Stationary Alpha dust foot

[hippo]

I've been rattling my brain trying to find a way to mount the dust collect on the alpha so that it does NOT move up and down with the router. I can see why you would want it to, but I've been cutting a number of 3d files with 2+ inches of depth and the first 4 passes spray dust on the walls...

The existing mount gets in the way of everything I've thought of so far. I'd like to be able to switch back and forth easily, so I've been thinking about turning the foot 90 degrees, and coming at it from the side of the Y car so that I won't have to discconnect the hose at all.

Any ideas? I'm happy to share .sbp of anything that ends up working.

Thanks,
-Dan

[billp]

Dan,
I ran into the same issue so I just scrapped the newer version for an older one that has been great for all of my 3D work. It's just the standard unit many of us had tried, but with a bottom that is sealed off except for the area surrounding the router bit.
To change bits I just loosen the hose clamps, raise it a few inches, and then retighten everything. A ratcheting screwdriver speeds up this process tremendously...
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[beacon14]

Here's a shot from my old machine that shows how I improved the mounting system of the old dust shoe. I added a length of metal angle, which greatly reduced the tendency of the shoe to get bumped out of position, and I used a chest clasp, modifed to grab the folded over end of a hose clamp, as a quick-release instead of hose clamps.


5481

[hippo]

Thanks guys,

Bill, can you take a photo from a side view? I can't quite see where the mounting point is. It looks like the hose is on the same side of the Z car as the router is. Then there's an L-bracket bolted to the side of the Y-Car? It's hard to tell.

Thanks,
-Dan

[dirk]

I'v got a pic of a 4" stationary on my blog site.
I took a 2 foot piece of 4" steel vent pipe and strapped a short piece of unistrut to the pipe. I just cut a slot top and bottom for the strap to fit through. I adjust the height by the 2 bolts attatched to the strut, that way you don't mess with the straps for adjustment. http://photos1.blogger.com/img/54/3840/1024/IMG_0027.jpg Click picture and you can see close up.
Dirk

[hippo]

Thanks Dirk,

That actually helps a lot. Now I need to head to the hardware store, and see what jumps out at me to make mounting brackets...

-Dan

BTW, That photo link didn't work for me until I came at it from your blog... http://cncshare.blogspot.com/2005/02/4-dustcollector.html

[dirk]

Sorry about the link, it works when I check it. by the way instead of using the nuts sold for the unistrut, I made a piece of flat bar and drilled and tapped the two holes so the nuts wouldn't fall out when I adjust the hieght. hope this makes sense
Dirk

[gerald_d]

When we check links, the pic normally comes out of our own computer cache, because we had been there before. New guys are often prevented from going straight to the link because then they skip all the advertisements.

[billp]

Dan,
Sorry it's taken so long to get this picture to you, but I haven't been here very much lately...As you can see I just bolted an "L"bracket to the side of my gantry, and I use hose clamps from there.
I like the idea of a hasp instead as it might even be faster...

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[mziegler]

Dan, here picture of mine 2 1/2" foot. I place the 2 1/2" pipe inside a 3" plastic electric conduit pipe and tap it for two 1/4 screws to hold the 2 ½ in place. No tools needed, simply hand loosen and tight the screws. Mark

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[hippo]

Thanks guys,

That's great stuff. I guess I've got homework to do. I will post pics of what I come up with. I apprecieate the help..

-Dan