I am a teacher in Ontario Canada. We bought a shapeoko 5 pro with VFD spindle.
We have no dust collection setup for it.
Can anyone tell me what exactly I need to buy to use this awesome machine?
I guess i need a dustboot, and vacuum. What should i get?
We include a Sweepy v2:
Note that for folks whose projects are suited to it, there is the optional Sweepy Pro:
You will need either a shop vac — the DeWalt Stealthsonic is the current darling of the CNC world:
or a dedicated dust collector which moves a sufficient CFM to work well with the Sweepy. Make sure to get a model which has a 2.5" port so that you can use a straight 2.5" hose (or source an adapter to get from the larger size of a dust collector, typically 4" down to that size), ideally one which is anti-static such as:
Note that you may need suitable hardware to secure each end — see other discussions of that here, I’ve been using the nice plastic spiral connectors from Woodcraft which you twist the hose into to lock it in place:
The keyed/bridged/tool-less clamps are nice as well:
and you may want a cyclone such as:
EDIT: one further link — for turning the vacuum on/off automagically see:
https://carbide3d.com/hub/faq/controlling-a-vacuum-with-your-shapeoko/
I would use the included Sweepy dust boot. If you do not have a shop vac, we’ve had good luck with the Dewalt Stealthsonic, which is relatively inexpensive and easy to find.
To add to @robgrz comments …
Vacuum systems equal noise, which in the long run can make you crazy.
The StealthSonic allowed me to with stand being next to the router for an extended amount of time.
You will find the Deep Sweepy to be a lot quieter to use when you can.
I like a 4" hose instead of the 2 1/2 again less noise and no hang ups.
Get a good quality hose, supple, wire wrapped and some gradual transitions.
The StealthSonic pulls everything along, not a problem.
Come up with a hanging arrangement that allows freedom of movement without pulling on the the spindle. Test by jogging the spindle to around the table limits.
Get a cyclone ( I got a Mullet ), saves on vacuum bags, very durable and portable.
I second (third?) both @robgrz and @jtclose suggestion of the DeWalt StealthSonic. Fantastic vacuum.
I will also chime in on the deep sweepy. That made a big difference in sound reduction as well. Great upgrade.
I’ve gone from a 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" hose. Both worked fine. Sound reduction occurred at the upgrade.
And then a cyclone dust separator is an essential in my book. The Bauer from Harbor Freight works great for me… attached to a 5 gallon bucket inserted inside another 5 gallon bucket to keep it from collapsing in on itself.
Is it likely that you would need dust collection for other machines in the future? If not, then the vacuum route is an excellent choice.
If you think that you will be getting other machines in the future, then a larger, centralized system may make sense.
I have a question about the Sweepy Pro. How much space actually is lost under the gantry to the table when this is installed? I measured under the Z plate to the table and came up with 4.25". If this mounts and takes up 1.5" to 1.75" away from that total clearance, then would be looking at a total clearance of only 2.5" to 2.75". Does the Sweepy Pro also allow the 80mm spindle to move inside the top of the Sweepy while cutting and then retract out of the Sweepy when the spindle moves back up out of the way? I am a little confused as to the way this works and how much room this takes up in spacing. When Height is the biggest issue for clearance, then taking away from this clearance might be an issue.
I use a 1hp dust collector with a cannister filter. It quiet enough and has worked flawlessy. If you are around Barrie you can swing by to check it out
The Sweepy Pro bottom is ~30mm thick, and the spindle can move down into it.
This is on an original ER-11 65mm spindle. I do a lot of tall stuff, so I run it as high as I can get.
I did add the Risers, which makes a big difference, without fear of stressing anything.
There are two concepts to a Sweepy. A base and two “shoe” options.
The base that slides over the spindle. The maximum down position is limited by set of features on the spindle. The base has a clamp system on the side to stay on the spindle.
The base about 1.5 inches deep.
Note the bottom of the collet is approximately 2.5 from the bottom of the base.
There are two Sweepy bottoms, the original ( freaking loud ) and the Deep Sweepy ( much quieter ). The brushes are the same for both shoe options, it’s about 1" long. There is a point where the brushes deform and don’t come back. You can interfere 50% no problem.
The original shoe
You can see the collet below the brushes.
This is the 30mm height that @WillAdams is referring to I believe.
Note the holes in my shoe. I did this to reduce the screaming noise, 19 holes an counting.
The Deep Sweepy
Not a good picture, but the collet is about a 0.25" up into the brushes.
These brushes are hammered.
Do the holes help? I try to avoid using the smaller one due to the sound. I assumed it was due to the hard right angle vs the gradual curve on the deep sweepy. I wondered if there was a way to fix it.
I think so. It’s not quiet, but better.
I will keep hacking away until it stops sucking dust or falls apart.
The smallest cross section is between the magnets.
So I wandered around that area drilling holes over time.
I have not cut stringy material lately, but it doesn’t clog up as easily.
What you pictured is the Sweepy 2.0. I had one of those with the 65mm spindle I had. I sent it with the spindle when I sold it. I don’t mind buying another one of them for the 80mm spindle if one didn’t come with the 80mm bundle purchase. I still haven’t taken the 80mm out to install it because I am rebuilding the table my Shapeoko 5 Pro sits on. I want build drawers and cabinets into the table and an area to house the spindle cooler and the shop vac. I also think buying the larger base would be helpful, and I will open up the table for a 4th axis. In the location for the 4th axis, I will make a manual rotary that can be rotated and locked for machining on any one side.
As for the dust collection system, I want to make sure the Sweepy Pro wouldn’t be taking out or reducing the clearance space by much, so if I ran a 4 inch thick board, I wouldn’t be forced not to be able to cut.
It would be wise to add a static wire around your dust collection hoses and run it out to an outside rod, or to the neutral ground part of a plug. If you dont understand the plug part, then dont attempt because wouldn’t want you to cause a fire because you connected the wrong way and turned the static wire into a hot wire. Discharging static from a dust collection system is wise. Too much build up of static could lead to a static shock or even messing up machine parts, especially circuit boards.
The S5 Pro has a grounding block on it. Run the wires to that and let the S5 Pro’s power supply handle the grounding. Also most flexible hose has a solid wire coiled up inside it to keep the hose from collapsing. You can expose that wire on one end and crimp a grounding wire to it. Then run that grounding wire to the S5 Pro’s grounding block.
Do you still have your regular sweepy? If so, you could still go back that if you were pushing the limits of the sweepy 2 clearance. I still use the original one occasionally.
Either way, my sweepy 2 goes about 1" higher than the carriage for the spindle when slid to the top of its capacity. So depth of the sweepy doesn’t really matter(?)
I am not sure where the grounding block is on my Shapeoko 5 Pro. It has been a long while since I connected things along with wires on my machine. So, maybe it is in the back of the machine somewhere, but I guess it doesn’t matter where I ground the wire to the hose, as long as it has enough to move if the ground is on moving parts. There are plenty of places to attach grounding wires for static discharge.
I don’t have any of the old sweepy parts. I sent them with the sold spindle. They wouldn’t fit my 80mm spindle. So, no dice with them. I think I am just overthinking all of this myself. Plus, I didn’t want to hijack this post. Just thought that sense we were talking about dust collection systems and such, I wanted to clarify somethings that I had questions about as well in this area.
