VACUUM PODS OR CUPS

vacuum pods, cnc router vacuum table, cnc vacuum hold down devices

Vacuum pods are small aluminum or phenolic blocks that act as vacuum hold down devices on a standard or grid-based CNC vacuum table.

They are reposition able and modular so that you can put them anywhere on your table as long as they can access the vacuum holes. You can use as many vacuum cups to hold your work down, as your vacuum pump will support.

Their biggest advantage is that they lift your work up off the main table to allow access to the edge for shaping or profiling. You don't have to be concerned with milling through and/or destroying your cnc router vacuum table.

You can make your own vacuum cups or buy custom shaped pods that will match your machining needs.

This makes it easy to maximize the surface area to create vacuum hold down devices that match the shape and height requirements of each job without altering the main table.

There are many companies out there now that are creating custom vacuum cups that are designed to snap into the grid-based vacuum tables we discussed earlier. This helps to keep them aligned parallel to the X and Y axis for fast setup and assembly line production.

Key Features of Vacuum Cups or Pods:

• Height: depends on how much table clearance you need below your work for the cutter to clear the main vacuum table.
• Size and Shape.. unlimited
• Base or underside of the vacuum pods can be customized to fit the brand of vacuum table grid that you have.
• Filters to prevent particulate mater from entering your vacuum ports.
• Vacuum Control Value: The vacuum is only activated when the the weight of the wood depresses a ball valve and permits the vacuum pressure to enter the chamber and do its job.
• Surface Material: Vacuum Pods made from materials with a high co-efficient of friction will improve vacuum hold-down strength.
• Pin Stops: Justification pin for locating material
• Spikes: for added holding power where you only have a small area to apply a vacuum
• Retractable: some of the more sophisticated pods can be rotated on their bases. Haven't found an application for this buy I'm sure I will if I play some more :)
• Ability to be coupled together and serviced by one vacuum line
• Replaceable top face if it gets damaged in manufacturing

Some Manufacturers:

Nemi, Tiger Pod, Schmalz, ClampuSystems, Better Vacuum Cups Inc. , Anver ETC.

Now of course we could stop here in our conversation about vacuum tables and cnc vacuum hold down devices, but that would be leaving out the key component of any table and that is the vacuum pump itself. So in the next few pages we'll share a few thoughts about Vacuum Pumps >>