A very unexciting project..........

[ynneb]

We all love to see great routers and machine projects, but if you're like me, you neglect to smaller elememts that go on such machines.

It is about time for me to make a dust collection system for my machine.
Up until now I have just been vacuuming up after each job.

During the weekily shopping I have gone down the cleaning product section and noticed the cheap dustpan brushes. About 2 dollars each. I have thought if I bought 4 of them and cut off the handles, I could then screw them to a piece of MDF to form a square.
I would then cut two hole in the mdf, one for the router bit and the other for the vacuum. The other addition to this project I was thinking about was to have an air stream that was aimed at the router bit. That way it would help to cool the tip and also stir up the cut particals so they could be sucked up easier.

I will post some highly stimulating pictures once I have built this project. Please dont hassle me for these pictures any sooner, since i dont want to rush this project and get it wrong.

Does anyone have any suggestions b4 i actually get started?

[DSL PWR]

I'd think you would need a stiff brush to make this work. The brush would also need to have a tight pattern. Why not use plexi glass so you can see what's going on?

[Patrick2by4]

Hey Benny
shopbot has something similar for their machine, I was planning to use some of the elements in their vacuum scheme in my machine. I've also seen this type of setup in other machines. (I like the clear lucite plate they use)

[ger21]

Originally Posted by DSL PWR I'd think you would need a stiff brush to make this work. The brush would also need to have a tight pattern. Why not use plexi glass so you can see what's going on?

The brush can be lower than the bit to get a better seal. If you use plexiglas, you'd have to hold it up too high to be effective to prevent it from crashing into your workpiece.

It's easy to make a brushed collector like the Shopbot's for flat panel work, but for effective dust collection on 3D work, it gets a lot harder.

[Graham S]

err, I think he means plexiglass instead of MDF rather than instead of the brushes. i.e. for the frame.

[DSL PWR]

You bet

[ger21]

That went right over my head.

[sol]

Free advice dept....Do not make the mistake I made of enclosing the base of the router with the vacuum cowl; the router's exhaust overpowers the vac and blows dust everywhere; it was a powerful vac too...
This thread's previous image looks promising with only the bit enclosed.

Also the brush on some vacuum cleaner's sweeper attachment is essentially a flexible metal channel with bristles mounted into it. The channel-bristle assembly is sometimes removable (I've had them fall out while I was vacuuming) and would be great for a custom brush. Probably get the attachment for cheap from a vac repair shop.

[tpworks]

Originally Posted by sol Free advice dept....Do not make the mistake I made of enclosing the base of the router with the vacuum cowl; the router's exhaust overpowers the vac and blows dust everywhere; it was a powerful vac too... This thread's previous image looks promising with only the bit enclosed. Also the brush on some vacuum cleaner's sweeper attachment is essentially a flexible metal channel with bristles mounted into it. The channel-bristle assembly is sometimes removable (I've had them fall out while I was vacuuming) and would be great for a custom brush. Probably get the attachment for cheap from a vac repair shop.

Unless you plan ahead and divert the routers air flow, this one works pretty well for me.
Tom

[Graham S]

Here is an idea (I think). Rather than have a brush curtain why not have an air curtain. The basic idea is to have a dont shaped mainfold into which a set of nozzles fit, either that or one long nozzle. You pass compressed air through the nozzles (perhaps not at full pressure), the air hits the machining surface and tends to push chips towards the centre. The awaiting vacuum then picks them up. With adjustment it should be possible to get a high velocity air loop going from nozzle to vacuum.

I just thought this might be a nice way to do it for 3D stuff, it is works that is.

Graham

[ynneb]

Hey these are some really good responces.
Maybe its not such and unexciting project.

I might do a composite creation uncluding a plexiglass cover with an air curtain.

These ideas are more exciting than what I was planing to do.

[Graham S]

Just to take the cool factor to 10 why not get a cheapo laptop webcam. They are small and very cheap these days. Install in your head to watch the action. I do something a little like this, I have a small RF camera that I set up to watch my mill. It runs in the attic while I keep an eye on it via the TV card on my PC. Keeps me away from the noise and I can surf the web etc.

As far as dust on the lens, there are two solutions I can think of. A perspex cover and windscreen wiper or much cooler a mylar conveyer belt type lens cover that contiuously moves through wipers to keep it dust free.

You can probably take these things too far but what the hell.

Graham