Air pollution is a serious issue in the present world, many people die or suffer of health problems linked to air pollution every day.

My goal is to make a filter system that could be easily build in a fab lab around the world. I thought that my knowledge on industrial filters can be of help along this journey.

I have always dreamed to do something for a better world: this is my chance!

Essence of the prject

My final project will be a device that is able to filter the fumes coming from the soldering of small electronic components.

The device will be suitable for the use in a Fab Lab or at home.

The device could be seen also as a small prototype to test new features I could eventually develop on the filtering machines that I project in my current job. Similarly the device can be seen also as a platform wher I can learn new skills related to machines that filters polluted air or more in general related to machines that do something.

The main parts and systems that I am developing are:

• A small DC motor that turns a radial impeller, so the fumes are suctioned and filtered by a carbon filter
• Three buttons and an electronic board that turns the impeller at three different speeds

Unfortunately not everything I would have like to experiment will be present in this device, but it could eventually be developed after the 6 months of the Fab Academy:

• Pressure sensors to know if the carbon filter is obstructed
• A screen to display the value of the pressure sensor
• Comunication between the filtering device and a computer or server to show the data
• An application that interfaces with the input and output devices.

Sketches

Here below there is my first sketch of the final project made during the first week of the Fab Academy.

And this is the sketch of the same final project but it have been drawed during the week n.17 almost at the end of the course.

Examples done beforehand

At the beginning of the Fab Academy I take ispiration from some big examples of filtering devices.
In particular the blog Woodgears looked really interesting. There are many tips on wood working. A lot of good information also about filters, wood fans and motors. First air cleaner; Second air cleaner with home made pleated filter; First mini dust collector; Second mini dust collector and more.

During the Fab Academy my idea for the final project was to make an air filter that could be useful in a Fab Lab. This way the device would have been more interesting from my point of view: the device would be part of the machines that makes in a Fab Lab.
So I did a research and I found that the filters normally needed in a Fab Lab are for:

• soldering area
• laser cutting machine
• CNC milling machine of wood material

Regarding the soldering area I found some examples done beforehand, in particular I found interesting this one (click on the picture):

Examples of filters for laser cutting machines (click on the picture):

Filters for milling machine CNC (click on the picture):

I decided to start working on the simplest one -the filter for soldering fumes- for several reasons:

• lack of time working part-time
• little knowledge in electronics
• no knowledge of function of the machines

Read more about my final project

Final Project - Mechanics
Final Project - Electronics
Final Project - Final Result