Maintenance and repairs log — Felder RL 125
Repair, maintenance and control-system history for the Felder RL 125. Routine checks, bag fitting, cleaning and current operating instructions are on the machine page.
Dated reports describe what was known at the time. A reported repair does not establish the present condition of every part or resolve a later fault. Outstanding checks are collected in Woodshop open questions. The current room course governs startup/shutdown; dated Slack comments about temporary manual operation or leaving the unit enabled are not current wiring or parking instructions.
14 October 2026 — Current collector and wired gate photographs
The current overview shows the collector, removable bin, side LED fill-level display, digital meter and external fire-system fittings. Three gate photographs show the slide gates and their attached control wiring. Opening any gate activates the collector; closing all gates stops the blower while the control system remains enabled.
The updated machine guide includes all four photographs, the current LED legend, sensor limitations and the sprinkler discharge test. These photographs document the layout; no repair or fire-system acceptance test is recorded by this entry.
4 October 2026 — Bag lifted again; four bin rivets repaired
The bag was again pulled upwards into the collector. The report advises a short normal startup check after a bag change, because collapse makes an abnormal sound. Broken rivets were suspected to compromise the bin's retention suction. A later same-day post records four broken rivets repaired and gaps sealed with sealant, with time needed for curing. More/larger rivets were proposed for a future repair, not reported installed. Status: repair reported with curing still pending; no later sealed-bin suction/retention test in these threads. Failure/full replies, repair/full replies.
Collapsed bag and loose dust photographed with the October 2026 report
Historical fault condition; not an approved operating setup.
29–30 September 2026 — Bin/filter/sprinkler area filled with dust
The bin/filter area and sprinklers were reported covered in chips despite a recent bag change. Repeated cleaning-handle pulls did not adequately clear the filter. Gentle vacuum cleaning of filter gaps was discussed; the final safe choice when dust protection was unavailable was to leave the collector stopped with a note. Leaking bin joints/rivets were proposed as a reason for poor retention suction. Status: substantial cleanup/inspection needed; the thread does not establish filter replacement or complete cleaning. October4 addresses rivets but does not close every filter/brush/sprinkler-area check. Full discussion.
Dust buildup around the Felder filter and internal sprinkler area, September 2026
No operating or fire-system condition can be certified from this photograph.
The suggestion to place wood in the bag as ballast was tentative and is not an approved bag-fitting procedure.
19 September 2026 — Retention hose clear, but weak suction beneath bag
Members reported the bag repeatedly lifting into the filter. The black rear suction hose showed no obvious blockage; suction at the hose/white adapter was strong but beneath the bag weak. A leak was suspected, and a distributed-airflow arrangement proposed. Status: diagnosis/proposal, not a verified new bin design or permission to run with no bag. Full thread. October4 reports the later rivet/seal repair.
15–23 July 2026 — Fill-level light reconnected
The fill-level light strip failed. A broken component/joint was initially considered. The final July23 reply says its connector had become unplugged and that reconnecting restored operation. Status: light operation restored, not confirmation of sensor accuracy or automatic full-bin shutdown. Full light-fault thread, repair report.
Working side level-indicator strip after its connector was reconnected on 23 July 2026
4–5 April 2026 — Controller restored; full-bin stop unreliable; left brush low
The collector was reported back in service after another controller revision. A large level scale/display was added. The announcement explicitly says the ultrasonic sensor is unreliable in the dusty environment and the machine continues running regardless of dust level. It also illustrates pulling the bag into place rather than letting loose plastic be sucked upwards. Status: operation restored then; visually checking actual bag level remains necessary. Full update.
A 5 April reply says the left brush sits low and does not clean properly; a maintenance task was to be recorded. Status: no completed left-brush adjustment in the thread. Observation.
11–15 March 2026 — Cleaning handle/brush travel and visible stops
The filter-cleaning handle felt stuck. Replies warn that forcing it can bend sheet-metal parts; a separate post explains that pushing too far can leave the brushes outside the filter. Travel-stop spacers were suggested. The photo posted on 15 March visibly shows two wooden stop blocks at the handle. Status: stop blocks visible, but no functional brush-travel/cleaning test accompanies the image; April's low-left-brush report remains separate. Stuck-handle thread, brush travel/photo thread.
Wooden travel-stop blocks at the filter-cleaning handle, photographed 15 March 2026
Visible local modification; no dimensions or acceptance test recorded.
11 March 2026 — Automatic-control failure; temporary manual operation restored
Intermittent/no startup was investigated. The indicator was also described as faulty and the controller offline. A temporary wiring change was reported to restore manual operation via the red main switch. Status: temporary operation restored; the later April controller announcement supersedes treating this as the final configuration. Full thread. This log deliberately does not repeat the wiring steps: electrical work and protective-control changes belong to qualified maintainers.
February–March 2026 — Controller replacement sequence
A February19 report describes a failed controller and temporary manual operation, with gates and automatic time limit unavailable then. A new PCB was designed/ordered in late February and received in early March. March11 brought another failure; April4 reports the later protected-controller revision. Status: design/repair sequence, not permission to bypass gates or automatic protection. February19 status, February24 order, March4 arrival.
2–6 February 2026 — Replacement bag location
A member could not find bags at the old Bosch-drill location, then found them. The final reply places bags to the left of the extractor. Status: dated storage location; check today's inventory rather than relying on older “above lathe” or quantity statements. Full thread.
31 December 2025 — Right-side cleaning lever and normal-control parking clarification
A reply resolves conflicting signs by saying the cleaning lever had moved to the right side a few weeks earlier. It also says all gates should be closed on leaving while the unit remains enabled under that normal automatic arrangement. Status: dated clarification; later temporary manual modes mean the current room-course shutdown procedure must be confirmed rather than copied without context. Full clarification.
28 November 2025 — Reopening after fire-protection and control rebuild
The Woodshop reopened after renovation of the collector and safety systems. The new installation combined an ultrasonic bin-level indicator/controller with an automatic water-discharge backup. Fire-system activation dumps about 20 litres of water into the bin, stops the collector and sends a Slack fire alert.
The reopening description included an automatic red/full-bin stop. That level-stop behaviour was superseded by the 4 April 2026 update, which says the collector continues running despite unreliable ultrasonic readings. Current member instructions use the later side-strip legend and visual bag checks.
Reopening announcement and full discussion.
24–25 November 2025 — Sprinkler discharge test and coverage discussion
A seven-second test clip was shared on 24 November. It shows two sidewall spray heads above the bin and water discharge inside the collector. This is a water-discharge test, with no live fire shown.
The 25 November replies confirm a sidewall-type automatic sprinkler with a glass capsule retaining a spring-loaded protective lid, and a separate open manual spray head. After the test, the bin was reported wet around its sides except for a small wall area immediately below the head. Dust buildup could insulate the automatic head and delay its response; keep the sprinkler area clear.
Discussion of test pressure and orifice size is not a verified charging specification. No exact activation temperature, refill procedure or final pressure-interlock setting is established here.
25–26 November 2025 — Controls, digital meter and fire notification
The collector was reported working with its original numeric/bar meter and top-mounted signal lamp. The ultrasonic limits were preliminary; the ESP32 could not yet read the temperature or dust-level data, without preventing the core control function. The later April 2026 side-strip/controller revision replaces those original operator display instructions.
November 2025 commissioning overview with digital meter and top-mounted signal lamp
The planned Slack fire notification described a 20-litre discharge and called for a response, inspection and marking the collector and dependent machines out of use. Current emergency instructions belong on the machine page; the original announcement is not permission to open a burning or smoke-filled collector.
Commissioning and notification discussion.
6–21 November 2025 — Fire-suppression installation
The earlier machine history records 6 November for sprinkler-system installation. A 21 November announcement confirms the system installed after repeated autumn fires and describes the automatic water-discharge backup. The test file's name also contains 6 November, but its posting date is 24 November.
Proposed CO₂ equipment, pressure-trip thresholds, SMS alerts and other early ideas are not recorded as the installed configuration. Exact charge pressure, heat-trigger rating, refill/reset procedure and scheduled test responsibilities remain maintenance checks.
Installation announcement, initial project tasks.
2 November 2025 — Fire damage and room closure
Another table-saw-related fire prompted closure for safety work. Replies report damaged/soaked filters and burned chips beyond the filter; parts needed inspection/replacement and drying. Status: subsequent renovation/reopening is recorded above; no current permission or technical reconstruction instruction is taken from the exploratory discussion. Full fire/response thread.
22–24 October 2025 — Another bin fire and extraction cleanup
A fire in the collector bin was extinguished by members on 22 October. Overheated table-saw chips were suspected. The 23 October inspection found a heavily clogged extraction hose/table-saw cabinet and filter brushes not contacting the filter; cleanup and filter cleaning followed on 24 October. Filter condition and replacement needs remained part of the follow-up.
The discussion does not establish a complete acceptance test for the collector or a single confirmed cause for every ignition.
Incident and follow-up thread, incident report.
30 June–3 July 2025 — Smouldering in bin/cover and reignition
A burning smell led to discovery of a fire situation in the collector bin; smouldering was also reported in the cover. The removed bag later reignited, illustrating why apparent extinguishment is not enough. Burning table-saw chips were suspected, and a stiff/obstructed floor gate was also discussed; the latter was loosened. Status: fire response reported; cause was discussed, not conclusively established for every ignition. Full incident/follow-up thread. This entry records history, not a member firefighting procedure.
May–June 2024 — Room move, new pipes/gates and inlet-deflector work
The May26 room update records cleaning, filter replacement and moving the extractor with the new collection piping. The May28 thread discusses a missing inlet deflector, its rivet holes and a proposed locally fabricated replacement. Gate wiring progressed on May29. Status: installation work recorded; the discussion's image-scaled deflector dimensions are proposals, not approved replacement-part dimensions. May26 work report, May28–29 full thread.
February 2021 — Earlier automation work
The weekly update says work on dust-collection automation was progressing. Later controller changes have separate entries above. Status: historical development, not evidence that automation remains a TODO. 1 February update.
29 September 2020 — Cleaning handle orientation changed
A post records reversing/flipping the handle to make filter cleaning easier, with gentle cycles while stopped and before bag changes. December2025's right-side move and March2026 stops are later modifications. Status: historical handle geometry, not the current location. Post/full discussion.
February 2020 — Sound absorber
The earlier log records a sound absorber added to the top of the machine. Original machine history.
December 2019 — Purchase
Makerspace purchased the RL125; no exact day is recorded. Original machine history.
Earlier collector overview
Earlier Felder RL 125 overview retained from the machine page
Undated historical photographs — Earlier room and bag-retention design
These original attachments preserve old control/duct arrangements. The old bag-retention-hole caption explicitly says it was later replaced by a rear hose. Do not copy the old hole position or left-side control as today's fitting procedure.
Earlier controls/filter handle | Earlier bag-retention hole |
|---|---|
Switch knob and cleaning handle in the old wood room | Earlier bag-retention hole, later superseded by a rear hose |
Earlier bandsaw collection | Earlier floor inlet | Earlier table saw/router connection | Earlier mitre-saw collection |
|---|---|---|---|
Bandsaw collection in the old room | Floor inlet in the old room | Table saw/router connection in the old room | Mitre-saw collection in the old room |
Earlier cleaning-handle illustration retained from the bag-change section
Adding an entry
Record the date, symptom, work performed, parts used, result and remaining checks. Include photographs and a link to the source message or service document. Describe any test and who performed it. Keep unresolved faults visible on the machine and the main guide; do not treat a dated working test as a permanent certification.