Part fixturing on vacuum table

[kaizad]

Hi,

I am having difficulty with part fixturing on a vacuum table purchased recently. The application is high speed CNC routing of plactic (acrylic, polycarb, composites). Parts are normally covered with protective paper which further weakens vacuum suction. If anyone has experience/information regarding this issue I would greatly appreciate a response.

Thanks.

 

[Barry1961]

I would measure vacuumn at several places starting with the pump and ending at the table surface. You will probably need to make a flat plate with a threaded hole for the vacuumn gauge to measure vacuumn at the table surface. Try to duplicate the part size and porosity. Once you know where you are losing you vacuumn it will be obvious what to do.

You may need a bigger pump, to cover the un-used portion of vacuumn table, bigger supply hose or to slow down your feed.

Once you know what the vacuumn is at the table you can do a rough calculation of .5lb down force per inch of mercury.

I would cover the un-used portion of vacuumn table even if I had a big enough pump to maintain a high vacuumn while sucking free air.

Barry1961