Here is how I designed my vac table I got all of my inspiration from others on this site. I have 3 pieces of T track inside the 4x8 cutting area in the plenum material but not inside the vac zones instead it is between the zones. I also have the whole table perimeter surrounded with T track outside the 4x8 cutting area. I mounted 2x4’s on each side in the x direction planned to just under the plenum level between the rails and the plenum. The ends I used a piece of 2x4 and a piece of 4x4 bolted to the end leg brackets. I cut plastic and don’t use a spoil board because I do not do through cuts my parts are too small and the vac would not hold them.
If I did decide to use a spoil board I would not use a full sheet I would cut it to fit each zone that way the T track would be below the surface of the spoil board but you would still have access to the T track. I also think that would be better because if you wear one section out from cutting into it you would not have to replace the whole sheet. You could replace the worn section and zero your Z to your lowest spoil board section and surface that section to match the rest. By using this method you could still cut full sheets. I have made up some special clamp boards for the perimeter to hold things from moving latterly and the vac sucks the sheets flat. I made some cam type clamps from HDPE I clamp the boards on 2 sides then use the cam clamps on the other 2 sides to take any slack out the clamping with vacuum works great. It is nice to be able to turn off the vac and not worry about bumping the material and knocking things out of zero when changing bits, so far I am very happy with my table.
Mike
Here is a link to my table build.
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/mes...tml?1242436083
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