As you will be swapping between 1/4 inch v-bit (or 6mm) and a 1/8" cutter, I would recomended a bit setter with collars so you measure the z height once.
6 HP = 4.74 KW
Welcome to the world of shop vac marketing… “6HP peak”.
Sure, I will get one.
Yes, we all know shopvacs. Arent 5-6hp. My testing for acm sheets a well sealed table and a bit shopvac works but the noise is horrible
Do you use 2,3 or more pumps? Do you happen to make model numbers of your pumps? I know nothing about vacuum pumps… yet.
I’ve read that I need around 400 to 600cfm for a 8’x4’, although if I am not applying much lateral forces to the sheet the vacuum is mostly needed for keeping the ACM flat against the flattened spoiler board.
Now i use a 2.4kw pumps like this
But a "6hp shopvac works to maintain the acm flat on the table (when i had the shopvacs i did enclosed them because of the noise)
Thats too much for acm. You can get away with way less
I started with this: DIY Vacuum Hold Down table | OpenBuilds
The link was informative, thanks. But at $1500 its out of my budget at the moment.
Yes I was hoping I would need less, instinct told me so.
The video was helpful but I cant help but wonder if the shopvac is really 6HP??
I have two festool Midi dust collectors that I picked up cheap on ebay, which are around 1600watts ( 2.15hp) each and an old 2kw under the counter HVLP dust collector for which I have just put all new filters on.
I was tempted to connect them all but I doubt that HVLP and LVHP will work nicely together so I will perhaps start with x2 Midis connected via a manifold and take it from there.
I need to make a V4 first… ordering parts today. exciting
No, it’s not… it’s shop vacuum marketing. I was trying to get at that before, but missed by just quoting Cesar.
Take for instance this “6 HP” Rigid Shop Vacuum. It’s specs say that it draws 1400 watts.
Or this “6 HP” Mastercraft Maximum one (that looks identical to the original Shop Vacs I remember from 40 years ago) that also is spec’d at 1400 watts.
No they aren’t, thats peak and i really doubt they go that high.
I have a suggestion: get a Fein shopvac. They can bypass some air and cool the motor down
Thanks, I try first with the Festools as I already have them and I don’t think they need bypass air to cool them. If there are problems I will look at the Fein…
For vacuum tables is advisable to have some sort of relief valve, you are going to short drastically the lifespan of the shopvac otherwise. Good luck. Always remember to have good sealing all the way around. With a vacshop you are going to loose a lot of vacuum depending on how many holes/parts you are making. (I use some rounded backer rod all the way around +perfectly sealed mdf table)
I looked up the specs for the Festools and people said they are cooled independently of the sucked air flow, I might fire a question to Festool to double check.
I 3D printed a dust cyclone which works very well but I had to make a relief valve for the dust container, I’ll print another one with the next LR4 batch of pieces to have one on hand in case.
Most components are now bought and printing is underway (:
Yes, tools today uses one on a vacuum table too. Just keep the table well sealed and have some toeclamps available, with a shopvac you are going to loose vacuum really fast. (I use 3d printed -bit safe- clamps). Usually not needed but at the acm pricing, its better to be safe
Are you using 8x4 ACM sheets? if so how large is your bed so that you can use toe clamps?