Workshop Dust Control Using Arduino

[Nick]

...In larger workshops which have the space, and have several items of power equipment in use it makes sense to install a dust extraction system with ‘blast gates’ which can be opened and closed as required, for whichever machine is in use at the time. Blast gates are usually controlled manually, but there’s an interesting use of Arduino to control ‘blast gates’ on a home workshop dust extraction system here:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMYaCIXXYU
 
I know that Arduinos are cheap and clones are even cheaper. It isn’t something I’m into or am ever likely to, but  I thought some forum members might be interested in the youtube video as an example of a practical application of Arduino in the workshop. No doubt there are countless other practical applications. The home-made dust extraction system on which the Arduino controls the blast gates is here:

A comment - in the nicest possible way, of course

What a mad, mad, way to open & close a few air sluice gates. So over-complex and it won't save him any time - the gates don't even open properly and you have to go back to the keypad to control them. Instead of basically nothing to go wrong, he now has six servos, an Arduino, a keypad, a power socket in use for the Arduino PSU, and wire dangling around all over just waiting to snag on something.

I generally like this guy's videos, but this one is, IMHO, a complete waste of time & money 

Now, if he'd done power detection on each bit of kit and automatically opened the appropriate gate & turned on the extraction (easy to do), that would be better... but a keypad and no extraction control? Please !