Vacumn for mini mill and aluminum chips?

[mike_mccue]

I've got a mini mill and I'm currently using a bracket arm that I already had to position the intake nozzle of an inexpensive Dirt Devil.

Is there a special type of vacumn for removing metal chips? Does using a household vacumn present an issues?

I also have a wet/dry shop vac available...it's just not as convenient.

What do you think?

thanks,
mike

[Twmaster]

As long as the filters in your DD are good I don't see how it would hurt anything. I have an expensive Dirt Devil with a HEPA filter and used it until I rigged up my old Shop-Vac in the machine room.

[mike_mccue]

Thanks for the input.

It seemed to work OK on a 2 hour run last night.

Is there a preferred vacuum system that is meant for metal milling or is the ideal system the same as a centralized wood work vacuum system?

best regards,
mike

[Jeff-Birt]

I use a shop-vac for metal chips. Some of them won't run for hours on end though, the motors can get hot and burn up. I just vacuum up every once in a while.

For wood I use by dust collection system, but they are definitely NOT made for metal.

[escott76]

Originally Posted by mike_mccue Thanks for the input. It seemed to work OK on a 2 hour run last night. Is there a preferred vacuum system that is meant for metal milling or is the ideal system the same as a centralized wood work vacuum system? best regards, mike

The "prefered" system is not really a constant on vac type device. A lot of people use some sort of coolant to flush chips away from the material, and then collect it afterward. Commercial machines use this and a chip auger at the bottom to push the chips into a storage bin.
That being said, the shop vac is a good alternative. When I finish my enclosure I'm going to mount one of the little hang up wall types on the side of it. IMHO they will handle chips far better than anything else. While you're at it, make sure and NOT vac up long stringy drill chips. They will tangle and clog in the hose, causing all sorts of headaches. Pick them up first.