you are in Coventry then you can visit a local Machine Mart shop
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/pages/stores/location/coventry

and look at the Clarke machine yourself and ask the shop assistants about it.

I have no special knowledge of DC so don't use my words in your report. Go find out.

regards
Alan

Alan, you are very courteous in doing someone else's research for them . When I was at uni a few years back, some of the younger students couldn't be ar*ed doing the work and would try to get the more conscientious to do it for them.

 

[lurker]

James,

See? being upfront helps, we had all sussed there was "something" about your posts. Don't misjudge your audience, we are not a bunch of thickies here- more "real" degrees and hard won experience of the real world here than in your university.

Tell us what course you are studying, why you are looking at chip extractors etc etc and we will provide more help & information than you thought possible.

As you are at Coventry you could do worse than go to the Stoneleigh show this weekend. Chances are you will see most that are available under one roof. Plus 100s of users

Phil , don't be mean [-( the lad is doing "market research".

 

[beech1948]

Filsgreen,

I understand what you have said. Its easy to see this guy as a typical lazy student BUT....he did take the time to come to us....SO there some thought there.............he obviously did'nt understand that some of us can be a bit cranky about odd approaches such as he/she made.

My guess is he is doing something about marketing. I think what I provided would give him the basics but not enough to put in a final paper. There is still much to do. And lets be a bit generous here.

Afterall I did'nt tell him about Bill Pentz site...oooops.

regards
Alan

 

[jk]

I am a mechanical engineering student and this was my first project, its a very short project as the presentation is tomorrow, project started last monday.

 

[maltrout512]

You will have been burning the midnight oil by the looks of it. All the best JK for tommorow.

 

[TheTiddles]

I fear for the future of my profession...

Aidan

 

[filsgreen]

This was JK's first ever post on the 6/10/2008

I want to purchase a Clarke Woodworker, which is a chip/large dust collector. Could I please get some peoples reviews on this and could you advise me if it is a good decision or if they're cheaper better quality products with a longer life span. I have also seen Sealey extrators and also Axminster, so could you advise me on which is best.

His second post

Can people give me some brand names of companies that make wood chip collectors, which are powered by motor and are portable small machines for light work.

Beech 1948, It only takes a few minutes to approach the forum and takes very little thought. If getting other people to do your market research by this method is acceptable at University standard, then I stand corrected. However, after reading his latest post, his approach does show initiative

Phil

 

[jk]

Thanks a lot to the ppl who helped me, I was amazed by the amount of help ppl gave. And to those who think I am lazy, I only posted for general ideas from people who have experience. I only had to come up with a marketing strategy so i didnt need to know all the details just asked them to try and guide me in a more realistic way. thanks, james