Small print-bed 4 inch dust port and blast gate spacer

thingiverse

I recently acquired a dust collector for my woodworking endeavors, prompting me to utilize some blast gates. However, I discovered that I required more than what was readily available, and also wanted to ensure I had sufficient capacity to accommodate 4" dust ports on any new machines I might procure in the future. To address this need, I designed a simple yet effective dust port that could be screwed onto almost any machine, utilizing the print bed of my Monoprice Mini as well as a small spacer. This design allowed me to quickly produce multiple ports and spacers using super glue and 1/4" plywood, which I could then combine to form a functional blast gate. Although this setup may occasionally require some assistance to maintain complete airflow, it has proven to be an effective solution. In fact, the addition of a magnet or pin would help to secure the gate in place. My preferred design employs thin "hardboard" for the gate, which I can easily remove and reattach by pulling out the entire assembly, turning it around, and inserting the duct-tape covered pull-tab end into the gap. The other two gates use plywood and a nylon screw as a retaining pin, but I keep a few binder clips on hand to prevent them from wobbling and restricting airflow. I deliberately tapered only one end of each port, which has resulted in a design that I prefer over the ones offered by Harbor Freight. Thus far, these ports have demonstrated sufficient strength when printed with simple PLA material.