How to achieve better dust collection from your CNC router
As the technology and methods of the CNC industry have evolved over the years, many longstanding production challenges have been done away with and forgotten as new advancements have taken shape. From laser attachments to cutting tools and changers and everything in between, there is no shortage of equipment to help take your production process to the next level.
Dust Collection, however, is one challenge that has plagued shop owners for decades as they’ve searched for the most effective way to rid their workspaces of debris with proper dust collection methods.
Here is a breakdown of the importance of dust collection, the key factors involved, and a new method that is reshaping the efficiency and safety of CNC router operation.
WHY CNC ROUTERS NEED DUST COLLECTION
Even relatively novice wood craftsmen can speak to the fact that CNC router machines produce a lot of dust, all of which can pose a number of threats to your overall production.
The primary threat is in regard to safety, as allowing dust and excess debris to build up around the shop can lend itself to an increased likelihood of fire or slipping, not to mention health risks associated with particles along with frequent inhalation.
Dust buildup can also accelerate the wear of machine components and can cause a myriad series of performance issues if not properly tended to.
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THE KEY FACTORS OF CNC DUST COLLECTION
In order for a dust collection system to perform effectively, there are primarily two components to consider: the degree of airflow directing chips up the hose and the proximity of the hose/brush contact to the material surface. If there is adequate airflow and the brush and hose are able to function close to the surface, the system should perform well.
Machines with automatic tool changers, however, typically experience a small bit of complication in these two key areas. Since more internal space is now needed for the tool changer to function, the dust collector must now be moved away from the material surface, requiring more air flow in order to effectively extract dust.
Thus far, the most popular solution to this challenge within the CNC machine industry has been to simply use a larger dust collector.
But ShopSabre knows we can do better.
HOW SHOPSABRE’S DUST DOCK IS REVOLUTIONIZING PROPER DUST COLLECTION
ShopSabres engineers have worked to find a clean solution that would allow CNC routers with tool changers to experience the same level of dust collection as those without.
The first step is a dust shoe design that features optimal internal airflow to effectively extract dust from the material surface. Given the issues using tools of differing sizes and lengths can present, we have also developed a spacer system so as to still be able to remove dust when cutting with longer tools.
But how does it work with tool changers?
This is where our team leverages the concept we refer to as docking, which removes debris from the surface and stores it in an attached dock that clears the spindle and allows for easy and efficient tool-changing on the fly.
The Dust Dock reduces the surface area the vacuum system needs to cover, focusing air flow directly to the cutter to remove nearly 100% of airborne dust and significantly increasing dust control in the shop.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SHOP DEBRIS WITH SHOPSABRE DUST COLLECTORS
All CNC routers from ShopSabre are compatible with dust collection filter options and varying configurations to meet the needs of your production.
Our full range of world-leading CNC machines provides precision, efficiency, and total versatility to help aspiring hobbyists and full-time commercial shop owners alike produce truly outstanding results with a fraction of the labor. Shop our unmatched collection of CNC routers and plasmas in Minneapolis today to take your shop’s quality and productivity to the next level.