I am new to CNC coming from using hand tools and have built a 32" tall enclosure for my Journeyman with a 2" hose to the dust boot.
I am currently running a Rigid shop vac and not loving how loud it is and have some concerns about burning out the motor, so looking to upgrade to an actual dust collector and be able to use my shop vac freely again.
There’s a good deal on a “lightly used” Central Machinery 2HP 70 Gallon dust collector for $190 on Craigslist, or I can get a smaller 13 Gallon 1HP dust collector for $85. I feel either is a win, but I would like any extra input you all may have. I
Should I consider anything additional to optimize the efficiency/airflow inside the large enclosure? I know the air flow works differently between the two.
Here’s a photo of my enclosure. It was a lot of fun to build! I’ll be adding the drawers and compartments underneath soon.
How you plan to use the Onefinity will somewhat influence this decision, will you be running very long operations that will create a large amount of chips in one operation where you might fill up a 13 gallon container before the operation completes? I have run 8 hour operations that fill a 55gal drum. You can also consider a cyclone/separator in front of the dust collector to increase it’s capacity.
Additional things to verify/consider
Operational voltage of the dust collector (are they both 120v or might you need 220v)
Hose inlet size
might you use this for multiple machines at the same time
additional electrical cost operating a 2hp unit
Either one should suffice for collecting chips, one consideration since you have a enclosure would be to also have a connection to the enclosure to put it under negative pressure to collect floating debris.
Thanks for the suggestions! I ended up going with the 2HP 17 gallon and got a better deal, too. I"ll eventually end up connecting more than just the 1F, so It’s worth it in the long run.
Your negative pressure suggestion was exactly what I was trying to figure out. I’ll look into doing that as well. Thanks again!
I’m a bit confused by the “negative pressure” suggestion. Given that the dust boot is already inside the enclosure, no further porting should be necessary to achieve negative pressure.
I’d actually have the opposite concern. Your enclosure looks like it might be pretty tight, air-ingress wise. But if air can’t get into the enclosure, your DC can’t suck it out at the boot, and your dust-collection efficiency will suffer. In the extreme case of a completely sealed enclosure, you’d just pull a vacuum, and get no airflow at all into the dust boot.
I’d consider adding some air inlets along the top and the sides of the enclosure. Ideally, you want the clean air coming into the enclosure through those inlets to pass over the ball screws on it’s way to the dust boot. That clean-air breeze should keep the ball screws as dust-free as possible.
I don’t think you can catch the floating debris this way. First I think it’s like Dennis @BuckeyeDennissaid above, you already have negative pressure by the collector hose inside the housing. What then would help would be small air inlets all around (both on the top and the bottom of the sides). The danger of having a second source of suction is that it could be contraproductive to the primary source of suction, at least in case if it’s the same dust collector that does both. Or what do you think?
This is how I’ve implemented it and it seems to work for me. I did it somewhat out of necessity because my dust collector moves about 1600CFM and the cyclone separator doesn’t work as well if it’s too heavily restricted so 2 4" inlets are pretty much the minimum that works effectively. I placed the enclosure connection at the bottom rear of the enclosure so I could push the chips that don’t get picked up by the dust shoe back there. I’m sure there are ways to optimize the make up air into the enclosure as well and some sort of fan system to help push dust and chips towards the outlet but I haven’t experimented with it. I generally just use compressed air to clean up when needed.
And you don’t suffer of insufficient suction at the dust boot?
Have you compared with/without enclosure hose outlet?
Do you have a slider with which you can close the enclosure hose outlet?
If you close the secondary hose, doesn’t your collection system collect all the chips and dust through the dust boot?
I had a lot of thoughts about this and at the moment, I think I will make small air inlet holes all around on the top and the bottom of the sides, so that no space will be left out by the vent that the primary suction source (at the dust boot) will produce.
Aw. I always try to avoid this. I’ve often seen people use this in workshops, but I really don’t like spreading dust around. Okay, it’s inside the enclosure, but I will always try to achieve that the dust is collected as completely as possible (will report when it’s time that I build the enclosure and attach the dust collection). I doubt that wood dust that has already soaked with the oil on the ball screws can be blown away with compressed air.
I don’t know which part of that video is more concerning, the leaf blower or using the wall mounted Onefinity like an adjustable chair lift.
As for the dust control of my setup, with over 2000 hours on the machine I’ve not run into the issues others have reported with the ball screws getting packed up with debris, although admittedly I don’t work with MDF much other than the spoilboard and some fixtures. I’m happy with the performance however I’m sure there are ways to continue to improve it. You could make a case for a wall mounted setup with a dust boot and some sort of collection below it, that would be pretty interesting but I sometimes start with 150-200lb pieces of stock which would also be problematic to load and hold vertically. It’s all in how you’re going to use it I suppose.
That’s exactly what I thought too I had thought, should I really use the word “idiot”, but for that alone I think he filed an application. Besides, I always mean such words kindly (everyone has already been an idiot, I know why
I don’t plan to mount the machine vertically, but I am very interested when people do, and to see how it works and how they solve possible problems. I admire people who achieve to accomodate with small space.
I am looking forward to see an enclosure for a vertical machine mount, maybe in the forum some day?
Even if I am unfortunately still not at my new workshop, I have nonetheless just enough space here for the test build to mount it horizontally. And I am very lucky about that. Also where I am at the moment, a wall mount would induce too much noise into the house.
Thanks all for the info. The end goal is guitars and this is in my garage, so dust control is important. I have a hard enough time already keeping sawdust out of the house.
I have two Wen air filters that I run in the garage with ither tools, and I suppose the plan will be to add some air flow inlets in the back corners of the enclosure, since that’s where I’ll have the hardest time cleaning out. My little ridgid auto shop vac attachments and brushed have come in very handy for cleaning up around the ball screws after jobs and I’m crossing my fingers I don’t have any issues arise from it. I also want to be sure what I’m doing is effective before I dive in.
In addition to that, I’m pretty excited to hook up my other tools to a collector finally. Thanks again!
Updated pic with dust collector.
Aiph5u
(Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))
12
Hey Dave,
now this seems to be the real dust collector for your beautiful machine!
I am looking forward to your further reports.
But you know that these “potato sack” filters do not provide adequate protection for wood dust? A pleated polyester fleece filter would be better. Wood dust is always dust class “M” and these simple sack filters are never class “M”.
I know you have the room air filters, but I think I would always stop the dust directly where it is created. Before the room air filters slowly remove the dust, it is in the room and is inhaled.
1 Like
Aiph5u
(Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))
13
Hey Derek, hey all,
I also find it sad that he did not discover that the Onefinity boxes can be opened and closed again – he destroyed the mechanism, as can be seen here. Bad for reusing the boxes in case of a move, a warranty return, or when reselling.
