Dust Shoe Prototype I Project

[bergerud]

The dust shoe operation is designed to be simple on a machine equipped with the Carvetight chuck if one uses only the standard bits (1/16, 1/8, 3/16 carving and cutting bits). The dust shoe does not interfere with chuck, adapters, or these standard bits and should be virtually trouble free.

In the case where one wants to use a decorative bit which has a diameter larger than the hole in the window, one will have to remove the window. In this case, the dust collecting effectiveness of the shoe will be significantly decreased. If a certain bit is used often, one might make a custom window for it.

As a further complication with the larger bits, the touch hole on the bit plate is too small and the bit will touch too high. In a mult-bit project, this could be bad. If, for example, a standard bit is used to touch the bit plate and to touch the board and then a larger bit is loaded and touches the bit plate too high, the larger bit will cut too high. This is an area for further development. A lower custom metal bit plate may be what we need. (I believe that the A ans B machines with the CT do not need the touch hole and so need not have this problem. A simple bit plate without the hole is all that is required.)

If the dust shoe is used with other types of chucks which come within 1/2 inch of the board surface (Rock and QC), one will have to remove the window during the bit loading and board measurement stages and replace the window during the carves and cutting. (It may be possible to block the z truck from going too low. Something you can experiment with.)

Warning: Some of us like to just let the machine measure the carving bit over and over instead of switching in all the right bits at the beginning of a multi-bit project. Then, when the machine measures the bits to be the wrong lengths later, we just press continue. This is ok as long as the bits later measure too short. If, however, the bit later measures too long, the machine gives a good hard second push on the bit plate. I have had this break a thinner acrylic bit plate.

The bearing on the pipe will get that fine dust in it. It is just a matter of time and the bearing will stiffen up. Until we can find a bearing with better seals, we will have to keep an eye on it. There is a cavity behind the bearing where dust may collect and get into the bearing. One might experiment with, say, a felt washer behind the bearing to block the dust.