The recent discussion of vacuum tables and or vacuum pods has really had me thinking. I think the PODS would work beter for me since I could move them around the work surface to fit the size / shape of the work material and I could even screw them onto my spoilboard, and remove them later.
>>Also, the 2-Sided PODS would work great for me too. Examples here
Yeah, this should work fine. Just make sure not to under extrude and do at least 3 perimeters with enough infill. Make sure that there is no gap between perimeters.
I made a few 3D printed parts for pneumatics applications (pneumatic muscles) and they work up pretty well.
I didn’t know these vacuum pods, I think I’ll print some right away, thanks !
I would probably cut through one of these in no time. That’s why we have spoil boards right ;)!
I’m planning to do this with my spoil board essentially. I have a 2’x4’ cut area that I will divide into zones. The underside will serve as the plenum (where the air is pulled from) and the top side will have zones routed, think perimeter channel around the zone with matrix of channels inside the zone, and several holes for clamping with one passing through to underside. This way I can use mechanical cam clamping and turn off unused zones by plugging one hole.
I think I’d buy an actual vacuum pump though. Shop vacs are sooo loud!
I wonder if you could get the impeller part (or whatever makes up the vac pump) and attach it to a 1hp motor. I have a pool motor laying around that is super quiet. Much like my dust collector is much quieter than my shop vac.
Vac pump impellers are the expensive part. They’re usually graphite and have to be replaced after a certain amount of hours. Their clearance between the impeller and housing is insanely close. I bet a cheap dust collection blower would work.
Hmm. Guess you’ll let us know :). I’m sure that might work better than a dust collector. This is what I have and is what I was talking about: 1HP Dust Collector
If you reduce the 4"inlet down to a small shop vac tube (1 1/2 or so) it really kills it. Put your hand on the end it it’s reduced to nothing. Has great flow when it is unrestricted. Not at all if it is. One of the reasons why I’m redoing my dust pickup on my mpcnc to accept a larger hose.
Did anyone follow through and make these vacuum pods? I ran across these in a different place and was going to ask about them. Good thing I searched first as it’s been covered. Seems like a good idea for some of the work I’ve been wanting to do.
Not done yet, but my attempt at a design is attached. I’m trying to use an o-ring (AS568-337, 2.975ID x .210CS) instead of vacuum tape. Might work as-is, but haven’t tried printing it yet as I still need the hardware used in the DIY:
