CNC Enclosure and Vent

I've been designing and printing 3D parts for several years. However, at the beginning of the pandemic, I purchased a desktop CNC machine and quickly decided that I should build an enclosure, and negative pressure system to help keep the dust under control.

This project took me down some new and fun learning adventures where I became familiar with sheet metal design, and construction.

The design process involved plotting out the pattern on a 24in cutting plotter and then tracing the template onto sheets of cardboard which were then folded and secured to make the enclosure.

An old computer fan, and vacuum filter, were used to build a vent that pulled air out of the enclosure. I modeled both in Fusion 360, and then I designed an enclosure and mounting system around them.

I used an Arduino Nano, a potentiometer salvaged from an old sound mixer, and a fan control library for computer fans to create a variable speed controller that was mounted in the enclosure, enabling variable suction.

The project was a success, a handy, cheap way to manage the dust produced by my little CNC.