Hardwood,
I wondered the same thing about the inlet as there was no apparent convention in the separators I'd seen built. According to Phil's response above, it doesn't matter, I presume the air will circulate whichever way the separator "allows" it to.
Update.
The overall design of the complete unit is coming together (in my head and my computer anyway). I did add a window (to see the magic) and a "vane strut" (to keep the bottom of the separator from flapping about). I've also developed a device to raise/lower the fiber barrel for emptying. This is basically a "ramped turntable" - you turn a handle 120* to raise or lower the barrel 1.25". There will be a foam or rubber seal on the bottom of the separator to seal things up.
I'm getting the separator parts laser cut from 14ga steel (~$60) and I'll CNC the elevation mechanism parts from MDF and maple on the router at work, the rest of it should be pretty straight forward.
I wondered the same thing about the inlet as there was no apparent convention in the separators I'd seen built. According to Phil's response above, it doesn't matter, I presume the air will circulate whichever way the separator "allows" it to.
Update.
The overall design of the complete unit is coming together (in my head and my computer anyway). I did add a window (to see the magic) and a "vane strut" (to keep the bottom of the separator from flapping about). I've also developed a device to raise/lower the fiber barrel for emptying. This is basically a "ramped turntable" - you turn a handle 120* to raise or lower the barrel 1.25". There will be a foam or rubber seal on the bottom of the separator to seal things up.
I'm getting the separator parts laser cut from 14ga steel (~$60) and I'll CNC the elevation mechanism parts from MDF and maple on the router at work, the rest of it should be pretty straight forward.
