I have over the last few days been upgrading the dust collection on the morticer, this is a morticer that I made up from a combination machine that was scrapped, I used the table saw spindle assembly mounted upside down on a piece of channel, also the moving table is mounted on the same channel.

Dust collection was non existent or very rudimentary, I would just hang the old 15" thicky dust hood off some chain and shove a hose up its date, better than nothing but not good enough, I have a heap of morticing to do so it's time to fix the dust pickup on this machine.
rudementry dust pickup.jpg

Two options I thought about, come straight out the back or angled down, I opted for down as I use gravity and the ducting/hose can be made to not stick out any further than the motor if I want to one day have it right up close to a wall, (the shed that is never finished)

The basic shroud/duct
side view basic.jpgrear view basic.jpg
I decided on 125mm size as this fitted inside the channel, given the nature of the cutting action, the typical size chips and the velocity of the chips off the cutting tool I think this will be adequate, so I formed the pipe and the insert piece that fits down inside the channel but then looking at it I decided that I need stop the air being drawn from the back of the machine (little dust) and pick up more from the front of the machine (where the dust is made) so I kept adding bits until I it looked right, fitted close to the belt guard for e.g. there also came a practical limit due to the table movement (xzy) and the operating handle.

Because of the travel of the table I made up add on deflectors that direct air into the shroud, these are held on with some rare earth magnets so I can position them depending on the job at the time, also I need to get to one of the travel stops under the back of the table, the next problem was the existing deflector that travelled with the table at full cut depth closed over the inlet so that came off.
Add on deflectors.jpgside view with old deflector on table.jpgat full depth cut defletor closes dust entry.jpg

I then made up some side deflectors that travelled with the table and another deflector that sat on the top of the belt guard, also one for the chuck, for safety I should have it there but for dust collection I'm not sure it helps that much. These are all held on with rare earth magnets except one down the side that is held on with a big speaker magnet.
looking from the back to the table.jpgcenter position of table.jpgright table pos.jpgleft travel full depth cut 1.jpg

And a final shot of the connection at the bottom end of the shroud, the 4" hose is one of the ones that are normally attached to the thicky, it's just shoved in the bend atm, it will have it's own hose after I do another mod to a fitting in the main ducting.....the shed that is never finished!!!!!
side view ducting to hose.jpg



Pete