Chuck,
I use 4 independent 220vac house central vacuum cleaner motors directly attached to the underside of my table.
Link for vacuum motors: http://www.centralvacuummotor.com/lighthouse.htm
Ward is the owner of this company and he is GREAT to work with. Very fare and will treat you right. Scroll down until you see model number 117123-13 and that's the motor. His prices include the shipping! Call him to place the order as he is pleasant to talk with and will answer any of your questions.
No plumbing. I have 1/4" tubes running from each plenum to a vacuum gauge.
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When I have a fresh spoil board I get about 7inches. I haven't measured the CFM. I need to do that to figure out what needs to be increased for better holddown - vacuum or CFM. I am going to be experimenting with using 3/4" MDF instead of 1/2" Trupan just to see if hold down is better. For the most part 4x8 and 5x5 sheets are held well. For small parts, less then 4" wide - like stretchers - I use tabs to hold them in place. For 3D carving small parts, I will attach the material to a piece of MDO with screws and then use the vacuum to hold the MDO down. Works well.
As far as cabinets types, there are frameless and faceframed cabinets. Most of what I do has faceframes from solid wood. More work but a step up from frameless.
JC - you are a good writer. Great writeup on how you use your system. Very efficient. I do so much 5x5 baltic birch processing that I'm afraid to put a 2nd Z on and loose that capability. This is something I really have to think about. I wish there was a way to put one spindle on one side of the gantry and the other spindle on the other side keeping them in line on the X axis. This would enable 60" table owners to still use 5x5 sheets with no problem. I don't think 4x8's would be a problem as my X axis has more extra length then my Y axis has width. Oh well....
Don
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