Scan and 3D Print a Vacuum Port for the Evolution Cold Saw

I love my Evolution cold saw, but it makes a huge mess, throwing chips everywhere. Let's do something about it. I'm going to 3D scan the saw so I can design and 3D print a chip shield with a vacuum port. Will this finally give me the chip containment I'm looking for. Umm...sort of.

Tools used in this video:
*This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

00:00 Intro
00:34 The saw that makes the chips
02:01 Scanning spray
03:14 Scanning tips for the EinScan
06:23 Combining multiple scans
08:16 Modeling from the scan mesh in Fusion 360
10:11 Adding the vacuum port
14:02 3D printing
14:37 Fitting the new part to the saw
15:59 Test cuts and evaluation
18:09 Conclusion

[patrickchivell]

I usually put some duct tape over the end of the tube. It doesn’t completely solve the problem, but does reduce the chips somewhat

[edo]

A simple way to contain chips: consider making a "dog house" out of a cardboard shipping box. Cut off the flaps and add an access hole, set it over the saw. almost all of the chips will be contained under the box . If fire is a concern, a light mist of water on the cardboard fixes that. No need to keep the used box. It is a good way to use those shipping boxes. By the way, boxes also make great mini paint booths.

[ryebis]

Make yourself a small shower booth with curtains for the saw, it should keep the mess contained.

[pmcquay]

Tiny fusion 360 tip. When creating lines, if you click and drag off of an existing point, it makes tangent curves instead of line segments. Thats why the symbol for lines has a curve in it too. Always wondered why that was, and learned it recently.

[jmac]

When I used them a lot, I would stick those clean up magnets (the ones you can pull to drop the chips off) on the end up the mitered part and near the spray and would get quite a bit. Won’t help you on some materials but did help on steel, which was most of what I cut. Tape can also help.
Great video as always

[donswords]

I'm a hobbyist. I sold that beast after a few uses. Loud as a jet engine and freaking hot chips everywhere. Good for a large working shop I guess. I now have that scanner and appreciate learning about it from these two videos. (lathe) Scan more stuff James!!!! :-)

[bendingsands]

Pretty much all of them tend to have garbage chip/dust management so if you actually solve this problem you'll have a goldmine. I think without fully enclosing it, the only really successful way is to have an octopus of vacuum hoses with various magnetic/clamping attachments so you can place them individually for each cut. Thanks for showing us how you went from idea to finished part instead of saying "I want a vacuum port on this, so I made one." It was super insightful.

[jhawker]

I think they didn't make a vacuum port is because of HOT sparks from cutting steel. I think unless you add water to a wet and dry vacuum you could have a fire if you just use a vacuum dry. ( That is if there is anything flammable you have vacuumed up)

[johnmccanntruth]

Even if it didn’t work out, I really like the practical application and seeing how you did it. 👍

[nicolasaudouard]

PAINTER'S TAPE ON THE END OF THE PARTS OU ARE CUTTING WORKS MIRACLE

[jeffreyhallam]

I don’t know if this helpful but I’ll put it out there. I avoid saws like that one favoring my 4x6 horizontal bandsaw since it’s much quieter and doesn’t throw chips so far. For storage and convenience I mounted my band saw on a harbor freight hydraulic lift table. I can raise and lower the saw for comfort and storage. It fits under a workbench and for heavier materials I can just make the cut lower to the ground. The table top of the lift actually makes a pretty good catch pan for the chips as well.

[astrotwo]

For home shop or small business use, the Evolution saw in the video is great. It would be difficult to find a saw that cuts steel quicker and more accurately that the Evolution. Unfortunately, circular saws just throw crap everywhere. It’s just the nature of the beast.

I mounted my Evolution saw on the RIDGID Mobile Miter Saw Stand (AC9946). When not in use it folds up tight and stands in the corner of the shop instead of the work table. When in use, I’m no longer kneeling on the floor.

Another great video! Thank you for sharing you experiences.

[SamThurlow]

I use this saw in my shop and put it inside of a tile saw tent. Keeps all the chips in the tent and I have a hole in the side and a saw horse next to it for longer stock.

[Lee_In_AZ]

The mess is one reason I went with the Femi 105ABS bench top bandsaw. Very precise cuts, quieter, and much easier to contain the chips.

[blalor]

Thanks for posting your failures. It helps us know you’re human like the rest of us, and not just a perfectionist who gets it right every time. 😁

[Quad_Awesome]

"Hot chips are Hot" -Clough42. Thank you for another Fusion video 👍

[haagar]

I was sad when my Prusa MK2s died, and bought a Bambu P1P largely because of your video on the X1. Within 3 hours of receiving it I was glad the MK2s died! Thank you!

[RobytheFlorentine]

this was the perfect transition to my Sunday coffe. Thanks for the nice video

[toddkerns]

That was an awesome video! I have made several (simpler) parts like that, but haven’t had the benefit of a 3D scanner. I really enjoyed seeing your work flow, seeing what the scanner and software would do, and what it wouldn’t. I learned a bunch. Thanks!

[Emu]

The only solution we ever came up with at the shop I used to work at was to keep it in an area that was easy to sweep. And a face shield in addition to the safeties is a good idea