After many many hours of design and testing I have completed the Snapmaker 2.0 self impelled floating dust shoe. It is a vacuum attachment for the CNC head that DOES NOT NEED AN EXTERNAL VACUUM because it uses the motor in the CNC head to spin an impeller just above the work surface.
No, the whole purpose is to provide a good seal with the work surface on deep cuts. There’s a short brush attachment also included without the bellows for engraving and such.
I have tested the impeller with PLA, fiber reinforced PLA and PETG with no problems. I think PLA works fine, but I tend to be conservative in my approach and wanted something that I don’t have to fuss with. Of course, if it breaks, you can just print a replacement! I just uploaded the high l strength PLA Cura profile I developed for it yesterday. It’s not necessary, but may help.
@gil.a.ramirez very impressive design and problem solving! As I endeavor to take this project on (previously I had solve the issue with an external vacuum), I have a couple follow-up questions for you:
Do you have a video or photo of your prototype in action that you’d be willing to share?
Have you considered selling versions of the prototype? I see the design costs around $12 US, do you have any interesting in printing the parts/components yourself and charging a higher fee?
Have you had any issues with dust collecting around the CNC head such that is could cause the head to jam or get stuck with residue? With wood milling, I had concerns about fire safety and wondered if you had done any testing or could share videos of the prototype in action?
I provided a link to the YouTube video showing the prototype in action in the post. Can you see it? Or is there something else you’re looking for?
I would rather not. This is a hobby for me, and I enjoy the design, engineering, and prototyping. I don’t have an interest in setting up a manufacturing operation at the moment.
I have run extensive testing, over two years, including CNC runs lasting over three days, working out the kinks. I have not seen any problems with deposits clogging the dust shoe. The impeller generates considerable positive air pressure, and the interior of the exhaust pipe contains a cut water to reduce turbulence.
The flow is capable of extracting the chips of material generated by the end mills. I established this qualitatively through hours of testing. The filter bag is my filter, but it’s completely up to you to use whatever system you wish. You have the ability to attach any type of separator or filter you want at the exit of the hose.
Getting there. Works better than the original, but connection of the two halves of the shell is problematic and I need to redesign. I’m also having an issue with harmonic resonance, and noise. So I’ve had to go back and do some redesign. Still trying to get some things worked out.
I imagine printed mass spinning at those speeds would inherit some disbalance issues, and the impeller would have to be balanced after printing as part of post-processing.
But it is almost finished! Can’t wait.
