63mm Sliding Blade Non-Clog Blast Gate for Workshop Dust Extraction Network

thingiverse

Update 24Aug20: I've posted a new design for a blast gate based on a ball valve. You can find it here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4578649 _______________________________________________________ After the umpteenth time of unclogging the groove in my workshop dust and chip extraction network's commercially available blast gates, I decided to create a better design. I searched Thingiverse but didn't find anything that fit my needs. I then designed two ideas in Onshape, which developed into two finished 3D printed objects. Both work without clogging, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This is the first idea, where the blade of the blast gate passes through the center of the airway, dislodging any dust in the groove - a self-cleaning arrangement rather than the anti-clog action of the butterfly/throttle valve of the second design. The disadvantage of this design is that sufficient space is needed for the blade to slide out of the frame at both sides (the second design is thing 4298595). Both designs are nominally for a 63mm (2½") rigid tube system, as shown in the photographs, but flexible hose of the same nominal size also fits. In addition to printing filament, you'll need four short M4 bolts. I used M4 x 10mm socket head set screws because I had them! These self-tap their own threads into the holes printed into the frame, or you could use an M4 tap (or any other thread size that fits the hole). The holes may need to be eased with a suitable drill bit. The spacers between the two frames have elongated holes so that their positions can be adjusted to change their grip on the sliding blade. If the blade won't stay where you've put it, just loosen the screws, squeeze the spacers more tightly against it, and re-tighten the screws. If the blade won't move easily...