This has definitely been a sticky problem for me for a while... how do you keep the swarf out of the ballnuts.
Wood dust does not cause a big problem but when machining aluminum or thermoforming plastics (like Lexan)... the hard bits of swarf get carried along the ballscrews into the ballnuts where it causes binding, lost steps and !@#!-@#up cuts... usually towards the finish of a job. (chair)
I've tried using 3" flexible vinyl dryer duct with some success... but it looks ugly, (smells funny too). And we all know how expensive "real" bellows screw covers are...
So I've got an idea of using *really* inexpensive ( can you say $0.33 CAN each) plastic toy 'Slinky' springs covered with little girls tights.
Well I've finally found a bountiful source of the 1 3/16" ID plastic Slinkys at the local PartyPackagers, where they are sold as party favours... now if I can just get my wife to let me have a pair of my little daughter's old tights... I'm ready to try it out.
wish me luck, Gary