Instructions
Product Instructions:
Setting up and using your AirWeights Vacuum Table System is quick and easy. Please follow these instructions, and feel free to contact us with any questions or issues.
Pump and Air Line Setup:
- Locate intake and exhaust ports on the vacuum pump. Install the exhaust muffler on exhaust port. Install the filter and vacuum gauge onto the intake port.
- Install a quick disconnect fitting onto one side of the AirWeights table by removing the set screw, and replacing it with a threaded q/d fitting. Use the included teflon tape to ensure a seal. Do not over-tighten the fitting when installing, or you risk stripping the threads in the table.
- Install the air line between the intake side of the pump and the AirWeights table. Both sides utilize quick-disconnect fittings. Simply push the end of the air line firmly into the fitting to seat. To release the fitting, push the plastic collar towards the metal flange while pulling the air line out.
Mounting Your AirWeights Table:
The AirWeights table has a series of recessed mounting holes and slots along the entire perimeter. You can attach the Vacuum Table to any flat and rigid surface or sub-structure.
We include everything you need to mount the AirWeights table directly to the spoil-board of any CNC machine.
When installing onto the spoil-board of a CNC machine, first face the spoil-board to ensure flatness.
A set of "locating pins" is included which help ensure accurate repeatable installation of the Vacuum Table on your CNC machine. The locating pins also provide accurate repeatable fixture plate workflows. We include a program to load into your CNC machine to drill a set of locating holes directly into your spoil-board.
The AirWeights Vacuum table is designed to be a versatile workholding solution, and is able to apply strong vacuum clamping in several different ways. Depending on the specific needs of the job, you can choose from 3 main ways to form a gasket under your part.
Grid gasket
- Grid Gasket is a fast and economical way to set up a part on the machine. Simply create a gasket that sits inside the intended cut area, surrounding one or more vacuum ports with any custom gasket shape based on our 1” grid layout. You can achieve any shape, and create multiple independent vacuum zones for multiple parts. Plug any unused ports using the supplied plugs.
- When you are done, simply remove the gasket, and you have a clean grid pattern to create a whole new arrangement for your next cut.
- With this method, you do not want to cut below the bottom surface of your part, since the table is directly below the workpiece. Set your Z height to leave a thin “onion skin” of material that can be easily broken off later to free your part from the material itself. Onion skin recommended thickness: .050”
Tile Gasket
- Tile Gasket is a quick, user friendly, and very versatile workholding method. The large “tile” of perforated gasket material turns the entire surface of your AirWeights Vacuum Table into one large suction surface - delivering uniform suction across the whole table. This is amazing for organic shapes, designs with uneven outlines, or items that would be otherwise very challenging to create a gasket for.
- Simply place your workpiece anywhere onto the tile gasket surface, and it will be held firmly in that spot.
- Since the tile gasket is a soft foam, you can cut BELOW your part, for fully finished through-cuts with no tabs or onion skin. You cut just slightly (0.005”) below your part, barely kissing the foam gasket. This minimizes damage to the gasket itself, allowing you to use one gasket many times over.
- .005” or min achievable cut depth below part
Fixture Plates
- Fixture Plates are used to create a dedicated, re-useable ‘fixture’ for repetitive cuts of the same part. They are made of non-porous material, which helps keep vacuum only where you need it.
- Provides a sacrificial layer below your part so you can cut all the way through your material. Thickness provides extra clearance for under-cuts and bottom-edge chamfers. You can cut up to 3/16" below the part. Simply run your program and allow it to cut into the fixture plate, leaving you a cleared out area around the part perimeter.
- A highly efficient solution to palletize your different parts, to efficiently complete large runs of parts, and easily swap between different jobs. Dedicated fixture plates make switching from one set of parts to the next, and back again, a simple, repeatable, reliable, and efficient task.
- If you want to make the same part over and over again, this is the method for you. Best yet, you can have multiple, easy to swap fixture plates for all of the different parts that you need to batch out.
- .020" cut depth below part. Do not exceed 3/16” below part.
Setup And Use:
After choosing the correct gasket method for your specific workpiece, you are ready to clamp your workpiece in place.
To clamp your material, place it over your gasket location, turn the vacuum pump on, and push firmly onto the top of the material, it can take a second or two for vacuum clamping force to build.
Confirm vacuum holding force by referring to the pump gauge, which should read between -18 to -22 Hg when holding vacuum. You should also confirm the vacuum hold by giving the workpiece a nice firm push and pull, physically confirming that it's being held firmly.
With the material vacuum clamped into place, you can proceed to set your X/Y/Z Zero positions, and/or locate the corner of your workpiece. Take careful note of the Z height setting relative to the cut depth of your program. Cutting too deep can risk cutting into your table. You can cut below the part if you are using tile gasket or a fixture plate.