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Thread: Magnetic Dust Port Connectors.
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6th February 2021, 11:49 AM #1
Magnetic Dust Port Connectors.
Let me begin by saying I wasn't at all convinced that this would be a worthwhile exercise. For 30 years I've been happily swapping flexible duct between machines using a bit of tapered spun aluminium pipe jammed into the end of the flex. This is a perfectly workable solution although every now and then the plastic duct end needs a bit of a trim, or the tapered aluminium will jam on a machine, I've long since given up trying to keep pipe clamps in place.
Note there are many alternative ways of making a similar connection, and I've often thought about breaking out the router and a bit of MDF, but nothing really beats the ease (and wonder) of turning on the printer over morning coffee and coming back at tea time to a completed part!
I think that the real weakness of my setup is the combination of ill-fitting clamps and mismatched duct sizes - every machine varies and foam tape to pack only takes up so much of the slack.
Therefore - in the mood to make something, and inspired by a commercial product I made some magnetic connectors which are an actual joy to use - I was quite prepared to walk away from my ten dollar investment in plastic and magnets, but will now be changing all machines over - even the ones that don't need changing!
Some details - 12 8x6 magnets push fitted into pockets with alternating polarity. (I meant to order 8x10's..) I've made the pockets for the magnets 12mm deep so I can double up if they don't prove strong enough in service - so far they are fine. I've a .8mm floor to keep the magnets from pulling out of the socket, and a small hole so they can be poked out if need be.
As noted they are in alternating polarity so it only takes a small twist to disconnect. Because of the slightly smaller magnets, the port can be dislodged by sideways movement - but there's not any of that happening in use as I've such a small connection pipe length.
21-02- 05 at 23-07-56.jpg
Two pieces connected - spiral duct is a screw-in fit, the PVC connection press fits into the bend, with the same ID as the PVC pipe.
21-02- 05 at 23-08-10.jpg
70mm of flexible duct is all I need between machines - note that my "shed" actually opens into the house, so dust collection problems give rise to far greater health risks than mere lung disease!
21-02- 05 at 23-08-30.jpg
Connecting face - if I was to start again I might consider incorporating a small "step" to prevent any sideways disconnect, but as it is connection and disconnection are really smooth and simple actions. The holes are to facilitate removal of magnets for any reason.
21-02- 05 at 23-08-35.jpg
Top face - magnets just push in - if a stronger connection is required, simply double up all or some of the magnets.
Cheers,
P
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6th February 2021 11:49 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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6th February 2021, 06:41 PM #2
bloody little smart (donkey) eh?
100 or 150mm
are you looking for a market?
what price?I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds
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6th February 2021, 09:09 PM #3
These are 100 (4") and sorry I'm not looking to make 'em for others.
Over the next couple of days I will upload the files to one of the file sharing places though, so you can print them yourself (or have them printed) if you wish.
Will post a link here when I've done that.
Cheers,
P
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6th February 2021, 10:14 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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nice work midge.... the only thought is that magnetic field strength drops of really fast, i am interested the magnets are not level with the plastic level and glued in.
I now have four connection points and only two hoses so this might my next print job as well.
Cheers
Phil
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6th February 2021, 10:20 PM #5.
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For those without a 3D printer a couple of MDF doughnuts and 3 magnets hot glued into holes around the doughnut might be be worth a go?
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6th February 2021, 10:55 PM #6
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6th February 2021, 10:59 PM #7
I hadn't considered magnetic force dropping off Phil, but in that eventuality I can either double up the magnets, because there's room to do that, or simply push them out. I do lose tangible force by putting the base in, but it also makes for a really clean operation, and no need to glue in the magnets which is nice.
I haven't yet experimented to see if doubling the magnet only to the flex will make a difference - it should logically add 50% more pull.
It's early days yet, but I'm so chuffed with the result I'm considering a similar setup to swap between table saw and router rather than duplicating the flex - I have to move the table saw to use the router bench mounted in a wing of the TS, so there's a bit of mess there which can be simply dealt with in one connection.
Cheers,
P
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6th February 2021, 11:04 PM #8Senior Member
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Same here. It's good to know that a 1.6 mm gap works well enough.
This can be a useful resource.Dave
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7th February 2021, 09:07 AM #9
Thanks for that link Dave - it's a great resource that might have had me under-magneting (there's a new word for the week). Give or take, it puts my setup at around .5kg per magnet or 6k total, which I reckon is close. However because of my smooth mating surfaces, the sideways force is much less -
@Aussiephil, I misinterpreted your comment sorry! You were talking about distance apart rather than life of the magnet - but my answer is still the same - according to the link above, doubling the magnets will add at least 50% more force so I have no worries with my contingency.
BTW, I bought the magnets direct from an AliExpress vendor. Normally for small items I'd happily pay double to help a local company ticking over and keep AusPost in business, but the price difference was extreme - less than $20.00 per hundred compared to more than a dollar each in Aus, which makes that decision a trivial exercise. Perhaps there are differences in quality, but for a 600% markup there would want to be! (end rant)
Cheers,
P
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7th February 2021, 09:39 AM #10
As a very small afterthought, and aware as I am that this is a woodwork forum, not a "magnets and plastic" forum, I whipped up a quick little bracket that sticks to the steel column beside the dustie dropper to hold the flex neatly when not in use.
Thirty minutes on the computer (because I'm not very good at CAD), forty minutes and five 8mm magnets later I have a little bracket that looks as though it was made for the job! It's a very curious thing - feels like parking a hoverboard, but very satisfying all round.
21-02- 07 at 08-30-46.jpg 21-02- 07 at 08-30-35.jpg
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15th February 2021, 11:01 PM #11SENIOR MEMBER
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I thought this was the magnets and plastic forum......
Your great work got me rolling on my own variation, I have a pile of 10x2mm magnets so the design is based around them.
I'm doing machine end adapters that get permanently connected to the machines as per the two photo's, these slip on to every 4" hose coupling on the machines i have and have the (in hindsight) overly wide cutouts to enable a standard hose clamp to get a little pressure applied
P2150072.jpg P2150073.jpg
Eight magnet holes with the magnets epoxied in level with the mating surfaces. Alternating polarity the same as yours.... A quick flatten on a sheet of sandpaper on the granite plate and i expect a near airtight connection.
Need to print a male side hose connection yet so i can test if the design works
Cheers
Phil
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16th February 2021, 11:40 AM #12
Nice work! I've found that printing on a Smooth build plate gives a perfect mating surface and all worked well and truly beyond my expectations - I look forward to your next chapter!
It's a bit hilarious at our house - I have two cabinets making VERY slow progress, yet every evening a new plastic part seems to turn up out of thin air. I don't think this is what my beloved meant when she said "just take your time with the cabinets and enjoy the process without any deadline pressure".
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16th February 2021, 11:25 PM #13SENIOR MEMBER
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I've got the nice smooth build plate, the sanding is to remove the extraneous 5 min alraldite
I'm forever turning out things from my printer but really the better half has got bored with it a few years back... it just about ran 24/7 for the first year printing stuff i needed
P2160074.jpg
I'll have male and female pipe connectors to cater for the air flow direction, this is the male pipe connection used from a machine .... nice gentle fit so i'll add some ribbing on the pipe side so the pipe won't slip as easy.
Here is the fusion360 render of the two parts
magnetic dust ports.jpg
Next step is to glue all the magnets in and test
Cheers
Phil
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17th February 2021, 12:28 AM #14GOLD MEMBER
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17th February 2021, 08:35 AM #15.
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I'll have male and female pipe connectors to cater for the air flow direction, this is the male pipe connection used from a machine .... nice gentle fit so i'll add some ribbing on the pipe side so the pipe won't slip as easy.
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