I don't think one can successfully use a dust collector to capture the dust
and smoke from a CNC plasma cutter used for any length of time. My solution
was to build a room to enclose the table and use an exhaust fan to pull the
dust outside. I also built a skirt around the table so all the air the fan
is moving is pulled through the table. My room is airtight enough to pull a
good vacuum as to contain nearly the dust. I also use a water tray under the
table but it is a pain to lose small parts in the murky water. I can turn
the exhaust fan off about 30-45 seconds after I complete a cut.
The health problems associated with the dust created by a plasma cutter are
a good thing to shield your self from. If you have the machine out in the
shop it won't be long and everything you have will be covered with a layer
of fine, nasty, black dust from hell. Here is a link to a photo of my setup.

Steve Peterson
Kettle River Ironworks

http://tinyurl.com/ytht4

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group...c=gr%26.view=t

And another to the PlasmaCam Info group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PIGINF...1?viscount=100



"Dennis" wrote in message
news:VzNIb.888546$6C4.95854@pd7tw1no...
Greetings,
I will pre-warn everyone that I am new to the metal industry. Recently I
was reading Popular Mechanics and found an ad for a CNC Plasma. I
purchased
a CNC plasma machine (small hobby/second business) but is wondering how to
remove the cutting smoke from my 24' by 24' garage without just pumping it
outside into my back ally? My CNC plasma already has a water table which
helps, will those portable home depote dust collectors work? Any other
suggestions?

Thanks,
Dennis