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Vacuum Tables

I'm considering making a smallish vacuum hold down table for light weight engraving (pcb's infact) and would welcome the benefit of any experiences the team have had with these devices.

Was considering a conventional design of milled air slots for rigid support topped by a perforated sheet as the working surface. But as I need a sacrificial layer on top started thinking along the lines of a porous sheet material but what?

It needs to be: a/ Porous b/ Dimentionally stable c/ Reasonably flat d/ Cheap enough to throw away after a few uses

Any if it was able to take location pins (for set up) and resistant to water based coolants it would make the unit applicable to light milling of panels etc which would be a 'good thing'

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson
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This is how my vacuum table looks, and it works good enough. I am sure you know already how to make the channels. I would not use porous material for the top layer since the air may go sideways through it. Instead, make the top out of some cheap plastic, but thick enough to allow milling it flat a few times.

The holes in my top plate look like this: ____ ____ ! ! ! ! +- -+ !! ______!!______

That way, you can fit an index pin anywhere. Then, cover up the area where there's no PCB, connect to a shop vacuum that doesn't mind the cooling water, and you rapid prototyping station is ready to go.

Reply to
Matthias Melcher

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