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CNC Machining for the 12 In the second installment of this feature on CNC machining, learn how to set up efficient dust collection for your machine, and take a closer look at the processes involved when it comes to planning and creating one-of-a-kind projects. WORDS BY JOEY KNAPP
Last month, we took a look at my journey to wet my feet in the world of CNC machining. We left off with my Shapeoko XXL assembled and trued. This month, we’ll take a look at what I chose to use for dust collection and a few of the first projects I have completed with the machine. Before we start with the dust collection solution, I wanted to briefly address how I have been securing pieces to my wasteboard. If you recall, the last steps in the previous article included installing the T-track and sacrificial pieces on top of the
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Shapeoko wasteboard. I have since added an additional ½-inch MDF piece on top of the new wasteboard. I used template tape and clamps at the rear to secure it. I held down everything I have cut so far with template tape—with the exception of some aluminum brackets we’ll be looking at later. So far, it works well for me. I have plenty because I use it with the router table templates. Many people will attach painter’s tape to the wasteboard and the substrate and then CA glue them together. If I ever have a failure with the template tape, I will be giving this
method a try. The only complaint I have about using the template tape is that it can gum up the bit when cutting through the substrate to the wasteboard. It hasn’t posed a problem for me so far, but it does require a bit of cleanup.
Making Dust Collection Easy and Efficient I knew I would need some kind of dust collection setup if I would be cutting any amount of MDF with the machine. Initially, I wasn’t sure where I would be storing and using the CNC. There isn’t enough room in my woodshop for it
