A dust collector is a machine that sucks in air and collects dust particles. It helps to keep the air in your home or workplace clean. The dust collector typically has a fan inside that pulls air into the machine. As the air passes through the machine it passes through a filter or a series of filters. Inside these filters are tiny holes that trap the dust particles so that they can't escape. The air that comes out the back of the dust collector is cleaner than the air that goes in.