Question: How would you create a suction filter for air? what matierials would you use?

Jarrod Hart answered on 16 Jun 2016:

We have lots of air filters where I work – usually you need first a fan, and some sort of filter cloth – this is basically how hoovers were for ages – but in factories working powders, (fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, cements) they use a thing called a ‘cyclone’ rather than a filter cloth – it takes the air and spins it around in a tight vortex which causes the small particles to get ‘flung out’ of the air – and this is what the Dyson Hoover does, and why it is called a ‘bag-less’ vacuum cleaner – James Dyson did not invent the idea, he simply miniaturized a technology that was in use in cement factories for over a 100 years!

As for materials, it really depends – if it needs to be portable, then plastics, but they are weak, so maybe carbon-fibre, but that’s expensive…. If it does not need to be portable then steel, but it might rust, so maybe stainless steel – but that’s expensive so maybe just painted steel, or galvanised steel – but the dust might wear off the coating over time so maybe a ceramic coating… so many choices!