Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Vacuum Table

Bill,

One approach is to start with a 3/4" thick sheet of MDF and rout a grid
pattern in it. Next get some high density foam and place the foam in the
grid pattern around the area where you want the vacuum. Below the table
you would want to attach vacuum lines through the MDF into the grid pattern.
The foam needs to be slightly thicker that the depth of the routed grid
patter. On top of the table place a sheet of acrylic. The acrylic now
becomes your spoil board. When the vacuum is on, the acrylic will compress
the foam.

On top of the acrylic you will need some type of material that will compress
and hold the vacuum. If it is to be a high production run, then you can do
what Standard Router does on their cnc routers and buy some round continuous
O ring material and rout a slot in the spoil board. Then place the O ring
material in the slot.

The other option is to have some rubber sheet material diecut into a series
of donuts. The donuts are then placed around one or more holes that are
drilled through the acrylic. I have some sample diecut donuts that I can
send you.

If you use MDF, make sure that you seal it well.

Bob Campbell

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Scalione" <wscalione@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2001 8:40 PM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Vacuum Table


> Anyone out there ever built a vacuum table for a cnc router? I am
> in the process of building a new larger router and would like to add
> a vacuum part hold down to it. I picked up a couple of vacuum pumps
> at the NC State University surplus today although I am not sure if they
> will work for it yet. They are nice units direct drive high vacuum lab
> units. What I need to know is what size and number of holes would
> I drill in a 4' X 4' table? I will probably add some valves to section
> the table off, possibly go back and get another pump and section it
> into thirds, one pump for each section. Use only the sections I need
> to, depending on the size fo the work. I was thinking of using an acrylic
> sheet maybe 3/4" thick for the table. Will it require a large O-Ring
> around the edge or will just the holes be sufficent? Any tips would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Bill
>
>
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