I am starting to brainstorm how I want to build a new enclosure for my Shapeoko 4 XL. I have put it off long enough and my entire studio space is finished and looking nice… but my CNC is in a makeshift enclosure made from angle iron and plexiglass.
I’d like to build one with plywood, which I plan to paint white or gray, with a sliding door that might hinge to the top, and a better solution for my Festool’s hose. That’s the main issue, the hose is really kind of stiff and has memory from being rolled up in the package. And, I’d love some ideas on how to mount it above where I can freely move.
A hose entering at the middle should help if there is enough head room above the router. It will allow it to move forward and back flexing along the length.
If the hose in question is the tapering one, that is intended for hand use/fitting to the connector on power tools — you’ll do much better for automated use with the CNC to use a straight 2.5" hose — as @Zman noted, running it in from the top center should allow for a reasonable length which the machine can then pull to all the corners.
From my experience: If you don’t enter at the top middle, be careful to avoid letting the hose fall to one side or the other of the spindle. I have had the experience where it has gotten in the way of the gantry getting fully to the side rail - and resulted in losing steps and destroying the piece. So there is a small tightrope to walk with length of the hose and anchoring position…and sometimes, just jogging around and watching doesn’t simulate the combination of moves that will cause a problem. You need to try it live for a while and just watch it.
Do you know if there is a way to use this with a Festool CT 15 E? My current hose is a lot smaller around. But it’s soooo inflexible! I use the Festool and the Sweepy 2.0
Edit: I guess I didn’t think straight, it doesn’t need to connect to my Festool at all, since I use a Dust Deputy cyclone… so, I just need a fitting that’ll go over that opening and then into the Sweepy 2.0.
Appreciate that! I have always had mine just kind of hanging from the corner with a bungee cord, it’s tacky but works. But since I am going to build a new enclosure I want to do it right and have it look less janky too haha.
Good to know! Does it fit on the Sweepy 2.0 or do you think I’d need an adapter? I have a 3D printer, so I’m open to whatever! Also, I figured it’ll just clamp over the Dust Deputy.
Yes, the Sweepy (the straight adapter included) will accept a 2.5" hose, at the Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy end they include an angled adapter which fits the 2.5" hose.
If you are going to build a new enclosure make the inside taller than you think you need it. There are a couple of reasons. The dust collection hose if it comes from above must reach to the 4 corners of your spoilboard. So if it does not have sufficient length (i.e. higher) it cannot make to all 4 corners. Another reason to have the enclosure higher is to make it easier for you to do maintenance and place material inside the enclosure for machining. Having more head room for the operator would make life easier for maintenance and material placement and would also aid in having overhead dust collection with enough length to get to the 4 corners and all places in between. I have seen many designs here on the forum but having your front door life up seems one of the best designs. Second best is a split front door that opens 180 degrees on each side to give you full access inside. However having panels that lift up on all 4 sides with gas strut assist makes it easy to get to all sides of your machine for cleaning and maintenance.
Here is a picture of an SO3 XL that I put a host on a boom. Although not an enclosure that solution worked very well and is an example of the overhead dust collection host.
In the picture you can see the host is 1.5’ above the router and for an enclosure that would be the entrance of the dc hose.
