Dust Collector Foot

[domino11]

JR,
I can cook just about anything. My favorite stuff usually goes on the BBQ. Your machine is really coming along. I love the dust foot. Post some more pictures of stuff you have cut when you get a chance.

[Gerald D]

For you guys making the dust foot ride with the z-slide; Do you realise the schlep of adjusting the height? Let's say you are cutting a sign and need a 1/2" cutter for the hogging and a 1/4" for the detail. Difference in cutter lengths is 1" or more. After hogging, the dust foot must be raised for the shorter cutter.

Or, you are making 4 passes with a 1/2" cutter in thick material to get 2" deep at the end - at least 2 foot height changes.

Those flexible PVC skirts can take little variance in foot height. The brush skirts are not much better - the bush bristles get sucked up the pipe after tangling around the cutter.

I am not meaning to sound negative about all of this - it is just that nobody is ever happy with every aspect of the design of a dust foot. I am trying to play devil's advocate and make folk aware of the issues that may still arise.

[Marc Shlaes]

We did run into exactly that situation when we switched between a short little V bit for engraving text and a long spiral downcut spiral for cutting the part outline. The soft vinyl that we used seemed to take it all in stride and offer a good compromise. As we all get more experience and share ideas, the perfect combination will bubble to the top.

[revved_up]

heres an idea in little different direction, what about mounting ductwork at the side of the bed for the vacuum and running low compressed air perhaps from a fishtank pump through the cable chain down the z and angled to blow the chips toward the ductwork? It atleast would'nt interfere with the bit changes and depth of cuts.

[Gerald D]

This could be useful:

http://www.blastgateco.com/index.php