Thread: Any experience with Multicam dust extractors?

Interesting design.

Looking at their claims

• Designed for all types of dry wood dust from all popular woodworking machines

​Doesn't mean much.

• New design has pleated filter and plastic dust bag contained in sealed canisters. This reduces toxic, hazardous dust in the air.

​This is an interesting approach and could reduce leaks but would have to look a bit closer at the design and construction of the seal.
I have seen a few so called industrial grade sealed systems and they don't seem to be that much better.
There is no need to worry about using a sealed system (and the added expense of a seal and housing) if the DC is located outside your shed.
If the Multicam seal works and your DC cannot be located outside but you still wanted to vent it outside, it would be interesting to see if the Multicam air exit is ready for venting to the outside which would save building a box/cupboard to house the DC - a definite plus there.

• Pleated filter with large filter area increases filter density to 0.03microns. A standard bag system has a filter density of approximately 30microns.

​This means nothing without a % filter efficiency rating. ie what % of 0.03 micron particles are captured.
The filter efficiency of all pleated filters,needle felt, and cloth bags etc is surprisingly high - the main problem is not filter efficient rarely filter efficiency but leaks - hence see previous point.

• Cleaning the filter is made easy simply by turning the handle on top of the canister. This rotates a set of cleaning brushes inside the filter.

OK so they are using a high efficiency pleated filter - nothing special here

• New design incorporates the suction fan after the filter. No damage can be caused to the fan from particles passing through it.

This is largely a non-issue as particles don't damage the fan, its big stuff that can damage some fans but if the fan is well design big stuff doesn't worry it either.

• Vacuum gauge shows air flow status

Definitely handy - but also not hard to add yourself

• Transparent glass window for checking the dust level in the bag.

Definitely needed given the collection bag is in an enclosed in a sealed chamber

• New design incorporates an easily removable, disposable dust collection bag.

It would be worth seeing what this involves.

• Choice of powerful 3Hp (MC103) or 5Hp (MC105) models

​That's a positive.

In terms of the specs these DCs are one of the few that seem to post realistic air volume flows.
- For the 3HP model the 1136 cfm suggests the unit is slightly throttled probably by the fine filter being used and teh design geometry (ie fan after the filter)
- using a 6" main a 3HP should be able to pull more than 1250 cfm.
- The use of a 6" main inlet for the 3HP unit is a positive but the 5HP could really use an 8" main.
- noise level for the 3HP is OK but the 5HP is still a bit on the high side.

The weights are very heavy for these units probably from the steel surrounds/casements used around the bag and filter.

Overall - definitely worth a closer look, final conclusions will also need a price comparison point.


​

Hi Chocwheaton,

I have no personal experience with these machines but I am interested in finding out more about whats inside.

The photos seem to show the intake going into the collector centrally, not on a tangent as you see with the ring on a conventional dusty so I am wondering what mechanism is inside to do the separation. It does not seem to be a cyclone-based system if that is the case.

While I see having the impeller located after the collector as a positive, I dont like the use of a pleated cartridge before the impeller. It means that the pleated cartridge must be enclosed in an airtight container which the impeller sucks the air out of. I am not sure how they have engineered the entry of the handle you turn to clear the pleated filter into the airtight container, but it may be a point of weakness. No dust will escape through the entry point anyway as the container will be at negative pressure in use. I just dont like that part of the setup.

Without knowing what initial separation is taking place before the pleated filter, but suspecting that it is not cyclonic, it makes me think that they are relying too much on the pleated filter and not enough on the main collector located below the intake.

Is it 240v or 415v? the 3hp model may come with a 240v option, if not then there is additional expense involved.

Where does the air exhausted by the impeller go?

How easy is it to remove and empty the collector bin? It looks like the pleated filter and its outer covering are connected by clips but is there any provision to lift them off the collector bin and hold them until the bin is returned?

There seems to be a lot of weight and unnecessary "window dressing". It certainly looks impressive but I would be a bit concerned that after I leave the shed for the evening that it would be rolling around the place of its own accord calling out "exterminate exterminate exterminate" in a tinny voice.

Please post the price when you get it. I dont think it will be cheap.

I hope this helps.

Doug

I was hoping to look at one today, but the Brisbane Multicam office phone just rings out.

Have emailed them for more information so will let you know what I hear back.

Originally Posted by doug3030

there seems to be a lot of weight and unnecessary "window dressing". It certainly looks impressive but i would be a bit concerned that after i leave the shed for the evening that it would be rolling around the place of its own accord calling out "exterminate exterminate exterminate" in a tinny voice.

rofl

Originally Posted by chocwheaton

I was hoping to look at one today, but the Brisbane Multicam office phone just rings out.

Have emailed them for more information so will let you know what I hear back.

Its been a while...any updates on this?

Originally Posted by chocwheaton

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with, or care to share an opinion (based on the manufacturer's specs), on these dust extractors?

AUS MULTICAM CNC routing machines, woodworking machinery, flat bed routers, engraving tables

I'm considering upgrading my existing 2hp carbatec dusty to something that does a good job of capturing fine dust particles.

RE noise levels, the mc-103 specs shows 68bD which, if true, is pretty good.

I've emailed them for prices so will let you know what I get back.



Cheers

Greg

Hi Greg,

We have the MC105 model connected to our Multicam for some years now. It is an excellent dust extractor and as there is a three way inlet, I use it as a dust extractor for my edge bander, planer-thicknesser and bandsaw as well as a vacuum cleaner to clean residual dust off the CNC machine. I can't vouch for how it compares to some cyclones but I find it excellent and has provided flawless service for the past 5 years.

Some issues though:

1. I wasn't aware that the dust extractor was sold as a separate unit - ours was supplied with our Multicam CNC and is hard wired to the machine. If it is actually sold separately, go for it - it is a superb machine
2. It uses a proprietry 115mm diameter hose (made by Airtight Australia) so a standard 4in hose will not fit (although I did find Airtight to be a really pleasant company to deal with)
3. The OEM bags are pretty flimsy, smallish and expensive - I use an aftermarket bag which is bigger, stronger and cheaper.\
4. I find the 68db claim a bit hard to believe (even if it is for the smaller model). Unless Multicam have found a way to silence the dust extractor within the last 5 years, ours runs consistently at 85-90db.

In short, in our experience, it is a superb dust extractor. In addition, we've had excellent backup from Multicam so buy with confidence.

Bill.

Originally Posted by bill2016

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It uses a proprietry 115mm diameter hose . . . . . . . )

That's a real pity because a 115 mm hose can only draw about 600 cfm at standard DC working pressures which is about half the specified claim of the 1136 cfm. This means it will pick up visible dust well but the superfine stuff may not all be captured.

Originally Posted by BobL

That's a real pity because a 115 mm hose can only draw about 600 cfm at standard DC working pressures which is about half the specified claim of the 1136 cfm. This means it will pick up visible dust well but the superfine stuff may not all be captured.

HI Bob,

Actually, the 115mm outlet is actually the 3-way attachment that can be disconnected from the main outlet. The main outlet is 150mm (6in) diameter. The reason for us having that three way outlet is to fit the proprietry hose to our CNC machine - and it also enables me to connect other machines to the dust extractor.

Bill.

Originally Posted by bill2016

HI Bob,

Actually, the 115mm outlet is actually the 3-way attachment that can be disconnected from the main outlet. The main outlet is 150mm (6in) diameter. The reason for us having that three way outlet is to fit the proprietry hose to our CNC machine - and it also enables me to connect other machines to the dust extractor.

Bill.

OK that's better.