3D Carve question from an older post

[Ken Sully]

Just finished my first large 3D carve and all went well. The one thing was the Delta 55 gal drum type dust collector that ran for 4 hours on the final cut.
Even with ear protection it was just loud. I saw a thread from the past where Andrew was using a shop vac to clean up while the cut was taking place and got a com error. My good news I did the same thing with out issue.
My Question:
Do most of you not run a dust collector?

[phil_o]

I always run my DC when cutting anything. My DC is in a closet in a separate room.

Phil

[khaos]

I nearly always run DC. I have mine mounted outside though. I hate the noise too.

[Ken Sully]

Phil
How do you monitor the DC for fire?
I did get a smoldering fire in mine after a screw up caused by me which I caught as it happened. Boy the spindle only contacted the spoil board for no more than 3 seconds! So not VERY cautious around the DC.

One final thing I left out was not running the collector on a final 3D cut.

[Brady Watson]

I run the DC during roughing & profiling ONLY. Running it during 3D operations is not ideal considering that the foot goes up & down with the Z and can get hung up (and break) if it is anything more than a shallow carving. If you run a proper 3D roughing toolpath first, then the bulk of the material is removed, leaving very little in terms of dust to clean up. I'll often vacuum off a carving while it is 3D finishing with a fuzzy brush on the end of the shop vac just to see what is going on.

The other thing to note is that you can make/adapt/adopt a stationary dust foot that is independent from the motion of the Z axis. A stationary foot was the defacto standard on all 3G PRT and older tools. While they were a little cheesy and not what I would call 'production duty', they did work, even on 3D carvings. You set the foot to the top of the material, lock it down and go for it.

You can get an idea from this pic I found on the web:

http://www.skylinepictures.com/UFE-460z_large_Nathan.jpg

-B

[Ken Sully]

Brady
Thanks for the come back. On my next cut I will do as you suggest.
I have been running the DC on both roughing and finish cuts. Would be great not hearing the vacuum on the final cut.
I will see what I can rig as far as the dust shoe.

[myxpykalix]

Depending on what i'm cutting is what determines my dust collection use. I ALWAYS use it when cutting MDF, but i NEVER use it when cutting a finishing pass on 3d work. Their is so little sawdust and chips created and the toolpaths might be 4-6-8 hours long that it's a waste of energy to me.:eek:

[Ajcoholic]

Just finished my first large 3D carve and all went well. The one thing was the Delta 55 gal drum type dust collector that ran for 4 hours on the final cut.
Even with ear protection it was just loud. I saw a thread from the past where Andrew was using a shop vac to clean up while the cut was taking place and got a com error. My good news I did the same thing with out issue.
My Question:
Do most of you not run a dust collector?

Ken, after I properly grounded my Festool vac ( which has a conductive hose ) to the aftermarket cyclone, I have not again had any static issues with it. Jfyi. Also, Oneida, which makes the cyclone for my vac has also modified their kit to properly ground the unit. Basically what I did myself.