BT32 Vacuum System

[plimandri]

Hi Guys

I am brand new to this I have a background 17+ years in real estate. I would love to find someone who has a BT32 with vacuum system so I can see photos of the set up. I have had quite a few people tell me how to do this unfortunatly without seeing it for myself I just cannot get a clear understanding of how the system comes together. I really appreciate any help and maybe photos to get me started.

Thanks

Phil

[garyb]

Phil there is tons of information and photos here on the forum, just do a search
Under Variations and Modifications check out Brady's 9-15 open source should help you a bunch

[Brady Watson]

Phil,
Hang tight. I have a new Buddy on the way & will be constructing a vac system specifically for the BT line of tools within the next several months.

-B

[plimandri]

I appreciate it seems strange shopbot has files for all the other models to cut the table for vacuum except this one. When attaching the plywood to the aluminum plate how much should I recess the bolts so no damage is done to the bit when I shave the table flat? By the way is it a good idea to just use regular plywood for the main base.

Thanks for all the help :]

[gigdog]

Brady:
I have a Buddy on the way the 16th of May. I would like to build a vacuum plentum like the one ShopBot has on their's (they don't have any plans on how to build one like theirs). Have you designed and built yours yet?

[Brady Watson]

Raymond,
I designed & built the one that ShopBot has on their training machine. I had hoped to do a web column on the enhancements that I have made to my machine, but workload and other stuff has kept me too busy to do a proper write-up. If you look at my last web column on the ShopBot.com site, you'll see me standing next to my truck at SBHQ getting ready to drive back to NJ with the BT48 'under wraps'.

Here are a few pics of the setup so that you can get some ideas for yourself. There are currently 4 'BradyVac' BT vacuum hold down systems in use on machines around the country...but it isn't exactly a product that you can buy off the shelf at the moment. This system requires a 2" hole to be bored into the 1/2" BT AL table, a 3X1" AL tube, some PVC fittings, a sheet of suitable plastic or sealed plywood & a sheet of Trupan as the bleeder. With a Fein T3 it holds amazingly well. I made mine removable so that I can employ BradyVac Masks, which direct vacuum ONLY under parts to be cut, with no gasketing required for 99% of the parts that I do (down to about 1" wide parts).

So...here are the pics. You'll notice that I mounted my VFD for the spindle up @ eye level so that I don't have to change RPM like a caveman...and I've added a laptop arm to hold the laptop at a comfortable distance (don't ask me where I got it...It came with another CNC I bought) After taking these pics, I came up with a self-managing solution for the dust collection hose. Now EVERYTHING on the entire Buddy is 100% completely unpluggable and portable, PLUS completely functional with no interference with the soon to be released PowerStick option for these tools. The VFD plugs into a 230v extension cord, the control box & computer operate off of a 110v one. The Fein hold-down vac plugs right into the back, as well as the dust collection hose. The machine can be rolled from one end of the shop to the other without affair. I added another secret squirrel goodie - a spindle fan override switch, which lets me have the control box on, and the spindle fan off while using the ShopBot probe...More on all of this later. I would have liked to get some of these pics up a few weeks ago...but life happens...

On a side note, this tool is an absolute TANK! It is rock solid and stable. With a little bit of VR tuning I've been able to cut up to 10 IPS reliably with no problems. This is a FAR cry from my original PRT which would jog at a max of 3 IPS under DOS software...Hurray for progress



-B


BT48 Standard with 2HP spindle 'All Kitted Out' as they say...

30278.jpg


The grid

30279.jpg

Back of machine showing manifold & fittings etc

30280.jpg

Caulking up the manifold with gutter seal

30281.jpg

Grid & 18mm Trupan Bleeder

30282.jpg

[dana_swift]

Brady- that is a really nice general purpose hold-down for big stuff. I presume you put gasket material in the channels at the edge of your part?

Good work-

D

[phil_o]

Are the chrome things around the perimeter bolts holding the trupan to the table?

[Brady Watson]

Dana,
Thanks. No, actually. The idea is to keep the grid itself in pristine condition. The purpose of the Trupan bleeder is to bleed vacuum thru it's porous interior matrix and function as a universal vacuum solution. Several years back I devised the BradyMask, which is a purpose built vacuum jig that sits on top of the grid, and below the material to be cut, directing vacuum to only the areas that need it - maximizing the efficiency of the vacuum source. You use the Trupan when you want to slap a sheet of plywood on the machine and cut out relatively large parts (let's say 8" square or larger). It's a good general vacuum solution, but there is a performance hit when you use a bleeder. A mask is more efficient, but you have to make one for each job, and that isn't always practical. I never liked the 'gasket in the channel' method personally, although some find it useful when cutting square parts. Gasket durometer becomes critical when using that method.

Phil,
No. The bolts you see only hold down the plastic grid to the AL table. The Trupan 'floats' on top & is held in place by nothing more than vacuum. When using the bleeder in a production setting, a quick once-around with some foil tape secures & seals the seam between the plastic grid & Trupan and keeps in from getting knocked out of position.

-B

[phil_o]

Thanks Brady,
now I have to ask what type of plastic is the grid made of?