Responses to Vacuum Pumps

Responses to Vacuum Pumps

List members,

Below is a question I posted on 12/30/99 followed by the responses I
received. Thanks to all for your responses, they will be most beneficial to
me as I plan to upgrade our system.

I am working on the central vacuum system for our labs' thermoplastic and
laminating procedures. As I prepare to upgrade the system I would like to be
able to do more tasks simultaneously. My past experience with vacuum pumps is
limited to Gast models with rotary vanes. I have to say they are dependable,
real work horses and are fairly easy to maintain and repair. I presently have
a Gast 1/3 HP 110 volt pump. We have a 30 gallon surge tank and 3 stations
connected by 3/4 pvc and in general have very few problems. I plan to
purchase a primary (or back up) pump and add a couple of stations. If anyone
has experience with a different pump, tips or suggestions on a system that
might be better suited for our purposes, I would appreciate your advise.
Thanks in advance and I will post all responses unless otherwise requested.

Below are the responses I received so far.


There is a very simple, reliable, quiet system that I have designed in my
Lab. It is a venturi system of vacuum using air pressure from my air
compressor. I use compressed air to create a vacuume. It is technology
that has been used in many fields. I have three TABLES that I modified to
incorporate twelve work stations with eighteen individual vacuume lines.
This sounds like it is a huge lab - I have two technicians. You can scale it
to met your needs quite easily and inexpensively. I'd be happy to discuss
on the telephone more details if you are interested. It is worth your
investigation.
**********************
Have you looked at the vaccum station that runs off of a pressure hose rather
than a vacuum
pump? They are much quieter and require less maintenance. I believe they
are available from
Otto Bock.
**********************

Contact Mr. Pedro Llanes, CP, of Miami FL. He manufactures The Table and
also has a superb
vacuum pump.
**********************
when i owned a company in so cal i had two seperate systems. for laminating i
used a vacumn that ran off compressed air, everyone liked it. plus at the end
of the day you could leave a lamination going after you shut off the
compressor & the vacumn would continue as long as there was air in storage.
on my other system i used a timer so we could leave too
**********************
Forget about negative pressure tanks and the like. Get a venturi system that
runs off your air compressor. No motors, no tanks, no noise. We have six
vaccuum stations off a 7.5 horse compressor plus all the compressed air we
need! I have mine made by a fellow at Otto Bock. In fact Otto Bock uses the
same system in their central fab. If you'd like I'll contact him to see if he
still does it. It's very convenient and low maintanence.
***********************
We have found at my shop a cheaper and good vacuum pump alternative is going
through a medical supplier an buying a stomache pump. It puts forth a good
strong vacuum and is reliable, we've been using the same vacuum pump now for
over 11 years with no mecanical problems.
***********************
TEC Central fabrication and mold making facilities use a venturi system.
The system converts a central air pressure system to a vacuum ssytem at the
point of use. This way you can use your existaing air pressure line for
vacuum as well. Tec pulls about 20-30 test sockets a day on top of about
100 molds for custom liners. The system has never failed. We use two
devalbis compressors linked together to supply 100psi. TEC has about 20 air
lines in the facility. This also supplies about 10 vacuum lines with 25
inches of mercury.
**************************

Thank you again for your willingness to share this helpful information with
your colleagues. I will post any additional responses at a later date.

Eddie V. White, CP
Beacon Prosthetics and Orthotics

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