Automated dust collection
Automated dust collection. Built around the shop you already own.
GRIT retrofits compatible metal blast gates and controls your existing dust collector when a tool starts. Add direct switching, magnetic-starter, iR/RF, or VFD control, then monitor filter pressure, bin level, and air quality from the same local Hub.
The challenge
Manual blast gates leave collection to memory.
A dust collector can only capture what reaches it. The correct gate has to be open, the collector has to respond, and filters and bins have to stay within their operating range.
Manual blast gates
Opening and closing gates by hand interrupts the job. Leave the wrong gate open, and suction is divided away from the active tool.
One collector, different demands
A sander, table saw, and CNC do not create the same airflow demand. Fixed-speed operation cannot respond to the active combination of tools.
Changing air conditions
Fine particulate is difficult to judge by sight. A local sensor gives the shop a consistent reading and a record of how conditions change during work.
Silent filter degradation
A rising pressure differential can show that a filter needs attention before reduced airflow becomes obvious at the machine.
Overflowing dust bins
A full bin can create cleanup and collection problems. Infrared level monitoring provides a warning before the bin reaches its limit.
No operating record
Without local history, it is harder to compare collector runtime, filter condition, and air-quality readings when the shop changes.
The solution
Tool detection. Gate control. Collector response.
A GRIT Trigger identifies the active tool. The local Hub opens its mapped blast gates and sends the correct command to the collector. Sensors can then watch the conditions that affect collection performance.
Automated collection
Open the right path when the tool starts.
The GRIT Trigger detects tool power draw and tells the Hub which tool is running. The Hub opens the mapped gates and starts, switches, or commands the collector using the control method selected for that equipment.
- Bolt-on Gate Control for compatible metal blast gates
- Gate sizes from 2.5 through 12 inches
- Direct, magnetic-starter, iR/RF, and VFD collector control
- VFD demand settings mapped to tools and zones
- Multi-tool zone management
- Tool-off auto shutdown with delay
- iVac Retrofit Gate Control for compatible existing systems
Air quality monitoring
Know what you are breathing.
The GRIT Air Quality Sensor tracks particulate conditions. The GRIT Pressure Sensor measures filter differential, and the GRIT Dust Bin Sensor watches fill level. The Hub keeps the readings local and makes them available in the GRIT interface.
- Local particulate monitoring
- Filter pressure differential alerts
- Infrared dust bin level monitoring
- Historical condition records on the Hub
- Threshold-based filtration responses
- Shop status and alert visibility
Retrofit is the starting point
Keep compatible gates, ductwork, and collectors in place. GRIT adds tool detection, gate actuation, collector control, and local condition records around the system you already maintain.
The manual workflow
Set the airflow path before every cut.
Open the correct gate, close unneeded paths, start the collector, and then start the tool. When the job changes, repeat the sequence for the next machine.
The GRIT workflow
Start the tool. Let the mapped system respond.
The Trigger reports demand, the Hub opens the mapped gates, and the collector receives its configured command. A tool-off delay clears the line before the system returns to its resting state.
Step by step
How it works.
GRIT Trigger detects current draw on the tool’s circuit. The Hub instantly knows which tool is running.
The correct blast gates actuate automatically. Suction is routed directly to the active tool — no manual intervention.
For a compatible VFD collector, the Hub sends the configured demand for the active tool or tool combination over MODBUS. Other collectors use the matched switching or starter-control method.
Air-quality sensors watch particulate conditions. Configured thresholds can activate compatible filtration or alert the people responsible for the shop.
Differential pressure shows changing filter resistance. The infrared bin sensor provides a separate fill-level warning before routine service is missed.
When the tool powers down, gates close after a configurable delay. The collector ramps down, returns to its configured state, or shuts off.
See it in action
See automated dust collection in a working shop.
This home-workshop walkthrough shows GRIT Triggers, Gate Controls, and collector automation working together.
Capabilities
Built for clean air. Built to retrofit.
Automated blast gates
Detect the active tool and open its mapped gates without replacing compatible metal blast gates or ductwork.
VFD dust collector control
Send configured demand commands to compatible industrial variable frequency drives over MODBUS.
Air-quality sensing
Track particulate conditions locally and use thresholds to alert staff or activate compatible filtration equipment.
Filter pressure alerts
Measure differential pressure across filters, booths, or cyclones and watch the trend as resistance changes.
Dust bin level monitoring
Use an infrared sensor and remote strobe alert to identify a full collection bin before routine service is missed.
Zone-based suction
Manage multiple collection points across zones. Suction is distributed intelligently for better capture at the source.
Local operating history
Keep collection events and sensor readings on the Hub for troubleshooting, maintenance planning, and shop review.
One local interface
Review gate state, collector response, air conditions, and sensor alerts without a mandatory cloud subscription.
Plan the retrofit
Match the controls to the equipment already in your shop.
An automated dust collection system starts with four equipment questions: which tools create demand, which gates should open, how the collector accepts a command, and where the Hub will coordinate the system.
01 · Detect the tool
Choose a GRIT Trigger for each tool.
Match the Trigger to the tool’s phase, voltage, amperage, and control method. Plug-in and hardwired options let the Hub know when demand starts and stops.
02 · Move the gate
Retrofit compatible metal blast gates.
GRIT Gate Control bolts onto a free-sliding metal gate. Size families cover 2.5 through 12 inches, with a separate iVac retrofit option.
03 · Control the collector
Use the command path your collector supports.
GRIT supports direct 120V or 220V switching, magnetic-starter control, iR/RF remote control, and MODBUS commands for compatible VFDs.
04 · Coordinate locally
Map tools, gates, collectors, and delays in the Hub.
The Hub keeps the automation rules and operating records on your local network. Add Power Banks where low-voltage Gate Controls and sensors need power.
Not every blast gate is a retrofit candidate.
The slide should move freely without a locking feature or other resistance. Watch the compatible blast gate guide and read the transcript →
Hardware
The gear behind the solution.
Industrial-grade, plug-and-play hardware. Designed and assembled in the USA.
Who it is for
From garage shops to factory floors.
Garage and basement workshops
Turn on the table saw, open its mapped gate, and start the collector without walking across the shop. Add air-quality and bin monitoring as the system grows.
Home & Hobby
- Automatic blast gate per tool
- Single-collector speed optimization
- PM2.5 alerts on your phone
- No wiring changes — plug and play
School shops and makerspaces
Remove manual gate selection from the student workflow. Give instructors and facilities staff local records for collector activity, air conditions, filter pressure, and bin status.
Education
- Zero manual steps for students
- Local air-quality and collector records
- Filter and bin alerts for shop managers
- Usage data for budget justification
Manufacturing and production
Coordinate multi-zone dust collection across production equipment, use compatible VFD controls, and retain local operating data for maintenance and EHS review.
Commercial
- Multi-zone gate management
- VFD energy optimization at scale
- Local condition and equipment history
- Filter-pressure maintenance alerts
Built to retrofit
Keep your collector. Make it smart.
GRIT doesn’t ask you to replace compatible dust collectors, ductwork, or metal blast gates. GRIT Gate Control is a bolt-on actuator that mounts to a free-sliding metal gate and opens it on a signal from the Hub. Size families cover gates from 2.5 through 12 inches, and an iVac Retrofit Gate Control supports compatible existing iVac installations.
So you retrofit your existing blast gates, keep the ductwork you spent a weekend dialing in, and add intelligence on top — triggers that detect tool activity, actuators that move the gates, and a hub that ties it all together with real-time monitoring and data logging.
That’s what GRITified means: your existing dust collection infrastructure, made automatic, made measurable, made accountable — without starting over.
Automatic blast gates for dust collection
Review compatible gates, tool-to-gate mapping, collector response, and installation planning →
Retrofit an existing dust collection system
Map the tools, gates, ductwork, collector, and control paths already in your shop →
VFD dust collector control and on-demand airflow
Map active tools and zones to configured commands for a compatible variable frequency drive →
Automated dust collection for school and CTE shops
Coordinate the collection sequence without depending on students to operate gates and collector controls manually →
Dust collector filter pressure and bin monitoring
Keep sensor readings, configured alerts, tool activity, and collector runtime in one local operating record →
How to automate your existing blast gates without replacing them
Read the walkthrough →
What products do I need for automated dust collection?
Watch the guide and read the transcript →
Common questions
What to know before automating dust collection.
Does GRIT replace my blast gates?
No. GRIT sells the Gate Control actuator, not the blast gate. It bolts onto compatible free-sliding metal gates so the ductwork and gate body can stay in place.
Which blast gates are compatible?
The gate should be metal, within a supported 2.5- through 12-inch size family, and able to slide freely without a built-in lock or heavy resistance. GRIT also offers an iVac retrofit model.
Can GRIT control my existing dust collector?
In many cases, yes. The control method depends on the collector: direct 120V or 220V switching, a magnetic starter, an iR/RF remote, or a compatible VFD over MODBUS. GRIT can review the model and starter before specifying hardware.
What information do I need to plan a system?
List each tool’s phase, voltage, amperage, and dust ports; each blast gate’s size and style; and the collector’s model, starter, remote, or VFD. That is enough to map the first hardware pass.
Does automated dust collection require the cloud?
No. The Hub coordinates tools, gates, collectors, and sensors locally. Cloud access is optional, and there is no required subscription for the local automation workflow.
Can I start with one collector and expand later?
Yes. Start with the tools, gates, and collector that matter now. Add compatible Gate Controls, Triggers, sensors, zones, or additional collectors without replacing the first system.
One platform
Part of the complete GRIT platform.
Dust management integrates with the rest of GRIT’s workshop automation, sharing one Hub and one credential.
Access Control
Identity, training, authorization, and presence rules at the equipment.
Time & Access
Time clock and door access control in one system.
Environmental Monitoring
Temperature, humidity, and particulate tracking beyond dust.
Asset Management
Custody, location, audits, documents, and service history.
Start with one workflow
Ready to automate your dust collection?
Tell us what you are working with — tools, ductwork, collector — and the engineering team handles the rest.
Automated dust collection
Automated dust collection. Built around the shop you already own.
GRIT retrofits compatible metal blast gates and controls your existing dust collector when a tool starts. Add direct switching, magnetic-starter, iR/RF, or VFD control, then monitor filter pressure, bin level, and air quality from the same local Hub.
The challenge
Manual blast gates leave collection to memory.
A dust collector can only capture what reaches it. The correct gate has to be open, the collector has to respond, and filters and bins have to stay within their operating range.
Manual blast gates
Opening and closing gates by hand interrupts the job. Leave the wrong gate open, and suction is divided away from the active tool.
One collector, different demands
A sander, table saw, and CNC do not create the same airflow demand. Fixed-speed operation cannot respond to the active combination of tools.
Changing air conditions
Fine particulate is difficult to judge by sight. A local sensor gives the shop a consistent reading and a record of how conditions change during work.
Silent filter degradation
A rising pressure differential can show that a filter needs attention before reduced airflow becomes obvious at the machine.
Overflowing dust bins
A full bin can create cleanup and collection problems. Infrared level monitoring provides a warning before the bin reaches its limit.
No operating record
Without local history, it is harder to compare collector runtime, filter condition, and air-quality readings when the shop changes.
The solution
Tool detection. Gate control. Collector response.
A GRIT Trigger identifies the active tool. The local Hub opens its mapped blast gates and sends the correct command to the collector. Sensors can then watch the conditions that affect collection performance.
Automated collection
Open the right path when the tool starts.
The GRIT Trigger detects tool power draw and tells the Hub which tool is running. The Hub opens the mapped gates and starts, switches, or commands the collector using the control method selected for that equipment.
- Bolt-on Gate Control for compatible metal blast gates
- Gate sizes from 2.5 through 12 inches
- Direct, magnetic-starter, iR/RF, and VFD collector control
- VFD demand settings mapped to tools and zones
- Multi-tool zone management
- Tool-off auto shutdown with delay
- iVac Retrofit Gate Control for compatible existing systems
Air quality monitoring
Know what you are breathing.
The GRIT Air Quality Sensor tracks particulate conditions. The GRIT Pressure Sensor measures filter differential, and the GRIT Dust Bin Sensor watches fill level. The Hub keeps the readings local and makes them available in the GRIT interface.
- Local particulate monitoring
- Filter pressure differential alerts
- Infrared dust bin level monitoring
- Historical condition records on the Hub
- Threshold-based filtration responses
- Shop status and alert visibility
Retrofit is the starting point
Keep compatible gates, ductwork, and collectors in place. GRIT adds tool detection, gate actuation, collector control, and local condition records around the system you already maintain.
The manual workflow
Set the airflow path before every cut.
Open the correct gate, close unneeded paths, start the collector, and then start the tool. When the job changes, repeat the sequence for the next machine.
The GRIT workflow
Start the tool. Let the mapped system respond.
The Trigger reports demand, the Hub opens the mapped gates, and the collector receives its configured command. A tool-off delay clears the line before the system returns to its resting state.
Step by step
How it works.
GRIT Trigger detects current draw on the tool’s circuit. The Hub instantly knows which tool is running.
The correct blast gates actuate automatically. Suction is routed directly to the active tool — no manual intervention.
For a compatible VFD collector, the Hub sends the configured demand for the active tool or tool combination over MODBUS. Other collectors use the matched switching or starter-control method.
Air-quality sensors watch particulate conditions. Configured thresholds can activate compatible filtration or alert the people responsible for the shop.
Differential pressure shows changing filter resistance. The infrared bin sensor provides a separate fill-level warning before routine service is missed.
When the tool powers down, gates close after a configurable delay. The collector ramps down, returns to its configured state, or shuts off.
See it in action
See automated dust collection in a working shop.
This home-workshop walkthrough shows GRIT Triggers, Gate Controls, and collector automation working together.
Capabilities
Built for clean air. Built to retrofit.
Automated blast gates
Detect the active tool and open its mapped gates without replacing compatible metal blast gates or ductwork.
VFD dust collector control
Send configured demand commands to compatible industrial variable frequency drives over MODBUS.
Air-quality sensing
Track particulate conditions locally and use thresholds to alert staff or activate compatible filtration equipment.
Filter pressure alerts
Measure differential pressure across filters, booths, or cyclones and watch the trend as resistance changes.
Dust bin level monitoring
Use an infrared sensor and remote strobe alert to identify a full collection bin before routine service is missed.
Zone-based suction
Manage multiple collection points across zones. Suction is distributed intelligently for better capture at the source.
Local operating history
Keep collection events and sensor readings on the Hub for troubleshooting, maintenance planning, and shop review.
One local interface
Review gate state, collector response, air conditions, and sensor alerts without a mandatory cloud subscription.
Plan the retrofit
Match the controls to the equipment already in your shop.
An automated dust collection system starts with four equipment questions: which tools create demand, which gates should open, how the collector accepts a command, and where the Hub will coordinate the system.
01 · Detect the tool
Choose a GRIT Trigger for each tool.
Match the Trigger to the tool’s phase, voltage, amperage, and control method. Plug-in and hardwired options let the Hub know when demand starts and stops.
02 · Move the gate
Retrofit compatible metal blast gates.
GRIT Gate Control bolts onto a free-sliding metal gate. Size families cover 2.5 through 12 inches, with a separate iVac retrofit option.
03 · Control the collector
Use the command path your collector supports.
GRIT supports direct 120V or 220V switching, magnetic-starter control, iR/RF remote control, and MODBUS commands for compatible VFDs.
04 · Coordinate locally
Map tools, gates, collectors, and delays in the Hub.
The Hub keeps the automation rules and operating records on your local network. Add Power Banks where low-voltage Gate Controls and sensors need power.
Not every blast gate is a retrofit candidate.
The slide should move freely without a locking feature or other resistance. Watch the compatible blast gate guide and read the transcript →
Hardware
The gear behind the solution.
Industrial-grade, plug-and-play hardware. Designed and assembled in the USA.
Who it is for
From garage shops to factory floors.
Garage and basement workshops
Turn on the table saw, open its mapped gate, and start the collector without walking across the shop. Add air-quality and bin monitoring as the system grows.
Home & Hobby
- Automatic blast gate per tool
- Single-collector speed optimization
- PM2.5 alerts on your phone
- No wiring changes — plug and play
School shops and makerspaces
Remove manual gate selection from the student workflow. Give instructors and facilities staff local records for collector activity, air conditions, filter pressure, and bin status.
Education
- Zero manual steps for students
- Local air-quality and collector records
- Filter and bin alerts for shop managers
- Usage data for budget justification
Manufacturing and production
Coordinate multi-zone dust collection across production equipment, use compatible VFD controls, and retain local operating data for maintenance and EHS review.
Commercial
- Multi-zone gate management
- VFD energy optimization at scale
- Local condition and equipment history
- Filter-pressure maintenance alerts
Built to retrofit
Keep your collector. Make it smart.
GRIT doesn’t ask you to replace compatible dust collectors, ductwork, or metal blast gates. GRIT Gate Control is a bolt-on actuator that mounts to a free-sliding metal gate and opens it on a signal from the Hub. Size families cover gates from 2.5 through 12 inches, and an iVac Retrofit Gate Control supports compatible existing iVac installations.
So you retrofit your existing blast gates, keep the ductwork you spent a weekend dialing in, and add intelligence on top — triggers that detect tool activity, actuators that move the gates, and a hub that ties it all together with real-time monitoring and data logging.
That’s what GRITified means: your existing dust collection infrastructure, made automatic, made measurable, made accountable — without starting over.
Automatic blast gates for dust collection
Review compatible gates, tool-to-gate mapping, collector response, and installation planning →
Retrofit an existing dust collection system
Map the tools, gates, ductwork, collector, and control paths already in your shop →
VFD dust collector control and on-demand airflow
Map active tools and zones to configured commands for a compatible variable frequency drive →
Automated dust collection for school and CTE shops
Coordinate the collection sequence without depending on students to operate gates and collector controls manually →
Dust collector filter pressure and bin monitoring
Keep sensor readings, configured alerts, tool activity, and collector runtime in one local operating record →
How to automate your existing blast gates without replacing them
Read the walkthrough →
What products do I need for automated dust collection?
Watch the guide and read the transcript →
Common questions
What to know before automating dust collection.
Does GRIT replace my blast gates?
No. GRIT sells the Gate Control actuator, not the blast gate. It bolts onto compatible free-sliding metal gates so the ductwork and gate body can stay in place.
Which blast gates are compatible?
The gate should be metal, within a supported 2.5- through 12-inch size family, and able to slide freely without a built-in lock or heavy resistance. GRIT also offers an iVac retrofit model.
Can GRIT control my existing dust collector?
In many cases, yes. The control method depends on the collector: direct 120V or 220V switching, a magnetic starter, an iR/RF remote, or a compatible VFD over MODBUS. GRIT can review the model and starter before specifying hardware.
What information do I need to plan a system?
List each tool’s phase, voltage, amperage, and dust ports; each blast gate’s size and style; and the collector’s model, starter, remote, or VFD. That is enough to map the first hardware pass.
Does automated dust collection require the cloud?
No. The Hub coordinates tools, gates, collectors, and sensors locally. Cloud access is optional, and there is no required subscription for the local automation workflow.
Can I start with one collector and expand later?
Yes. Start with the tools, gates, and collector that matter now. Add compatible Gate Controls, Triggers, sensors, zones, or additional collectors without replacing the first system.
One platform
Part of the complete GRIT platform.
Dust management integrates with the rest of GRIT’s workshop automation, sharing one Hub and one credential.
Access Control
Identity, training, authorization, and presence rules at the equipment.
Time & Access
Time clock and door access control in one system.
Environmental Monitoring
Temperature, humidity, and particulate tracking beyond dust.
Asset Management
Custody, location, audits, documents, and service history.
Start with one workflow
Ready to automate your dust collection?
Tell us what you are working with — tools, ductwork, collector — and the engineering team handles the rest.