[ger21]

Should I leave a gap between the work surface and the shoes so that air can be draw in for the vacuum? Or does the router generate enough air for the vacuum?

If you leave a gap, the dust will shoot out of it.

A lot of people find that the air from there routers blows the dust out of the shoe, and some make deflectors to prevent this. Imo, though, this is due to inadequate suction.

[louieatienza]

If you leave a gap, the dust will shoot out of it.

A lot of people find that the air from there routers blows the dust out of the shoe, and some make deflectors to prevent this. Imo, though, this is due to inadequate suction.

If you use brushes, you'll get enough airflow through the brushes, and the brushes can be pressed against the work surface (which is why brushes are used in the first place.)

Because I didn't have enough of the strip brush I wanted to use, I ended up using door weatherstripping. Only problem it's not the most effective once the base runs off the workpiece, but this could be worked around by placing scraps the same thickness as the workpiece around the area. Also, I first made the hole for the spindle just larger than the diameter of the collet, and when the collet went all the way down, the vacuum created would literally suck the shoe onto the workpiece! enlargening the hole slightly would help, but I think using brushes eventually would be better.

As far as suction, it would be great to have a high powered dust collecton system. If your dust collection system can overcome the pressure of the blowing air of the router exhaust AND still suck out dust then you're fine. If you're like me and don't have the space or juice for a good dust collection system, and havev to use a ShopVac or other, then you'll have to direct the router exhaust away from the shoe area in order to have enough "suction" in the shoe. Also the less powerful your vacuum is, and the smaller the hose, the smaller the volume of space should be within the dust shoe...

[Dean448]

My design is pretty simple. A flat piece of wood where the outside is an oval and inside configured to allow cooling air to pass through the router. Instead of brushes I use strips of fairly dense flexiable foam positioned close togather glued on to a velco strip. The foam just gets in the way of the particles of wood and doesn't get in the way of the workpiece Key to this design was to be able to easily take it off for initial setup. Its just hose clamped to the router. Once everything is zero'ed I raise the head about 3" slip the dust shroud on and attach the hose and start the cut. For skin cuts where I want to see the entire cut I just leave it off and do a light cleanup.

Dean

[CNC Lurker]

Louie.. what do you think about the idea of having a couple shafts going down to near the work piece, mounted to the Y>Z carriage assy.. and then a dust boot that is not actually 'fastened' to the rods, but slides down to the work surface on the rods and it's own weight keeps it down on the work?..

I'm thinking that something could be mounted on the Z carriage so that when it raises to a certain height, it would catch and lift the dust boot (ie for when it goes 'home')

Sounds like you are talking about some a full floating dust shoe. Here is one that floats on the bristles, the rods guide it and the clear acrylic (or whatever it is) adjusts up and down with it too: Full Floating CNC vac shoe Youtube LINK

That looks like a lot of work to make.

Datron has an interesting one that is small and not all bulky. I thought about making a 2-part one like Senna did, but using the shape of the Datron: Datron Clean, Chip-Free High Speed Machining Youtube Link

Instead I'm planning on doing one like the Shop Droid and Plasmaroute. This Plasmaroute vid shows it hovering 1/16" above the work piece, and it has a figure-8 shape to it. Not sure how much that helps, but that and it having only clear plastic piece on the bottom without bristles is worth noting. Plasmaroute CNC Router Pressure Foot Youtube LINK

Having a small hole like those do would keep the down-blowing air from my Porter Cable 690 from blowing dust everywhere and fighting with the vacuum. Attached are screenshots of what I have so far. The bottom has pockets routed out for a 1/2-13 all thread, but I haven't thought of a quick-release system to remove the all-thread yet.

I bought a hose adapter from Home Depot that fits on my Shop Vac. I cut the smaller sections off so I can screw it down to the plexiglass. The straight tube is the one that came with the Shop Vac so it's a perfect fit.

[DonFrambach]

Here's one I built for my Taig spindle:

[DonFrambach]

Here's one I built for my Wolfgang spindle:

[Regnar]

Fixed base has been working for me just fine.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhP2WyMh1cc"]YouTube - Mechmate dustfoot[/nomedia]

[Mountaincraft]

Fixed base has been working for me just fine.

YouTube - Mechmate dustfoot

What's holding your material down while you cut those profiles? Are you using a vacuum table or what? Tabs?

Anyways, nice with the 80/20 for your boot mount... I may have to think about that for a future version... an electric actuator (screw type) might be a nice way to raise and lower it...

[Regnar]

Depending on the job I will sometimes onion skin or add tabs. If the piece is to small and I know I will hit clamps I will set up a drill pattern and insert screws in areas that do not get cut and that are waste. If I am feeling really lazy that day I will brad nail them down. Does this take a little more time to set up. Sure but even when I had the long bristle brush I would knock clamps off and ruin pieces. Sometimes I couldnt tell if the router was going to run over a clamp or not and a few have fallen by the waste side.

What I do like about this set up is you can see what the hell is going on!
The router raises up where you can easily get to the collet for tool changes.
Still allows for auto z zero and tool height setter.

It is really easy to raise and lower it. It will become even easier when I attach the gas strut and quick action release lever. :cheers:

[Mountaincraft]

It will become even easier when I attach the gas strut and quick action release lever. :cheers:

LOL.. You're already way ahead of me.. exactly what I thought when I saw it.. some sort of actuator... gas strut sounds cool...

[louieatienza]

LOL.. You're already way ahead of me.. exactly what I thought when I saw it.. some sort of actuator... gas strut sounds cool...

Actually, you should incorporate a sonar or laser distance sensor, with a linear motor that adjusts the shoe height in real time... Maybe put a SuperPID on the vacuum too, so you can adjust the suction according to the cut depth/type of material...

[Mountaincraft]

Actually, you should incorporate a sonar or laser distance sensor, with a linear motor that adjusts the shoe height in real time... Maybe put a SuperPID on the vacuum too, so you can adjust the suction according to the cut depth/type of material...

CNC Porn?

[Mountaincraft]

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/661623-post167.html
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/661872-post168.html

Gerry, where'd you get that slanted 2" vacuum attachment with the flange?

[ger21]

It's a 4" connector, from Woodcraft.

[Mountaincraft]

Thanks!

Don't think I ever even heard of Woodcraft before... They have a smaller size one too..

But not only that,they have the dust deputy for half the price of what Onieda sells it for.. Now it's suddenly worth 'buying' instead of building..

[CarveOne]

Woodworking Plans & Tools | Fine Woodworking Project & Supplies at Woodcraft

They have stores all around the US.

CarveOne

[Mountaincraft]

Their prices are considerably better than Rocklers..

[CarveOne]

Another good one is Klingspor's Woodworking Shop which is a smaller chain.

Whenever I go to Raleigh, NC I usually stop by both stores.

CarveOne

[Mogal]

He is my shoe that I have been having GREAT success with.
No brissles. It leaves 'alittle' behind, but works REALLY good.
I have brushes to install... but haven't felt the need to really.
It utilizes 2 cam locks, and is supper easy to remove and re-attach.
The three pieces just sandwitch together with glue.

I have that shoe with a 1.5" hose attached to a generic shopvac
via a thien separator. Once I replace the paper filter for a hepa filter,
it'll be AWESOME!

I can't seem to upload the DXF for it right now.

[CarveOne]

He is my shoe that I have been having GREAT success with.
No brissles. It leaves 'alittle' behind, but works REALLY good.
I have brushes to install... but haven't felt the need to really.
It utilizes 2 cam locks, and is supper easy to remove and re-attach.
The three pieces just sandwitch together with glue.

I have that shoe with a 1.5" hose attached to a generic shopvac
via a thien separator. Once I replace the paper filter for a hepa filter,
it'll be AWESOME!

I can't seem to upload the DXF for it right now.

Put it in a .zip file and it will upload.

CarveOne