Or put another way, how to deal with oily crap, plastic swarf and grinding dust. This has been a while getting built, like everything else recently. I needed to get this finished for my tool and cutter grinder, however a more pressing need arose when I got a job making some Delrin couplers that needed a large billet reducing to a size that generated a mountain of swarf per item.
Yes, it's a cyclone separator with a combination of machined, Delrin parts and 3D printed coupler. I, hmmm "BORROWED" the bosses Dyson hose for research purposes, honest !!! The coupler for the Henry is a straight forward adapter in the top of the cyclone. The coupler for the intake hose is 3D printed and incorporates a bit of aerospace magic. Taking inspiration from the modern jet exhaust cowl, you know the one with scalloped edges, I incorporated this into the design of the 3D printed part. It is supposed to stop the vortex forming at the step between the fitting and cyclone inlet. Normally you get an amount of dust build up in the edge of the adapter, this seems to have reduced that and should also allow a better air flow into the cyclone as everything starts to decelerate once the pipe widens. It all works very well, except for the occasional barrel collapse, the polypropylene barrel needs some internal support to stop it collapsing to a singularity. Ahhhh, such is particle physics...