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Thread: Vacuum Table _Works Great...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    22

    Default Vacuum Table _Works Great...

    Finally completed my vacuum plenum ...Made from Starboard...will get it made in aluminum some year....this works for now...



    WP_20161227_18_46_14_Pro.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    River Fall WI
    Posts
    796

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    What can it hold, and what kind of vacuum?
    Kyle Stapleton
    River Falls Renaissance Academy
    Math/Technology Education Teacher


    PRS Alpha 96x60 2.2 hp spindle, Double Air drills, 6" indexer, Fein 5 zone vac table
    Desktop w/spindle
    Potter Pen
    Aspire 8.5, Creo 3.0

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    22

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    No vacuum yet...just hooked up shopvac for time being...with conventional board, you could hold whatever you wanted. It creates a lot of flow and once sucked down its not coming off very easy...looking to get pump here soon..

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Boca Raton FL
    Posts
    81

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    Be mindful that HDPE expands and contracts quite a bit with the temperature. I do a lot of cutting with this material and had to put AC in my shop to maintain a constant temperature to get consistent dimensions in the material. I am interested to see how this works for you. The stuff is very strong and wear resistant but its also very slippery and responds to temperature.
    Andrew Mcclary
    www.HighVoltageHotrods.com
    Custom Electric Cars, Engineering, and Parts

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Timmins, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,825

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    Ive been using a plenum made from Starboard HD for almost three years (will be three years this summer). So far I have not noticed any issues and I have swing in temps from about 62 F in winter, to 80+ F in summer. Mine is 48" by 48" and bolted to my Shopbot's deck with 12 machine screws.

    I just lay the MDF spoilboard on top - when the vacuum is on, there is absolutely NO way it can move on the Starboard plenum. WHen the vaccum is off, the neoprene gasket keeps it from sliding/moving. I dont fasten it down otherwise.

    Just my experience.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    cnc routing, portland or
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    3,633

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajcoholic View Post
    Ive been using a plenum made from Starboard HD for almost three years (will be three years this summer). So far I have not noticed any issues and I have swing in temps from about 62 F in winter, to 80+ F in summer. Mine is 48" by 48" and bolted to my Shopbot's deck with 12 machine screws.

    I just lay the MDF spoilboard on top - when the vacuum is on, there is absolutely NO way it can move on the Starboard plenum. WHen the vaccum is off, the neoprene gasket keeps it from sliding/moving. I dont fasten it down otherwise.

    Just my experience.
    How is the spoil board if you don't have the vacuum on? does it stay flat? I cut things that I cna't use a vacuum on and I need the sailboard to be flat at the time.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Timmins, Ontario, Canada
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    1,825

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    Quote Originally Posted by knight_toolworks View Post
    How is the spoil board if you don't have the vacuum on? does it stay flat? I cut things that I cna't use a vacuum on and I need the sailboard to be flat at the time.
    The mdf spoilboard usually curls up a bit with the vacuum off.

    If I'm cutting things I need bolted down, I take the whole starboard plenum off the aluminum deck and use the t slotted deck I made.

    It takes me about 5 minutes to undo the machine screws and take off the spoilboard and plenum. I have plugs to cover the vacuum inlet holes cut into the deck.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    Timmins, Ontario, Canada
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    1,825

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    But for 90% of things I machine these days I use the vacuum or jigs that hold the wood but the jigs themselves are held to the table with the vacuum.

    I love my vacuum table!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    cnc routing, portland or
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    3,633

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajcoholic View Post
    The mdf spoilboard usually curls up a bit with the vacuum off.

    If I'm cutting things I need bolted down, I take the whole starboard plenum off the aluminum deck and use the t slotted deck I made.

    It takes me about 5 minutes to undo the machine screws and take off the spoilboard and plenum. I have plugs to cover the vacuum inlet holes cut into the deck.
    thats what I thought. though i could throw on a piece if plywood and vacuum that down and nail to it. today's slow day cut couple pieces of walnut 2"thick 6" wide I nailed in place a lot of small pieces a lot of nails. then a small piece of aluminum I used some spray adhesive right onto the bed as was in a hurry then a piece of dibond that the vacuum alone held both for a quciky jobs. then a piece of acrylic that was big enough to vac down but the parts needed screwed down.

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