The Nomad and small CNC machines have very different air handling requirements than those of setting up a full wood shop. The differences are in particle volume and particle size. CNC machines generate a great many smaller particles - those detrimental to health - than say, a table saw. That said, most wood working power tools DO generate those dangerous particles - far fewer of them than a CNC machine but there none-the-less. The wood working tools and larger CNC machines generate a LARGE amount of large particles (i.e. “saw dust”).
Wood particles that you see can still be dangerous! Some hardwoods and tropical/exotic hardwoods in particular, can contain viruses and toxic compounds that making handling them nasty and breathing them VERY nasty. Sap from common woods often contains terpenes and other toxic compounds. Some compounds found in woods - common, tropical, exotic - are also carcinogenic and/or teratogenic.
In general, “saw dust”, dust collector filters, and dust separator contents should be handled with a HEPA filter mask and disposable gloves. Avoid contact, ideally doing such work outside while standing upwind from the devices being handled.
Modern air safety expectations for particle collection are that both cases are covered.
The Festool dust collectors are designed for handling small, portable tools. As such their air flow is more than sufficient for the Nomad and small CNC machines. For larger CNC machines and wood shop tools (e.g. a table saw) one needs MUCH for air volume to be moved.
Both solutions require a dust separator, a device which drastically decreases the volume of particles getting to the dust collector. How the dust collector disposes of its air depends on where the air is released. Obviously, a dust separator for large volumes is going to be able to store more particles - let’s be honest, emptying them isn’t something we want to do often… and cost more than a lower volume unit.
If the air is released back into the room with humans, one requires HEPA filter to ensure that the most dangerous particles are not released where they can enter the lungs. The dust separator also serves as a cost saver as HEPA filters are expensive… less particles getting to the dust collector, less filter replacement costs.
If the air is released outside the room with humans, we can do away with the HEPA filter… but only if the air cannot easily get back into the room where the tools are. In this case, a 5 to 10 micron filter - often a cloth bag that is easily cleaned - is used. This is to prevent “snow” from accumulating outside the air vent. This is what virtually all wood shops do. It’s just too expensive to handle the volume of particles via HEPA filters.
I would say that you’ve got (partially) conflicting requirements. The Nomad can get by with small units but your wood shop is going to require some serious air handling, including piping (which has to be set up properly to ensure air flow and preventing dust explosions). Something set up for a wood shop can thus handle a Nomad… provided that proper restricted vacuum is used (otherwise the Nomad will implode).
Since particle handling is managing RISKS, one COULD consider using low volume units for their wood shop, knowing that the RISKS are only partially mitigated. That is a personal choice - one that I, personally, would not be willing to make based on what I know about this subject. Perhaps ones budget is not sufficient for near perfection so one could decide to do the best they could. That is to be accepted and respected. An educate consumer.
Another approach is go with a Festool unit now, knowing that it will not be suited for the wood shop later. The Festool would still have a place in the wood shop. No matter how good the dust collection system is, particles do get all over a wood shop. One needs a portable unit to clean up - for physical and air safety requirements - and so a Festool like unit is “demanded”, even in the wood shop. The air is discharged back into the room and so a dust separator and HEPA filter are required.
Can you tell us more about which wood shop devices you’re planning to use? That will help with discussing particle volumes.
With some care, it is possible to design and implement good air handling systems that do not cost an arm and a leg, especially if the air can be dumped outside the work space.
mark
I read about the smaller space of the Nomad pro –for the moment I want to keep in its own enclosure, bamboo looks quite cool in my current setting– what about mounting the tube on the top dibond plate instead of the back, has anyone try that?