[cbass]

http://www.doityourself.com/invt/7446362

Carlo

[project5k]

hey now thats not a bad idea, the dryer looking hose.. light, cheap, and can get more later... hmmm seems easier than the slinky idea....

[cbass]

hey now thats not a bad idea, the dryer looking hose.. light, cheap, and can get more later... hmmm seems easier than the slinky idea....

[JTUT]

Why not this? https://www.amazon.com/BOGI-Retracta...sr=1-4-catcorr

[rcheli]

McMaster has a few options. Here is one.

https://www.mcmaster.com/bellows/bel...flange-ends-9/

[wizard]

You are right to be concerned about dust. One of the best things you can do is maintain the machine regularly. That is clean and lubricate the screw. Sadly the rotating screws seldom fling off the dust, larger chips maybe but if you have lube on the screw dust will stick.

As for buying screws and nuts, Buy nuts with wipers. Wipers are the final defense in keeping out crude.

Bellows can be a very good solution for shorter screws. However you loose travel due to the collapsed length. This means ever longer screws to maintain travel. At some point you may want to consider other methods.

In some cases covers made from sheets of flexible materials like shower curtains, rubber sheet , canvas and various plastics have been used. The fact is this was a common approach on bridgeport mills for years to protect the plain ways and the mechanics under the metal slides. There are various ways to do this including having the covers roll over the edges.

If you are real handy with sheet metal sliding metal covers are nice.

If at all possible position screws such that they are out of the direct path of falling chips. With careful design you may not need additional protection.