Vacuum hold down fixture for cnc router.

[DIYer]

Thanks machiningfool! We've added your Vacuum Hold Down Fixture to our Workholding category,
as well as to your builder page: machiningfool's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Vacuum Hold Down Fixture by machiningfool

tags: holding, vacuum, fixture

[ncollar]

Bob
I think you did a very nice job and holding anything soft and possible of deforming or smashing with pressure requires a better way and you nailed it. Nice job and thanks for sharing
Nelson

[machiningfool]

Thank you very much. It does work as designed and I am surprised at the holding force. Bob.

[Ralphxyz]

Now I want to see it working or more so how you actually use it!!

Ralph

[machiningfool]

Now I want to see it working or more so how you actually use it!!

Ralph

Ralph, if you have read all of the posts by me regarding the vacuum hold down, your questions will be answered. How I use it is, I cut a piece of plastic to fit the entire fixture and turn on the vacuum. It pulls 2 lbs. per square inch, so, 8" by 32" =256 sq. in. and 512 lbs. total pressure, enough to hold the plastic rigidly for cutting. I use a drag knife in my router and the cutter cuts almost through the plastic and I remove the parts by bending the plastic. The plastic is about .040 inches thick. Thanks for your interest. Bob.

[Ralphxyz]

Thanks Bob, " the cutter cuts almost through the plastic " was what I was wondering about and would like to see in action.

I was picturing cutting all the way through and losing the vacuum as you moved along but almost through should retain the seal.

Ralph

[machiningfool]

Thanks Bob, " the cutter cuts almost through the plastic " was what I was wondering about and would like to see in action.

I was picturing cutting all the way through and losing the vacuum as you moved along but almost through should retain the seal.

Ralph

Yes, that is where I thought you were going. No it doesn't cut through, for that reason. Bob. No vacuum this time.

link to Youtube

[bimmer1980]

Bob, Nice job on the vacuum table.

Most commercial CNC routers use a vacuum table. Your's is a good example of how to build one for a home use environment. thanks for posting.

[machiningfool]

Thank you very much for your attention. Robert Brown.

[Nitrous]

I have a need to cut .040 styrene plastic on my cnc router and divised this simple but effective vacuum hold down fixture, works well. Bob.

Very nice project but I have to ask why you made the vacuum chamber so large?