Soundproof box for vacuum pump?

General Composites Discussions Equipment Talk
#1

Hi there guys, just got myself an older style edwards vacuum pump and I plan to use it for some RTM work.

Anyways after picking it up I went home and plugged it in and it was loud as hell! This got me thinking, has anyone used or made a soundproof box to put the vacuum pump inside?

Was thinking just your basic mdf box with maybe foam and dynamat lining on the inside? Surely that would quiet down the monster a bit?

Heat would be an issue but if you think about it, once you have a vacuum switch wired up the pump wont be running all the time and therefore wont produce as much heat.

I’ve been considering a fridge pump to but its hard to find one from a large shop freezer up for sale :frowning: Sadly, the one I got from a normal sized fridge could only hold 13-15 Hg!

Anyone have any input on the box?

#2

1: if possible, put the pump in another room, and just run longer lines.
2: does it quite down after a full vacuum is pulled, or did you turn it on open? Many pumps quite down after the vacuum is pulled.
3: if a box is made, you might be able to add sound baffle vents, and a fan to keep air flow moving. Route the fan and vents in a way that most of the air crosses the pump.

#3

To be honest with you I dont really know much about vacuum pumps but from the looks of things (and search of google) the particular one I have is a rather old model.

I did block up the port and let it run to full vacuum but you still could hear the motor driving the pump running pretty loud.

I guess Im just use to the quietness I got when I turned on my fridge compressor? :stuck_out_tongue:

Anyways my pump is a edwards eb3a.

#4

I’d advise you to get a newer quieter pump instead of going through all the trouble of making a sound proof box.
But if you insist, a double wall box with foam insulation and offset vents should be very quiet.

#5

Just out of curiousity, how loud is everyone’s pump anyways? Seems like the Robinair 6cfm? model is popular with the composite crowd, how is the noise on this pump?

#6

I’m not thrilled with my robinair 6cfm in the noise department OR the smoke machine dept. I hate that it burns oil and I was gonna ask if anyone else has this problem with their Robinair? i can see the smoke coming out the exhaust port on mine and it smells like burning oil.

I filled it to the line in the site glass window… is that too high of an oil level? I know if i fill it above that line it REALLY smokes bad.

#7

Let’s say that modern vacuum pumps in use above 400mbar produce in average not more than 82 dB.

#8

You can find some oilfree vacuum pumps (oilfree rotary vanes, claw pumps, screw pumps, scroll pumps…), they are a little bit more expensive

#9

Normally if you can see (and smell) the smoke it means that you have a leak in the oil separator of the pump.

#10

oh fantastic a broken pump :o I would say my Robinair 6cfm pump puts out around 80 to 85 db’s of sound. A normal car running/ideling puts out around 85 to 90 db i think.

#11

well my pump makes the same amount of noise as a car idling (normal car that is, not modified exhaust or anything :P), if thats what everyones pump is doing then I guess mine is normal! :smiley:

#12

Does it have a muffler on it? If not PIAB makes a good one.

#13

JoeK, so you are saying i can buy a muffler for my Robinair pump?

#14

http://www.piab.com/Templates/WebBase/Datasheet.aspx?id=7005 http://www.piab.com/upload/6397/9dad67c1-0d74-448a-b10a-1f69e7e50d68/9678.pdf

#15

Seems like Im going to be sticking with my fridge pump now!

Turns out that the previous gauge I had was faulty therefore would only read up to 15 in Hg. Bought a new one now and it reads 30 perfectly! Another +1 for the fridge pump :smiley:

Was out looking for fittings and what not for my pump today so will be doing some infusion real soon :smiley:

Also a tip for anyone looking for check valves, I went to the local gardening store and picked one up for just $1.50! They might not have any at the hardware store but try the local gardening store and you can get one for cheap!

#16

JoeK, What is that grey contraption screwed onto the oil fill port?

#17

my pump isnt that loud (refrigeration pump) but i run my pump in the garage and have vacuum line (10meters) outside to my pot and the part. I cant hear the pump at all, 10meters of line is cheaper than a sound proof box isnt it?

#18

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned it, but a lot of the noise generated by my pump is vibrational…put it on very soft rubber feet, or a gel pad under it…anything to isolate it from solid surfaces, and that ought to take the edge off the problem.

#19

We always equated “Smoke” from our vacuum pump with a bag leak on the part.