Thread: CNC Router dust extraction

The closest thing I have made that might give you some ideas are the overhead guards I made for my TS.

There have been multiple versions of these over the years.

This is version 2.0 that shows the inverted BMH machined into a 20 mm thick piece of acrylic.
Ducting update.

This is version 2.1 that shows a shroud with different angles.
Ducting update.

It might give you some ideas.
Most dust shoes I have seen don't seem to allow for enough air to get into the show so it can extract enough fine dust ladened air out.

The bristles on the brushes on the CNC at my old work kept tangling up into a solid mess so I replaced them with flexible rubber flaps instead, the gaps created naturally as the flaps spread out on the surface of the piece will also allow more airflow.

I'm not sure your "small vacuum cleaner" is going to be up to the task though; these machines make a LOT of dust, especially if you're cutting sheet goods. A big vac and 50mm hose might to the trick

If you have a spare $1k lying around, you could try one of these to help get the dust out of the cut (which is arguably both the hardest and most important bit) https://www.amazon.com/Techniks-4532.../dp/B07DTL1394

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

The bristles on the brushes on the CNC at my old work kept tangling up into a solid mess so I replaced them with flexible rubber flaps instead, the gaps created naturally as the flaps spread out on the surface of the piece will also allow more airflow.

I had bristles on one of my previous incantations of my Over Head TS guard. While they reduced chip scatter they didn't help fine dust collection that much. I'm not sure about rubber flaps - if your setup has enough suck you not need either bristles or flaps on an OH TS guard as they just get in the way of airflow. Another problem for larger CNCs is the shoes seem to require a fair bit of flex which is not going to help airflow.

Originally Posted by BobL

I had bristles on one of my previous incantations of my Over Head TS guard. While they reduced chip scatter they didn't help fine dust collection that much. I'm not sure about rubber flaps - if your setup has enough suck you not need either bristles or flaps on an OH TS guard as they just get in the way of airflow. Another problem for larger CNCs is the shoes seem to require a fair bit of flex which is not going to help airflow.

Hey Bob,
What do you think of this design ?
Would this allow greater airflow ?

https://www.reality3dp.com/vacuum-du...st-boot-dewalt

Rick

Originally Posted by BobL

The closest thing I have made that might give you some ideas are the overhead guards I made for my TS.

There have been multiple versions of these over the years.

This is version 2.0 that shows the inverted BMH machined into a 20 mm thick piece of acrylic.
Ducting update.

This is version 2.1 that shows a shroud with different angles.
Ducting update.

It might give you some ideas.
Most dust shoes I have seen don't seem to allow for enough air to get into the show so it can extract enough fine dust ladened air out.

Thanks Bob.....i will go through your thread

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

The bristles on the brushes on the CNC at my old work kept tangling up into a solid mess so I replaced them with flexible rubber flaps instead, the gaps created naturally as the flaps spread out on the surface of the piece will also allow more airflow.

I'm not sure your "small vacuum cleaner" is going to be up to the task though; these machines make a LOT of dust, especially if you're cutting sheet goods. A big vac and 50mm hose might to the trick

If you have a spare $1k lying around, you could try one of these to help get the dust out of the cut (which is arguably both the hardest and most important bit) https://www.amazon.com/Techniks-4532.../dp/B07DTL1394

Thanks.....nope i don't have that kind of cash lying around

Does this design look like it might work??

dust shoe.jpg

I would take a 3 pronged approach because I like to spend other peoples money.

*Make something a little more along the lines of Bob's men's shed floor vacuum. The bell mouth opening and enough suction from a big DC will capture most of the dust.

*A heavy curtain you can open or close around the machine with a large exhaust fan venting through the roof right above the machine. If you can, get it as close to the ceiling as practicable and leave the bottom off the floor to allow for make up air. This kind of thing. https://www.canvasmartcurtains.com/R...and-Walls.html

*The biggest built in vacuum you can find, venting outside for clean up of the stuff not grabbed by the DC and ceiling vent.

Pete

Originally Posted by ericks2

Does this design look like it might work??

dust shoe.jpg

Provided it's sucked on by a 3+HP DC it should adequately swap chips away but fine dust is another matter.

It would be really useful to be able to raise and lower sections of the the bristles for a number of reasons.
I envisage something like flip panels of bristles that can be raise and lowered as needed.
None of this needs to be "air tight" - if anything it can be "air loose".

The prime reason for flip panels would be to be able to see what is going on even just to change bits etc

The second reason is to be able to allow air to more easily enter the shoe. It may be that under some conditions enough air could be sucked in with the short panel of bristles next to the motor in the UP position. This would create a flow across the bit and help sweep fine dust away.

Then when all finished, flip all panels up so that more rapid venting of escaped fine dust can occur.

Whatever you use you will need additional ventilation. I like ACI's Idea of a curtain around the CNC with teh enclosed are being vented

Good to see you are thinking wisely of dust extraction for your machine.

What ever you do, think of the impact on your machine operation. How big will a dust boot be (X Y Z). Will it clash with clamps holding down the material as it cuts noting both longitudinal and across movements. How much material you will not be able to access because of this interference. Will you need a vacuum system to hold the material because of this interference, or do you change your clamping system (more expense). Will there be interference when doing 3D engraving noting the Z movement of the cutting bit. Will it give easy access to you to change bits, including the zeroing of the bits after changing.

Happy CNC.

Originally Posted by ericks2

Does this design look like it might work??

dust shoe.jpg

I made a similar dust shoe for my CNC with the bottom section attached with 6 neodymium magnets.
Then I made a couple of bottom sections with different length bristles to suit whatever end mill I was using at the time. Having the base on magnets makes tool changes quick and easy as the magnets align the plates together. Never had any issues with it coming off.

Only used to get fine dust when I was cutting MDF and the shoe would pass the end of the sheet, leaving a gap for the dust to fly out.

Thanks everyone....i will take time and look at all the suggestions

I made an acrylic shoe to test. Looks like the vacuum might handle the dust. But the bristles i used are too stiff so i am thinking of ordering a proper shoe. If the vacuum is too little then i will upgrade to a proper dust extraction system.

Well i ordered one of these....a little expensive with the shipping
Problem is that it requires a 100 mm vacuum hose, they use it with a dc. I might have to install a proper dc due to the long periods that the machine will be running

shoe2.jpeg