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Monday, January 21, 2008

CNC Makes a Nice Vacuum Table
By Andy @ 1:27 AM :: 734 Views :: 4 Comments ::

The other day I was on the FabNet forum asking how to glue two sheets of solid surface together to make a 1" thick toilet partition. Got some good suggestions, but this idea stuck out. Steve from Monument Toolworks suggested I use my CNC table with a plastic sheet to create a vacuum table.

Of course a light went off in my head and I just had to give this a try. I have come to find out that the customer with the toilet partition is not interested, but along comes another that wants a panel 2 1/4" thick.

This was the perfect opportunity to try the vacuum table. Instead I would need to glue two pieces of 5/8" plywood together to create an 1 1/4", flat panel.

1. I started by placing the first sheet with the bowed end up.

2. Next I was going to needs lots of wood glue. Just stand above the sheet and evenly squirt the glue on the board.

3. Place the second sheet perfectly on the first. (Notice the gap between the two)

4. Take a clear plastic sheet and lay nice and flat over the sheet. Thick plastic tends to work better. I chose clear, so I could see what was going on underneath.

5. Turn on the vacuum and wait. I waited 15 minutes to assure a tight bond. I am sure with that much volume, it could have used less time. The plastic sucks down tight to the table and pulls the tow sheets together.

Make sure there are no leaks or it is difficult to get it nice and tight.

After the time is up, check to make sure the glue is dry and the panel is flat. Mine were perfect. I was amazed at the strength of the plastic. I really didn't believe that it would be strong enough to hold down the two sheets with the extreme bow found in plywood.

I later cut the panels into smaller pieces and all was fine.

I know this isn't something you will use everyday, but that is the great thing about it. I could never afford a dedicated vacuum table, but for what I am doing this fits the bill.

Thanks to Steve at Monument Toolworks for the tip.

About the Author: Andy Graves is the owner and operator of Olive Mill Manufacturing Inc. in Anaheim California. Olive Mill specialized in residential and commercial countertop fabrication/installation. Graves can be reached at olivemill@hotmail.com Visit his website: www.olivemill.com

Comments

By badboat @ Monday, January 21, 2008 8:26 PM

Leave it to the professor to come up with this. Have a job bid that will definitely use this method if we get it, involves two sheets of SS and this looks like it will make it easier to do.

By andkal @ Sunday, February 24, 2008 8:07 AM

After only 15 minutes was the glue cured enough?

By azmanar @ Tuesday, September 02, 2008 12:58 PM

Hi,

When you cut the plywood using the CNC Router, won't the vacuum be lost? With the vibration and all, the pieces of plywood would be shifting, thus losing the accuracy of cuts.

After cutting into shapes, how do you actually separate the layers of glued plywood without damaging the surfaces?

Both concerns apply to SS because they are expensive.

By Andy @ Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:32 PM

In this particular case, I needed the two pieces glued permanently. The vacuum will hold down plywood and even MDF. MDF has a top layer that is actually not very porous. When you make a spoilboard with MDF you need to plane the top and bottom from the material to get it to be porous.

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