Vacuum clamping technology. We make a large table for vacuum forming Vacuum table drawing
Often, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are sold with a vacuum table. It is designed for fastening sheet parts with their subsequent processing. As a rule, the processing of such blanks is curvilinear in nature.
At the same time, parts can be made from the most different materials- Chipboard, veneer, plywood. Most often, vacuum tables are used for milling machines that process solid sheets (for example, in the manufacture of furniture).
What does a vacuum table look like?
This device is a surface for processing with a coating divided into sectors. Special suction cups and grooves are evenly distributed over the area of the device, which fix the workpiece in the required position. The larger the area of the vacuum table, the more functional and expensive it is.
Workpieces are fixed thanks to a special vacuum pump. It is he who is responsible for the reliable fastening of the workpiece to the surface of the table. Thanks to this invention, the curvilinear processing of sheet parts with large dimensions has become possible.
It is noteworthy that vacuum cleaners are used preferably for processing wooden blanks. If there is a need to perform similar work with metal, then magnetic tables are used for this purpose.
It should be noted that depending on the size and functionality, the price of vacuum tables can fluctuate significantly. At the same time, even the cheapest factory vacuum table will cost the buyer at least 150-170 dollars.
You can also buy a used device, but the quality of such a table will always be in question. It is because of the factors listed above that many craftsmen create vacuum tables at home.
How to make at home?
Vacuum Retainer for Plastic Molding
It is possible to make such a device at home, but this is not an easy task. You need to understand the specifics of the device and the principles of its structure. Any stable sheet material, such as MDF, is suitable for forming a vacuum table. We create the contours of the table according to the type of box and drill holes on the front side of the panel using an ordinary drill.
We attach special legs to the same box and install partitions with holes with a diameter of 7 to 8 centimeters. We do all this to add stability to our table and prevent it from deforming during use.
Energy source (for plastic molding)
Non-chromium type wire is often used as a heater. This approach entails quite high costs, besides suitable material quite hard to find. Alternatively, halogen lamps can be used. It is better to sacrifice the level of heat, but get affordable and efficient heaters for a homemade vacuum table.
Halogen lamp sockets should be installed in pre-drilled slots in the sheet metal. From printed circuit boards we make tracks for current wiring, install them on the base and only then solder them. Otherwise, you will have to spend a lot of time soldering the tracks. The panel with bulbs should be in a box with a cover that will allow maintenance of the device.
This approach to creating a heat source allows you to heat the entire area, and if necessary, only individual sections. But to make such a "smart" device, you need to pay more attention to connecting lamps.
Control system
Key controls of the vacuum table:
- Symmetrical thyristor with operating parameters from 20A and 240V. Its function is to regulate the heating process and coordinate the operation of the fan.
- Front panel with liquid crystal display. The table interface should display the status of each heating row. The panel also contains a device activation key and an emergency shutdown button.
- Board with electromechanical relays (6 pieces). 5 relays activate the heater lines, and the sixth - the fan.
- Table temperature indicator.
- Neutral relay board. It consists of electromechanical relays (7 pieces). Their function is to connect the heater lines to the neutral cable.
- Microcontroller with board (ATmega644). It is to this device that a temperature sensor, a pressure indicator, a display, a mode switch, a relay board are connected.
- AC control unit. Its function is to match the signal of the microcontroller, symmetrical thyristor and lines with alternating current.
Installation of supports for heaters is carried out on a box that was previously prepared. After that, install the heater panel. It is also necessary to install a special frame for plastic. We insert it into the supports on special bearings. To better fix the frame around the perimeter of the table, use insulating tape.
The key element of the vacuum table is the fan, which must be attached to the underside of the box. It is worth noting that the vacuum source can be mounted using an additional plate and neoprene type gaskets.
After the final creation of all the key elements of the vacuum table, you can proceed to its installation. Before testing, you should check the quality of all connections, the continuity and safety of the electrical equipment of the machine and the table.
A similar type of table, but without heating lamps, is also suitable for milling machine. Thus, we have described for you the independent development and installation of the most complex type vacuum tables designed for plastic processing. To work with metal or wood, it is enough to correctly make only the lower part of this device.
Instead of a fan, a powerful pump can be used as a vacuum source. In the place where the plastic table has heating elements, you should have a milling machine.
Video: vacuum table.
Important nuances
- A special vacuum generator can be used as a vacuum source. It looks like a small box with an air outlet and a vacuum inlet. Also, for devices of this type, an indicator must be installed to measure vacuum indicators.
- The ejector and the level of its performance depends on the speed and volume of air that fly past it. That is why, it does not benefit much compared to a conventional vacuum pump. Indeed, to create a high-quality vacuum, a high-quality compressor should also be used. The fact is that a rather weak compressor is enough to fix a large part over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe table, but to fix a small plate, you need to use a more powerful unit.
- A conventional industrial vacuum cleaner is not well suited for creating vacuum clamps, as it is not well suited for working with a completely closed hose. That is why it is recommended to use a special vacuum pump.
Good day brain artisans! Somehow our team needed a vacuum forming table to create a variety of homemade, but there was no large-sized table for sale. Without thinking twice, we made it with your own hands!
Step 1: Table box
vacuum table it is, in fact, a hollow box with many small holes through which air is pumped out of the workspace. We chose MDF to create this box, but any durable sheet material will do. So, from MDF we create a table box and in front panel we drill small holes, it is possible on the machine, or we can do it as usual brain drill.
We attach the legs to the box, and install partitions with big holes, about 7.5cm. These partitions will keep the table flat and will not allow it to sag.
Step 2: Heat Source
We originally planned to use nichrome wire as a heater, but it is quite expensive, and difficult to obtain. Therefore, we settled on GU10 halogen lamps, which give little light, but give enough heat.
We drill holes in the metal sheet for ceramic lamp holders and install these lamp holders. Further, for ease of installation of the circuit, in order to reduce the amount of soldering, we create conductive tracks from printed circuit boards, mount them, and already solder the tracks into a circuit. For this panel with MDF lamps we make a box with a removable braincap for maintenance, and place the light panel in this box accordingly.
Step 3: Management
The option of the heat source we have chosen allows us to heat not only the entire table, but also, if necessary, only some of its sections when forming small crafts. Of course, connecting the lamps becomes more complicated.
The table control unit consists of several elements:
- The front panel on which an alphanumeric LCD display, LED indication of each heating row, a key for turning on the table, an emergency stop button for the table, and switches for the table operation modes are installed.
- An ATmega644 microcontroller board that works with firmware written in C. A table temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an LCD display, front panel mode switches, and a heater power control relay (light bulb lines) are connected to this board.
- AC controller board that synchronizes the signal from the microcontroller, the triac and the AC line.
- Relay board, which consists of 6 electromechanical relays controlled by a microcontroller. One of the relays turns on the fan, and the rest of the heater lines.
- Neutral relay board, which consists of 7 relays controlled by a microcontroller and connecting the heater lines to the neutral wire, as well as a temperature sensor in the table space.
- Triac, consisting of two opto-isolated thyristor solid state relays, rated at 20A, 240V, which regulates the fan and the heating of the table space.
Step 4: Installing the supports
On our table box crafts, and by the way, it is 600x900mm in size, we mount supports for the heater panel and install the panel itself with lamps. We also make a frame for plastic and insert it into the bearing supports, seal the junctions of the table box and the frame with insulating porous tape.
Step 5: Vacuum Fan
To the bottom of the box braintable we fix the vacuum source, just a fan. For our vacuum fan, we made an additional plate of MDF and with its help, as well as with the help of neoprene gaskets, we installed it.
Step 6: Final assembly and testing
On final stage we connect all the elements, check whether everything is installed correctly and proceed to testing. We insert a sheet of plastic for molding into the frame, turn on the table and mold!
And here is how our table works:
good luck homemade and I hope our guide will help you with this!
Systematic Automation has been manufacturing vacuum tables for over 30 years.
Almost perfect surface (tolerance no worse than ± 25µm / sq.ft) is the result of a unique manufacturing technology and the use of high quality equipment. Annually
Systematic Automation manufactures thousands of vacuum tables every year for a variety of unique applications: assembly, CNC, molding, cutting, digital printers, photography, engraving, fabric work, inkjet printers, research equipment, laboratory equipment, laminating, laser engraving and cutting, plotters, sail making, screen printing, ultrasonic cutting machines, presses, carpet cleaning.
Design of vacuum tables
The top of the table is made from durable aluminum alloy 3mm thick. Usage epoxy resin in design, provides good protection from dents and bends.
The basis of the vacuum table has a "honeycomb" structure and is made of a material that reduces the effect of temperature differences on the uneven surface of the table. The honeycomb design ensures uniform airflow across the entire surface of the table.
The 25x25mm "collector" is located around the honeycomb base, due to which the best possible distribution of vacuum between all the holes in the table is achieved.
Hole size
IN standard version The holes in the table are 1.6mm in diameter and spaced at 12.5mm increments which is optimal for most jobs.
Materials such as 127µm thick polycarbonate or vinyl will not deform against 1.58mm holes with the full force of a standard vacuum pump (see specification).
Optionally, holes can be custom-sized (min. 0.79mm). The 0.79mm holes are countersunk on the underside for minimal air loss.
Fastening
All tables have a 9.5mm flange around the perimeter for fastening. If the fitting for connecting the vacuum pump is not located below, but on the side, then the flange on this side will be absent. If necessary, holes for fastening will be drilled in the flange, in accordance with the customer's drawing.
Standard Options Options FAQ Video
External dimensions of standard vacuum tables. Vacuum holes are located 25mm from the edge.
- 127x152x30mm. (5″ x 6″ x 1 3/16″)
- 203x203x30mm. (8″ x 8″ x 1 3/16″)
- 304x203x30mm. (12″ x 8″ x 1 3/16″)
- 304x304x30mm. (12″ x 12″ x 1 3/16″)
- 304x406x30mm. (12″ x 16″ x 1 3/16″)
- 304x609x30mm. (12″ x 24″ x 1 3/16″)
- 304x762x30mm. (12″ x 30″ x 1 3/16″)
- 355x355x30mm. (14″ x 14″ x 1 3/16″)
- 406x279x30mm. (16″ x 11″ x 1 3/16″)
- 457x279x30mm. (18″ x 11″ x 1 3/16″)
- 508x406x30mm. (20″ x 16″ x 1 3/16″)
- 508x431x30mm. (20″ x 17″ x 1 3/16″)
- 508x457x30mm. (20″ x 18″ x 1 3/16″)
- 508x508x30mm. (20″ x 20″ x 1 3/16″)
- 558x558x30mm. (22″ x 22″ x 1 3/16″)
- 609x457x30mm. (24″ x 18″ x 1 3/16″)
- 609x558x30mm. (24″ x 22″ x 1 3/16″)
- 609x711x30mm. (24″ x 28″ x 1 3/16″)
- 660x355x30mm. (26″ x 14″ x 1 3/16″)
- 660x482x30mm. (26″ x 19″ x 1 3/16″)
- 660x508x30mm. (26″ x 20″ x 1 3/16″)
- 660x762x30mm. (26″ x 30″ x 1 3/16″)
- 660x863x30mm. (26″ x 34″ x 1 3/16″)
- 685x1016x30mm. (27″ x 40″ x 1 3/16″)
- 711x812x30mm. (28″ x 32″ x 1 3/16″)
- 762x508x30mm. (30″ x 20″ x 1 3/16″)
- 762x863x30mm. (30″ x 34″ x 1 3/16″)
- 762x1016x30mm. (30″ x 40″ x 1 3/16″)
- 914x914x30mm. (36″ x 36″ x 1 3/16″)
- 1219x1219x30mm. (48″ x 48″ x 1 3/16″)
- 1219x2438x38mm. (48″ x 96″ x 1.50″)
- 1828x3657x38mm. (72″ x 144″ x 1.50″)
- Custom size tables available. Specify.
- vacuum pump
- vacuum valve
- Vacuum table air supply valve
- Pressure regulator.
- Pedal
- Stops for positioning products on a vacuum table.
- Retractable vacuum tables
- Plastic (Formica) tabletop
- Independent vacuum zones controlled by valves.
- Anodized table surface
- Location of vacuum holes according to customer's drawing
- Table shape and size according to customer requirements
Q: How can I fix the vacuum table?
A: The table has a 9.5mm bottom and top flange around the perimeter. You can use them for clips or drill holes for mounting.
Q: Is it possible to use threaded connection for a vacuum line?
Oh yeah. Specify the required size.
Q: I already have a vacuum pump. Will it work with your vacuum table?
A: Most likely it will work. In any case, you can order the pump later. If you decide to use your pump, you can immediately order an adapter / adapter. Please specify dimensions when ordering.
Q: I work with materials that can get scratched. Can they be avoided when working on a vacuum table?
A: Yes, you can use the switch valve to blow air out of the table. This will result in an effect air cushion. Optionally, you can adjust the amount of air supplied. The valve requires compressed air at a pressure of min. 4.2 bar.
Q: How much Smooth surface vacuum table?
A: Tolerance no worse than ±25µm/sqft
Q: How should I secure the table to prevent it from bending?
A: As a rule, the bottom (surface) of the table is flat and parallel to the top, so it is possible to mount the table on the machine base.
When setting the table on a surface, pay attention to the absence of gaps, which indicate an uneven surface. Use shims to eliminate table "wobble" due to gaps. Check parallelism. If necessary, use additional spacers to eliminate the possibility of table deflection under pressure and violation of the plane of the working surface of the vacuum table.
Q: Is there a way to place items on the table in exactly the same place?
A: Yes, it is possible. Optionally, you can order a system of stops for positioning products. As a rule, these are three steel pins that are “pulled out” from the table during the laying of the product and “recessed” into the table as soon as the vacuum is turned on. It is possible to accommodate more than three pins.
Find out the price!
The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the design and specifications of the stencil equipment without notice.
Company SOMMTEC developed a line of perforated vacuum tables. A feature of these tables are holes located at a distance of 10 mm over the entire area of the plate, which allows us to carry out processing at any point of the vacuum table. open area the plates must be covered with a continuous polymer mat to avoid loss of vacuum.
Perforated vacuum tables are manufactured in various designs. Modular tables allow you to form large area fastening.
The main advantage of perforated vacuum tables is the ability to clamp workpieces of complex shape without additional reconfiguration.
SOMMTEC presents to your attention five series of perforated tables. Tables are used in the processing of metals, wood products, plastics, glass, films, foils, engraving works.
All tables are made of high quality aluminium, the design of vacuum plates ensures high performance characteristics, as well as excellent geometric stability in long-term use, can work in a humid environment when machining with a coolant supply. The tables are not bendable and do not have internal tension, thanks to the developed system of channels, it is possible to limit the working surface of the table. All perforated tables are equipped with perforated mats, which allows for through processing, as well as processing parts with existing technological windows and holes.
MP Series Vacuum Tables
Table features:
- The table has mounting holes M8 with a pitch of 100 mm, it is possible to manufacture according to the customer's parameters;
- Hole diameter 0.3 mm
- It is possible to install additional mechanical stops;
- The table is equipped with eccentric stops for positioning the workpiece.
| Pos. | Art. no. | Name | Dimensions, mm | Weight, kg |
| 1 | 15214112 | 216x136x26 | 4 | |
| 2 | 15324112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 316x216x26 | 9 |
| 3 | 15334112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 316x316x26 | 10 |
| 4 | 15434112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 416x316x26 | 12 |
| 5 | 15524112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 516x216x26 | 13 |
| 6 | 15544112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 516x416x26 | 18 |
| 7 | 15644112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 616x416x26 | 20 |
| 8 | 15654112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 616x516x26 | 27 |
| 9 | 15754112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 716x516x26 | 30 |
| 10 | 15154112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 1016x516x26 | 50 |
| 11 | 15164112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 1016x616x26 | 55 |
Special sizes also available on request!
The package includes:
- vacuum table;
- Perforated polymer mat;
- Solid polymer mat;
- Hose Ø12/18 mm 1 m;
- Stops;
- Description.
Perforated vacuum tables UPT series
The UPT series has been specially developed for processing thin materials such as foil, film, paper, plywood. The hole diameter is 0.6 mm, which allows you to evenly fix flexible materials.
| Pos. | Art. No. | Name | Dimensions, mm | Weight, kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15214.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 220x160x24 | 5 |
| 2 | 15324.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 310x220x24 | 9 |
| 3 | 15224.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 222x262x24 | 7 |
| 4 | 15424.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 400x200x24 | 10 |
| 5 | 15434.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 430x310x24 | 15 |
| 6 | 15644.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 610x430x24 | 21 |
| 7 | 15644.1112-2 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 600x400x24 | 20 |
| 8 | 15864.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 850x610x24 | 48 |
| 9 | 15184.1112 | Perforated vacuum table, grid 10 mm | 1200x850x24 | 90 |
Vacuum workpiece clamping: pumps or blowers?
Currently in various industries processing of metal, wood or plastic products to hold the workpiece on the desktop instead of mechanical devices, the so-called "vacuum clamp" is used. With this method of holding, a force is used that presses on the workpiece, pressing it against the table, from which air is pumped out and a vacuum is created. This force, pressing the workpiece, appears immediately after the start of pumping air out of the table and disappears when the air enters there again.
The clamping force can be estimated in the usual values and calculate what it can be. Since it is a consequence of the vacuum created in the table on which the workpiece is located, or rather the difference in air pressure inside and outside the table, its maximum value is equal to the product of one atmosphere and the area of the pressed workpiece. Since it is impossible to pump out air deeper than one atmosphere, then the “working pressure” for creating this force cannot be more than 10 tons per 1 square meter.
What devices allow this method to be implemented?
The most correct, reliable and effective is to use vacuum dry rotary vane pumps. These pumps, although they do not create the theoretically possible maximum vacuum that guarantees the coveted 10 tons per square meter, are capable of pumping out 88% of the air to create a pressure drop of up to 8.8 tons per square meter. At the same time, unlike, for example, oil ones, which have a better residual pressure indicator, they are more convenient in operation and are better adapted to work at intermediate pressure values (below atmospheric, but above the limiting residual pressure). In addition, like all vacuum pumps, they are not afraid to work with completely closed suction and discharge pipes.
The second in terms of correctness and popularity of application (which, by the way, is constantly growing and is already comparable to the popularity of pumps) are vortex blowers. If you connect a vortex blower with a suction pipe to a vacuum table, then it, working as a pump, is also able to create a vacuum, but it is 2-3 times worse in terms of vacuum depth than when pumping out with a rotary vane vacuum pump. That is, the blower (with the exception of special high-pressure series) is in principle not capable of creating a vacuum deeper than 0.4-0.5 atmospheres. In addition, it cannot work for a long time with closed pipes, as it will fail if it overheats. On this they weak spots run out and you can see why in many cases they are preferred to rotary vane pumps.
There are many types of material processing on vacuum tables, when, in principle, a large clamping force is not required, or when, due to the large area of the workpiece, even a small pressure can create sufficient clamping force. This applies primarily to the processing of plastic and wood panels. The second important argument in favor of blowers is the size of the table and the impossibility of creating an absolutely hermetic evacuated volume - there is almost always a reverse movement of air into the system. Therefore, the pumping speed comes first - it is it that compensates for the leakage. Pumps with capacity over 150 cubic meters per hour is always more expensive than blowers with the same pumping speed and heavier than them. And when customers see maximum performance in the characteristics of the blower (one and a half to two times higher than the actual one at the duty point), the blower, as an alternative to a vacuum pump, seems even more attractive.
Let's summarize. In which case to choose a pump, and in which blower?
If the dimensions of the table do not exceed 3-4 meters in length, the details are small, of complex shape, the vacuum table is made with high quality (with a good fit of parts and without possible leakage), it is required to obtain a pressure drop of at least 5 tons per square meter, then best solution will rotary vane oil-free pump.
When the tables have linear dimensions of more than 5 meters, the workpieces being processed are also large, have a small specific gravity, the tangential load (shifting the workpiece) is small and is compensated by a clamping force of about 10 tons on the entire part, which has an area of several square meters, the rigidity of the table does not guarantee the preservation of its shape during vacuuming, the tightness of the system is low, and the cost comes to the fore, then preference is given to blowers.
If you provide us with a specific downforce value, we will be able to name and offer you a specific pump or blower model.
Vacuum clamping machines and fixtures are used in almost all industries. We offer solutions for each of them: small-sized vortex blowers for holding sheets of paper or plastic in cutting plotters to specialized units capable of withstanding multiple ingress of lubricating-cooling fluid into the vacuum system.
The performance of the vacuum pump used for vacuum clamp determines the speed of pumping the system to the required pressure and, mainly, the ability to compensate for air leakage through leaks or cuts formed during material processing.
The pressure drop created by the vacuum pump determines the workpiece clamping force. High differential pressure pumps are recommended for applications where maximum clamping force is to be achieved with a small contact area between the workpiece and the vacuum gripper.
MSH Blowers for CNC Vacuum Tables 
This type of equipment allows for high performance with a relatively small pressure drop. Devices of this type are used to press workpieces with a large contact area to the vacuum tables of CNC machines, for example, they can be used to press plastics, vinyl film, plywood, etc. sheet materials. An important advantage of high-capacity vortex blowers is that when the tool cuts through the material, it is usually possible to continue processing, because. air leaks through the slot are compensated by increased productivity. Vortex blowers are extremely unpretentious in operation, have no wearing parts, can be supplied with frequency converters, additional filters, silencers and reversing automata.
Elmo Rietschle rotary vane oil-free vacuum pumps for vacuum clamping systems
Machines of this type are most widely used in vacuum clamping systems. Not only do they provide enough pressure drop to hold down most types of workpieces and sheet materials, but they can also have quite large capacities. Rotary vane oil-free vacuum pumps operate without the use of lubricants in working chamber. These pumps are easy to operate and maintain. As standard, the pumps of this series already have built-in air filters and silencers.
Water ring vacuum units ROBUSCHI (Italy) with closed water circulation for vacuum pressing 
Used as an alternative to dry rotary vane pumps. These installations can provide almost any capacity required for vacuum clamping. They hardly require Maintenance, resistant to dust, coolant, can work for a long time with atmospheric pressure on suction. At a cost for most sizes is lower than for rotary vane vacuum pumps, they do not require the cost of consumables and pay off very quickly.
Vacuum gauges and vacuum switches
In our company you will always find a wide range of vacuum gauges and vacuum relays necessary for monitoring the operation and control of vacuum clamping systems. Our product range includes: mechanical and digital vacuum gauges, mechanical and electronic vacuum switches, as well as other accessories: filters for vacuum systems, check and shutoff valves, vacuum receivers, safety valves, fittings, vacuum hoses.
Working with MSH Techno Moscow (MSH Techno), you can be sure that a wide range of supplied equipment will allow you to choose exactly what is really best suited for your tasks. If you have any questions about the equipment presented on our website, we will be happy to answer them!
