Fan filtration Hobart Handler 210

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I do quite a bit of grinding and plasma cutting in my small shop.  Needless to say, there's A LOT of dust created from all this, I do clean up all the time though.  The HH210 fan runs whenever the machine is turned on, which makes me wonder how much of that crap is getting inside my machine.  Anyone ever rigged a filter on their machine (plasma cutter too I guess) to keep the dust out? Or even think its necessary?Thanks in advanceHH 210 MVPHypertherm Powermax 45300 sqft shop but it works.
Reply:Filters will get clogged......which can restrict airflow and can cause the unit to overheat. In some machines this will reduce your duty cycle, in others it could cause damage to components. Best bet , and this is what I did in my shop, is to move the welder out of the direct stream of grinding dust. It is also a good idea to occasionally disconnect your welder or plasma cutter from power, remove the cover and blow the shop dust out with an air hose. In some shops this should be done monthly, in others annually depending on the level of use.Keep in mind that this same dust is getting in your lungs. Respirators are a good idea......a fume control system is also a good idea.Jim Colt  Hypertherm
Reply:Thanks JimI'll start blowing out my machines every now and then.  I did think about doing that but was concerned about forcing the dust into places it shouldn't be though..I do have an exhaust fan and wear a particulate respirator whenever grinding or cutting.  I thought about this issue when my original exhaust fan's motor burned up prematurely.  It was a cheapo duct fan with an unsealed motor though which I replaced with a heavier duty one with sealed motor.This is a 300sqft one car garage so the dust stream is pretty much everywhere almost instantly haha.HH 210 MVPHypertherm Powermax 45300 sqft shop but it works.
Reply:Is your welder fixed or on a cart?old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Its on a cart but I never move it.  I haven't decided where I want to put the Hypertherm yet, its been on the bench pretty much the whole time I've had it.HH 210 MVPHypertherm Powermax 45300 sqft shop but it works.
Reply:Also keep in mind that a lot of new welders use "tunnel technology".  The fan blows air through a ducted area with heat sinks and the electronics are separated from the airflow.  At least that's what Miller says.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Hypertherm uses a clean side / dirty side design (for over 15 years) as well as vertically mounted boards (keeps majority of dust off) and a fan on demand (only operates when needed). In the dirty side is just airfow from the fan and heat sinks as well as components that are unaffected by shop dust. On the clean side....even though there will be minimal dust the circuit boards are conformally coated with a 10,000 volt insulating layer.  Still, it is a good plan to occasionally blow the dust out of the unit.Jim Colt
Reply:Originally Posted by jimcoltFilters will get clogged......which can restrict airflow and can cause the unit to overheat. In some machines this will reduce your duty cycle, in others it could cause damage to components. Best bet , and this is what I did in my shop, is to move the welder out of the direct stream of grinding dust. It is also a good idea to occasionally disconnect your welder or plasma cutter from power, remove the cover and blow the shop dust out with an air hose. In some shops this should be done monthly, in others annually depending on the level of use.Keep in mind that this same dust is getting in your lungs. Respirators are a good idea......a fume control system is also a good idea.Jim Colt  Hypertherm
Reply:I did something like this to my Squarewave 175.  Initially I used an automotive air filter...It seemed to work well, with only a very minor reduction in air flow.  (measured by placing my hand over the outlet...)  There is no real duct or shroud inside the machine, just basically a fan blowing directly on the diode heatsinks and transformer, then circulating through the rest f the machine before exiting the side.  I eventually felt maybe something with a little more free flow would be better and revised the filtration media:This is just a very light woven cloth type of material hardware stores sell for placing behind furnace registers and returns in your house.  I can say there is no noticable loss of airflow with this stuff, and it obviously works judging by the current colour of it!
Reply:Thanks for the help guys.  Maybe I'm being paranoid, it took a lot of saving for $2,700 in those two machines.  I'll just leave them alone.HH 210 MVPHypertherm Powermax 45300 sqft shop but it works.
Reply:If you don't move them around very much you could give them fresh out side air piped in through clothes dryer vent or if you cant draw out side air put the air intake up higher where less metal grinding dust will be hanging out, or you could tap into your homes central air but with that idea I could see piping the hot furnace air into a machine being a problem.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:These units are built to operate in an environment with metalic, magnetic, conductive dust. Putting filtration on may help keep out the dust, but will alter the factory design for air flow. Running ducts to these units from outside could help.......but why go to the pain? I know the Hypertherm is designed for industrial high duty cycle shops as well as for field use under poor conditions, I suspect the Hobart as well. In a home hobby shop or a light commercial weldng shop these units will simply not have any issues.I have had many Hypertherm plasma's in my shop......never had a failure of any type that I would blame on shop dust. In fact the only failure was from moisture in the air filter bowl on my Powermax1000, which then froze and cracked the bowl. I also have owned a Hobart Handler 210 for 5 years......have never blown it out yet......works every time I turn it on. I also have a Millermatic 250 mig, 22 years old. This unit had a main board failure two years ago, not sure why but I suspect a power surge during a thunder storm.Use them as designed.....they are well built products!Jim Colt
Reply:Originally Posted by jimcoltFilters will get clogged......which can restrict airflow ...and this is what I did in my shop, is to move the welder out of the direct stream of grinding dust. ...Keep in mind that this same dust is getting in your lungs.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcThe tables are on casters and simply rolled out to the driveway by the curb.