Anyone totally enclose a CNC for dust/noise purposes?

[henrydavis]

I have a Joes2006 that I'm finishing and am designing the table it's going to sit on. I live in a suburban community where the houses are very close so they noise could get annoying to the neighbors. I also don't want a ton of MDF in my garage, as both of my cars and all my tools are in there. I'm thinking of making the table with enclosed storage underneath for the computer and small dust collection system (likely a shop vac and a 5 gallon cyclone). The CNC will sit on top on 3/4" ply. Then, I will build a simple frame of 2x4's around the CNC itself, having plywood on hinges that can hang down, or go up and latch shut to enclose the CNC. The top will always have a piece of plywood on it. Each side piece of ply will have a plexiglass window so I can see the action.

Anyone do something similiar? Have some pictures or thoughts you wish to share? I'd greatly appreciate it!

[CarveOne]

It's a fairly common thing for the same reasons that you are considering it. Search the build log forum for "dust enclosure" and you'll probably find a number of solutions.

CarveOne

[Phife]

Sounds like you will have some ok dust collection, if you have a good shoe you will pick up most of the fine stuff that floats around. A proper dust collector is best, and i find it quieter than a shopvac, it will also collect alot more dust with its 4" port.

Plywood will do little to help with the noise, you are better off investing in a spindle as they run quieter than a router, but really, the loudest part of using a CNC is the actual cutting, which varies greatly with router bits, wood types and toolpaths.

You could also try to build an enclosure from a better material for sound absorption. MDF, Sound deading board, something heavy and dense.

I think that having an enclosure for the computer and electronics is a good idea, you wanna keep dust out of the fans. but having an enclosure for the machine I think would just make it a pain, I really like to watch my machine, from various angles, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, sometimes for hours at a time. Having to look through a window would suck. It could also get in the way for loading/unloading, cutting oversize stock and maintenance.

[lunchtrayrider]

if you fully enclose you will need some air intake for dust collection to work. my hitachi router would never disturb anyone in your own house let alone your neighbors cutting mdf.

[ejjenkins]

I built an enclosure around my router mill (small cutting area 12"x12"x5"). I used plywood for the enclosure and installed a large plexiglass window in the front for viewing. Mounted a couple of fluorescent puck lights in the inside to light up the work piece and an attachment to connect my 2 1/2" shopvac hose. I made sure I had plenty of room all around the mill inside the box. The front is on hinges and the entire front swings up and out of the way.

I cut a lot of MDF and there was a ton of dust, this has kept the dust inside the box with the shopvac picking up almost everything (small flexible tube positioned near the cutting head).

There is not a lot of noise dampening with the plywood, but the shopvac is still louder than the router and the cutting of MDF.

I will post pics when I get home. I find it makes cleanup a lot easier and quicker.

[jgro]

I had one on my old machine. I "insulated" the inside with pink foam insulation for sound dampening. Worked fairly well.

jgro