vacuum pump recommendations?

How are other systems alike/different from the Shark?

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NL7U
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2016 7:22 am

vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by NL7U »

I bought a set of Rockler vacuum table components. Now I just need advice as to which vacuum pump will be reliable. I am leaning towards ROBINAIR single stage due to it's name brand and price.

Any advice? Thanks.

Rando
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Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by Rando »

NL7U

Looks like it must be too new to have any takers so far here....let us know what you find out, as I'm sure others will jump onboard eventually. I thought I saw them being used, and there was a pump that came in one of the kits?

Cheers!

Thom
=====================================================
ThomR.com Creative tools and photographic art
A proud member of the Pacific Northwest CNC Club (now on Facebook)

tonydude
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Location: Buffalo,NY

Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by tonydude »

I got my vacuum pump from harbor freight, works great.

Tony
Buffalo,NY

"What will matter is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave”

Aspire 11.015, photo vcarve, cnc mako shark extended bed with the new upgraded HD 5 gantry with Led pendent.

tpulley
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Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 1:31 pm

Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by tpulley »

Tony what components did you get to make the vacuum table? I have thought about putting one on my hd4.
HD4 extended, Vcarve pro 8.5, 4th axis, Laser. Learning everyday...

tonydude
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Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by tonydude »

You can buy the vacuum pods from rockler or make your own. Make one 6 x 9 and put gasket material around the edges and drill a hole in the center and put a clear 3/8 hose in there and hooked up to the pump. I'm not at home so no pics to show you, on my computer at home.

Tony
Buffalo,NY

"What will matter is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave”

Aspire 11.015, photo vcarve, cnc mako shark extended bed with the new upgraded HD 5 gantry with Led pendent.

acebetter
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:25 am

Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by acebetter »

I have of few questions if you don't mind? Which Harbor Freight pump did you buy? Did it work seamlessly with the Rockler pods? What is the noise level like?
thanx in advance for your help.

esslinger
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Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:10 am

Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by esslinger »

This is my first post so I hope you fellas can get this. I have a homemade vacuum table that is 4'X4' and I use a robinair compressor from one of my old A/C testing machines at my auto repair business. The one from Harbor freight will work to but if you want one that lasts go to any of your local Auto repair shops and ask them if they happen to have an old A/C machine setting around that was meant for the old Freon R-12. I still own my own shop in Manchester Missouri and had 3 of them at one time. The compressor is small and quiet and as long as it will pump down to about 29hg that's all you need. I also have the pods from Rockler and they work fine as long as your material is perfectly flat. That small compressor will hold things down so tight that you have to use a pry bar to get the material off if the pump is running. I tried that just to see how good the system worked. You might try looking on E-bay to they usually got quite a few of them. Hope this helps. Roy

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bill z
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Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by bill z »

I have a question about vacuum tables.

I have been watching you tubes on how to make some, but, they don't explain how to use them. Seems to me with all of those holes, if what you are cutting do not cover all of the holes, then there isn't a vacuum to hold stuff down.

When you use a vacuum table, do you have to find scraps of stuff to be sure all of the holes are covered? Seems like extra work.

Also, the dust that may get into the vacuum table, if you are using a A/C pump, won't any dust clog it up. I can understand using a shop vacuum but then they are very loud.

Some help here please.

sk8nmike
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Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:35 am
Location: Carrollton, Tx

Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by sk8nmike »

Another source for a good vacuum pump is and old refrigerator. The pumps are quiet. I would also suggest that no matter what pump you wind up using make a vacuum storage tank.

markjonesranger
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Re: vacuum pump recommendations?

Post by markjonesranger »

This thread is getting kind of old. Do any of you have any new suggestions for vacuum pump table setup?

I have seen the pods Rockler sells.

Do you recommend a vacuum jig setup for each thing your batching out?

Not sure if a Vacuum pump and table will be of much help to the hobby guy.

Any one have any videos of them using a vacuum table in action?

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