X Carve 4" Dust Boot

thingiverse

I was looking for a dust shoe that could seamlessly integrate with my 4" dust collector hose, so I decided to create one myself. I appreciated the original design's simplicity, which borrowed elements from another well-designed model, but I've encountered issues in the past with gluing bristles into the base of shoes, so I wanted to simplify the process by creating a series of holes that would make it easier. I also needed a way to quickly change bits without having to raise my router, so I cut a slit in the back of the plate. Using individual bristle strips would be a more straightforward solution, but unfortunately, there aren't any reliable suppliers available in Canada, so I decided to proceed with this project. I included the original connector for the arms and my modified version that combines the three parts into one piece. To use mine, you'll need to remove the Z-axis stepper motor, which can be a bit of a hassle, but I prefer the streamlined design. I also created short and long arms to accommodate different printer setups. Long arms are beneficial when the Y-axis has been raised, but they're taller and may not fit on smaller printers. This dust shoe should work with the CNC4Newbie 6" slide, although I haven't personally tested it. To ensure precise placement of the base, I deliberately left out holes for fixing the base to the arms, allowing you to drill them in later. I've included a tool that helps cut the bristles to a uniform length. A small hole in the back of the arms allows for secure attachment with clips. For assembling the dust shoe, I used "insert threads" but you may be able to use regular nuts instead. To tighten the threads, I use a soldering iron to heat them up and press them into place where necessary. If you're interested in exploring more X-Carve upgrades, please visit my website at http://www.brandonhilder.com/cnc/x-carve/x-carve-upgrades. Edit: On June 6th, 2018, I created an improved model that can be found on Thingiverse at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2960642