Dirty air enters through an intake inlet, where it hits a helical baffle. The air is pulled through by a powered fan or vacuum.

The air is diverted by the helix-shaped baffle, and it moves against the interior walls of the cyclone housing. The cyclone is wider at the top, and tapers down to the bottom, in an inverted cone shape. This cause the air to move in a “cyclone” vortex pattern.

Heavier dust is carried by centrifugal force to the bottom of the unit, where it drops into a collection area.

Clean air is carried through an inner cylinder to an outlet valve, where it is expelled to a secondary dust collector unit, or to the outside air.