This page describes how the vacuum mechanism of the DIY robot vacuum works. Below is a video showing the robot passing over dirt (blue particles). It picks up some dirt along the way.
The robot has a fan attached to the rear which sucks air from the ground and exhausts clean air from the back. There is a filter that blocks any dust from entering the fan. Dust is stopped by the filter and collected in a compartment.
The dust compartment can be removed from the back of the robot.
Below is a picture of the dust compartment and the filter. For the filter, I cut out a piece out of a drainer net.
Below is the back side of the robot with the dust compartment removed.
I used a fan called DF5015. It is used primarily for cooling 3D printer nozzles. It sucks air from the center and blows out from the rectangular hole on the side.
Specs:
| Nominal voltage | 12V |
| Current | 0.18A |
| Speed | 6500RPM |
| Airflow | 18CFM |
| Sound | 25dBA |