Vacuum pump ?

[hanau]

I have a medical vacuum pump that was given to me, would it work as a vacuum for a vacuum pot?

Invacare IRC1135 Suction Specifications

Dimensions:


14.8"L x 6.8"W x 9.8"H

Weight:


12.1 lbs.

Sound Level:


58-60 dbA

Vacuum Range:


0-520 mmHg, 0-23" Hg

Operating Flow Rate:


0-40 lpm

Electrical Requirements:


115 VAC, 60 Hz, 1/10 hp shaded pole motor

 

[lorbay]

Yes it sure will.

Lin.

 

[arw01]

+1, nice stealth gloat there!

 

[MesquiteMan]

23" is only approximately a 75% vacuum. It may do fair for casting (though I don't see any benefit in casting with vacuum) but it will not be enough for good stabilizing if you should decided to get into that. Stabilizing required a higher vacuum for best results. It would be best to keep it for a dedicated vacuum chuck vacuum pump if you should decide to get into that and then look for a higher vac vacuum pump for stabilizing. Of course the price is right so no need to toss it!

 

[Bobalu]

23" is only approximately a 75% vacuum. It may do fair for casting (though I don't see any benefit in casting with vacuum) but it will not be enough for good stabilizing if you should decided to get into that. Stabilizing required a higher vacuum for best results.

How many inches of vacuum do you need for stabilization?

 

[MesquiteMan]

Ideally, you want a vacuum pump capable of pulling 29+" or better. Most HVAC type pumps are rated in microns rather than inHg so in that case, you would want something that will pull 100 microns or less. 100 microns equals 29.916" Hg or 99.99% vacuum. Of course you may not be able to get 29.916" Hg at your location since it depends on elevation. The absolute perfect vacuum, which is unobtainable, btw, even in labratory settings, is 29.92" Hg at sea level. For every 1,000' in elevation above sea level, you loose 1" Hg of mercury. In other words, if you are in Denver at 5,000' above sea level, for example, the highest theoretical vacuum is 24.92" Hg.

Most rotary vane HVAC type vacuum pumps are rated at 75 microns or less. The one I use is rated at 25 microns. Some are even lower. A 10 micron pump, for example, is equivalent to 29.916" Hg or 99.999% vacuum!

I would not go with a pump capable of less than 27" Hg for stabilzing.