Thread: Laguna SUV14" - printing an improved dust collection insert - interested?

Originally Posted by Evanism

Hi all,

I've been using the SUV 14" quite a bit over the last few weeks. I really like it, but it has quite a few irritations I'd like to overcome.

Since I'm not a bodger, but a serious over-thinker and spender of money/time on trivia, I was sitting on a log and having a beer to wash down the days dust (sorry BobL!) and was studying the dust collection mechanism on the Laguna.

It's terrible. Terrible in that it doesn't work.

My DC is as it is. It's a crappy 1hp 600cfm which would be argued as useless, but that's the limit I have. I suspect many are in this inadequate boat.

So, I took a few high resolution photos, pulled out 3D Studio and made up a dust sleeve that can be inserted into the side of the bandsaw...below the table and above the existing dust port.

It won't work if you tilt the table. It slides and clips in, with walls on the sides and underneath with a small notch for the blade. It effectively creates a chanelled cavity so the DC sucks air directly from the under left-side of the table, over the bearings and blade and to the right, just above the existing dust port. What I'm hoping will happen is the dust is collected within millimetres of where it generated. It is removed to change blades, adjust bearings or open the lower door. (I made one using PVC for my old 12" and it was magnificent)

It will be printed on a 3D printer in ABS plastic (won't damage anything, but very strong) and will cost only a few dollars.

I'm hoping to get enthusiastic volunteers to take one and provide good high quality feedback. Based on that, there may be a few versions/iterations to get it right.

Anyone interested?

There are a few more ideas too...a table tilt fine adjuster (the six cent bolt doesn't do it for me) and an ABS printed insert for the throat. I also hate the yellow blade guard, what a disaster of bad design, such a sloppy add-on.

I'm interested. Even with three 4" lines and a 4 HP cyclone dust collection is not as good as I had hoped. In particular, dust extraction from the lower cabinet is not great ... but if it can be caught before it gets there, all the better.

Right now I have a piece of 4" flexy jammed under the table. That works OK, better than the factory duct at the top of the cabinet, but any potential improvement is worth considering. My Laguna may never have the tilt mechanism used as it was bought for re-sawing and cutting veneers, so not being able to tilt the table with this fitting in place is not an issue for me.

Can you post your drawings?

Cheerio!

John

John, have you cut an opening yet in the bottom door to let the suction work? I plan to take the bottom door off my Carbatec 19" machine and have a 6 inch port laser cut into it to improve the airflow.

Jeff/John, I have already cut a 4" hole in the bottom door of the Hammer and will add another one, when someone remembers to purchase another guard from Bunnies.

There is not enough air flow thru these cabinets.

John, I saw your horror. Looks like it was infected by The Borg or some exotic technology virus.

The device is, so far, designed to slip in like this:

- in between the bottom cabinet and the table support is an area where two prongs slide into.
- the right side where the dust extractor hose goes is the "back". From this projects the left (BS front side) and right (BS rear) forks. These slide exactly in to match the gap between the base support and table underside.
- these extend to about 3" past the blade (I.e. towards the support pillar (term?)). This was arbitrary. I figured any dust that escapes the flow generated is not dust, but a Chunk.
- it has a flip clip that clicks into the ribbing of the table underside.

It's pretty damned ugly, but it should slide in like a hand in a glove. The presentation (public!) side is smooth and looks like its factory.

What is very cool and what I didn't consider before, is because it's 3D printed I can design in something like a vortex or venturi to accelerate a focused shot/column of air right at the blade.... All the way from the top to the bottom....or even get the air to come in on an angle, like 45 degrees.

I don't have any real experience with this part, so it's going to be a guess. This is what the iterations are for.

Once it's working I'll probably release it as open source and print them for a small cost for anyone without facilities....that's if there is any interest of course. (heck, how many Lagunas are sold in Oz? 150?)

Originally Posted by jefferson

John, have you cut an opening yet in the bottom door to let the suction work? I plan to take the bottom door off my Carbatec 19" machine and have a 6 inch port laser cut into it to improve the airflow.

So far all I have done is cracked the door so it is open about a inch. Worked for the old machine, so did it again.

Originally Posted by Evanism

John, I saw your horror. Looks like it was infected by The Borg or some exotic technology virus.

The device is, so far, designed to slip in like this:

- in between the bottom cabinet and the table support is an area where two prongs slide into.
- the right side where the dust extractor hose goes is the "back". From this projects the left (BS front side) and right (BS rear) forks. These slide exactly in to match the gap between the base support and table underside.
- these extend to about 3" past the blade (I.e. towards the support pillar (term?)). This was arbitrary. I figured any dust that escapes the flow generated is not dust, but a Chunk.
- it has a flip clip that clicks into the ribbing of the table underside.

It's pretty damned ugly, but it should slide in like a hand in a glove. The presentation (public!) side is smooth and looks like its factory.

What is very cool and what I didn't consider before, is because it's 3D printed I can design in something like a vortex or venturi to accelerate a focused shot/column of air right at the blade.... All the way from the top to the bottom....or even get the air to come in on an angle, like 45 degrees.

I don't have any real experience with this part, so it's going to be a guess. This is what the iterations are for.

Once it's working I'll probably release it as open source and print them for a small cost for anyone without facilities....that's if there is any interest of course. (heck, how many Lagunas are sold in Oz? 150?)

Horror ... what horror? I love the idea. Catching the dust as close to source as possible IS the way to go.

My guess is that keeping the velocity (and volume) of the air passing over the blade as high as possible is the way to go. But as you said, lets get going and get some trials under way. I can promise you that a very common hallmark of great project teams is that they have the first prototype going whilst others are still trying to perfect the design. Often, these great teams have several prototypes on the scrapheap before the other teams make their first. Test early ... test often ... prototype early and prototype often ... build, design and learn as you go along.

There were about 30 Laguna machines on backorder when I ordered mine at Chrissy time, which is why it took forever to get mine delivered. So, my guess is that Oz wide there have been a bunch sold. If you make a part that actually works and keeps dust from getting into the lower cabinet, the best part of the battle is won. Some of us will want to buy one. Remember, I'm first in line. Not many people have a 3D printer, so my guess is that most people will want to buy one from you.

Cheerio!

John

EDIT: Suppose you design a build a really good part ... why not market it worldwide on e-bay and the like? It won't make you rich, but a good design deserves a profit and a lot of woodies with Laguna SUV machines might be very thankful. Don't price it too cheaply. So long as it is seen as value for money, I don't think a few extra dollars will make a bit of difference to people that have just spent $1850 on a machine that performs very well ... except for dust collection.

Garden variety ABS components like big gulps and Rockler three way connectors cost more than $20.00 at Carba Tec. A purpose designed dust collection chute, providing it works well, must be worth more than that. For me, if you were offering a part that worked there is no practical difference between $10 and $30 for such a part. I would buy it at either price.

Can we see the design before you print it?

G'day Evanism,

Pencil me in for one at this point.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Evanism

that's if there is any interest of course. (heck, how many Lagunas are sold in Oz? 150?)

Gregorys told me when I bought mine a few weeks back that they sold about 300 SUV's in 2013....you sell to 1/3 these owners for 20 bucks and you've paid for yours I might be one of them...

I agree with your other comments too about the blade guard, the throat insert etc and for me the 2c wing nut for the lower blade guard, the lock knob for the upper wheel tilt, the lock knob for raise/lower, the useless tension gauge etc. But I love the machine and am just finding things to whinge about...it seems like they built a Sherman tank saw then added bits from ToysRUs to "finish" it off.

Redgy....very happy SUV owner....really

We are on to something here.

I've found an industrial 3D printer. Does all the plastics, colours and some rediculous level of accuracy. It's not fast, but it's free.

First model should be ready soon. There are a few testing bits to make first. Slides, catches, getting the blade vortex right.

It's quite an art. There will be HUGE money in custom 3D design and printing. It's the Internet of things.

Regarding the other failings Redgy, I've noticed that on a few shots of the latest model on lagunas site, and others, that a few of the guards and knobs have changed. Shame they don't sell an upgrade kit so we can go from model 1.1 to 1.4 as it were.....

Originally Posted by Redgy

Gregorys told me when I bought mine a few weeks back that they sold about 300 SUV's in 2013....you sell to 1/3 these owners for 20 bucks and you've paid for yours I might be one of them...

I agree with your other comments too about the blade guard, the throat insert etc and for me the 2c wing nut for the lower blade guard, the lock knob for the upper wheel tilt, the lock knob for raise/lower, the useless tension gauge etc. But I love the machine and am just finding things to whinge about...it seems like they built a Sherman tank saw then added bits from ToysRUs to "finish" it off.

Redgy....very happy SUV owner....really

Agree completely.

Just cut a 220 mm wide board into nine veneers. They sailed through the saw. When I measured all around the veneers they varied from 2.7 to 2.9 mm, which is pretty darned good.

Also did some re-sawing of 100 X100 mm members. Again, it was a piece of cake and the cuts are smooth and accurate.

Also cut some Dillenia into veneers. Despite the wood being quite wet, the blade did a lovely job despite its thin kerf.

There is a lot to like about the saw, despite the minor annoyances.

Cheerio!

John

How'd you go with the new dust thingo?

Sorry, I've been distracted. I'll put something up soon.