Cyclone Separator (aka Cyclonic Vacuum) for Workshop / ShopVac

thingiverse

This is a cyclone separator designed to fit snugly into a 5 gallon (or larger) bucket with lid, just like those standard buckets found at Home Depot or Lowes. It seamlessly accepts standard 1-1/4" hoses used by budget-friendly shopvacs. Simply connect the hose to the shop-vac into the opening on top and link another hose for dust collection to the side inlet. I've already connected that inlet hose to the dust-shoe on my CNC (which will soon be available on Thingiverse). To get started, you'll need to print these components in the default orientation, but I recommend using support only on the inlet area, making sure not to add supports anywhere else on the top portion. I'm working on uploading a file with pre-made supports in the correct spot. Next, cut a large hole in the bucket lid, matching the inside diameter of the main assembly, and also drill smaller holes for the bolts. I suggest printing the bottom/inside piece first, then using it as a template to mark the location of the screw holes, which you can then drill out. Temporarily secure the inside/bottom piece to the lid with bolts and use a knife to cut out the large hole from the lid. Finally, assemble the top and bottom pieces on either side of the lid, holding them together with #10 bolts and nuts. You'll need 6x #10 x 1/2" bolts and nuts for this project. Since plastic buckets aren't particularly rigid, if your shopvac has decent suction, you might find that the bucket collapses under pressure. To avoid this issue, simply purchase an extra bucket and place one inside the other to keep the bucket in shape. In my experience, running this cyclone separator with a budget 6-gallon shopvac captures over 95% of dust and woodchips, allowing only a small percentage through to get caught by the shopvac filter.