There are also clever tools to help you get rid of splinters and dust

Dust and chips resulting from processing of wood and wood-based panels have always been a problem. Whether it's a factory or a small workshop, processing results in sawdust and dust that must be got rid of. So, by necessity, everyone installs exhaust systems with filters. There was a time when, travelling around the country in search of varnish customers, we would see woodworking factories from afar looking for exhaust systems. All these systems are energy consuming, and there is even a theory that the energy required to evacuate the waste from milling or drilling is equal to the energy consumed to drill or mill. If not evacuated, waste can damage tools during machining. As, like any process, evacuation also has a specific yield, the machine has to be stopped from time to time for cleaning. The question is: are there smart tools that can increase dust removal efficiency and thus reduce energy consumption? Apparently so.

By some chance, I came across a data sheet for such a tool. As the technical information was quite scarce, I started researching. I may not be a "minitehnicus", but I've always had technical inclinations (I was going to say I'm an engineer, but that's not really relevant now 🙂 ) So I didn't stop until I found information that would help me understand how the process was designed and how the piece works.

It is a chuck coupled with a suction system capable of sucking up to 90% of the chips and dust formed. This turbine attached to the chuck controls the flow of dust and swarf from the milling process and using the energy of the flow - the swarf comes out at high speed when milling - it removes it from the chipping tool and channels it to the suction system.

This seemingly simple idea comes with a number of advantages:

• energy saving - the airflow from the exhauster no longer has to capture the chips but only transports them. This reduces the airflow, which is particularly noticeable in winter when warm air is no longer being exhausted and heating costs are greatly reduced;
• increased productivity- the machine no longer needs to be stopped from time to time for cleaning, with increased productivity resulting in effectively increased working time;
• reducing maintenance costs - chips are abrasive materials and their rapid removal increases the life of cutters and drills.

The system is called "Dust Flow Control" DFC and belongs to the group Leitz. But in addition to this system, the chuck has a number of other advantages:

• The material from which it is made is very hard, with high resistance to the very high frictional forces that develop during milling or drilling;
• thermal clamping/clamping of the chipping tool giving maximum stability and rigidity, optimising the process. Basically, the cutter or drill becomes one with the chuck. This is another clever system. To get an idea you can see the video below;
• The tool is clamped with an eccentricity of 0.01 mm and is perfectly balanced up to speeds of 24,000 rpm.

If you want to know more about this chuck, by its first name "Shrink-fit chuck ThermoGrip® with DFC® Turbine" you can enter here.

My final point is that if someone says that using one system or another saves money, you should test that system to see for yourself. And if so, then use it. I'm not saying you should immediately replace the parts you're working with now with others. But if you cut costs, you streamline the system and become more cost effective. My opinion! 🙂