Thread: Help with Dust Collection

You will want to get some 1 micron filters and a dust extractor for best results.

It is mostly because when you cut MDF it produces smaller particles than wood, its also pretty nasty stuff and anoying as hell to clean up.

I use one of those dust extractors with my CNC machine, along with my jointer, thicknesser and bandsaw. It works OK with the CNC, but I only lay the 4" hose alongside the work and haven't got any kind of dust shoe to attach it to. I'll get around to making something one day.

Some dust and chips do escape though, so it's not ideal as it is.

Often, if the extractor is not set up, I use an old VAX vacuum cleaner, and it works very well. The trouble is, I have to stand there and direct the nozzle at the cutter. I am of the view, though that if I set up some sort of a dust shoe, the VAX , with some sort of separator should be sufficient for the CNC.

So, if your CNC machine is the only machine for which you need dust extraction, I would recommend some sort of shop vac. If, however, you have other machines, then go for the dust extractor, as the vac won't be sufficient for jointers and thicknessers, etc.

Just my humble opinion.

Cheers

I have been reading on dust extraction and it is recommended to go for a pleated filter cartridge. Even then this will not remove all the nasty sub 1 micron particles. If possible the DC should be outside of the garage / shed (not possible in my case).

So I have this crazy idea. Mount a Dust collection unit in the roof space just above the CNC. Drill a 100mm hole in the plaster and run the pipe down. Would be less then 3m total length. I have checked, in that corner of the garage 3 walls meet and there is a great big void in the rafters. Plenty of room for a big DC. With the money saved from buying a pleated filter could buy a 2 HP unit.
Will be a huge pain to get up there and check / change the bags but ZERO dust in the garage, quiet and it will pull the same volume of air in the garage every minute. If i mount the router in an enclosure then it will replace the air in the enclose twice a second! That should keep dust of all the slides and ball screws, and keep the garage clean

Does that sound crazy?

To pick up the larger particles you need to have the vacuum attached to a shoe around the base of your router/spindle. A shop vac doesn't do it unless you do as Geoff does and move it around by hand.
The enclosure can make it difficult to mount jobs and service your machine so design it so that you can remove it or have good access. In any case there are quiet areas in a box that the flow of air will turn into eddys. Gravity will not work for you like a table saw or buzzer so hence the suggestion of a shoe to gather as much as you can at the source.

I have had many attempts at dust extraction including what you are suggesting and none have been totally successful and the extra noise of the dust extractor annoyed me. You might get into trouble if the roof space connects to the main house as the noise will transmit through a ceiling easier than through a brick wall. The dust bags get heavy when full so think about that as well as access to the roof area. If you are going to go with the cartridge filter there is a handle you turn to remove the fine build up of dust on the inside of the filter so again access to the dusty is important especially if you cut a lot of MDF.

Fine dust is a fire hazard and can explode given the right conditions with a static spark. There is plenty on this forum about that so do a search and be aware of the risks. This can be minimised by using steel ducting and an earth wire but you are increasing your risk by not being able to have easy access to the source. You will also get a fine dust exiting the filter into the roof space which will eventually built up in the ceiling. Have I talked you out of it yet.

Have you thought about exclosing a small machine room in your garage or mounting the dusty as high as you can on the wall? If space is a problem then you might get the dusty high enough to park the car under it. The dusty can be enclosed to reduce the noise.

Originally Posted by GWH74

If possible the DC should be outside of the garage / shed (not possible in my case).

Maybe throw some castors on it and wheel it out when in use?

Change of plans.
After a visit to Carba-tec i am going to go with a 2hp and pleated filter.
With a bit of re-organising in the carport and some new shelving units i can squeeze it in a corner. This unit will be a massive overkill for the CNC it will be used on, the little 1hp units would just keep up. The 2hp should be ample with some left in reserves for future purchases.

Thanks for everyone's comments.

Im with rod on this one, have tried all sorts of extraction, vacuum from a strong cleaner, extraction from an industrial unit etc I found the easiest and best solution is let it be, set the unit into a contained area let it kick up the dust and when its finished vacuum the enclosure clean, simple brushes applied to the linear rails and the ballscrews ensure it stays trouble free