We have an Econopak wave soldering machine and it has 3 venting holes, one 
on top 6"dia. and two on the back 4"dia each. So a single 4" hole seems 
really small.
Our machine already came with an external exhaust fan, so I don't know the 
specs, but it is pretty strong, as when it is working you can feel air being 
drawn in all around the machine, and it is quite noisy if I may add.

Gabriel
TGO Electronica

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Forrest W Christian" <forrestc@imach.com>
To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <piclist@mit.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:22 AM
Subject: Re: [EE] Machine Venting


> Apptech wrote:
>> 400 CFM into about 0.1 0.1 foot^2 = 4000 fpm at no
>> compression or about 65 fps or 45 mph. Even with some
>> compression that's "quite a gale".
>> That seems to be an immense amount of air for ventilation
>> alone. Is there perhaps a factor of 10 or even 60 (cfh)
>> involved?
>
> The specs for the current version of this machine spec 300CFM or
> 500m3/h.    The Manual says "Use a 400CFM (150m3/h) exhaust fan to
> remove fumes beyond the working area" - which is obviously in error
> (either the m3/h or the cfm number is off).
>
> Knowing what I know about the amount of fumes produced by the wave
> solder process (dipping a board coated with flux into hot solder wave),
> 3-400CFM does not seem excessive as far as the volume of air needed to
> move the fumes outside.
>
> However, the 4" hole provided seems rather small for this application.
>
> -forrest
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