I've been researching a lot into making a vacuum table lately,,, and haven't really decided on anything for certain yet... but I don''t have much to spend on one, so a massive super sucking motor is not an option. I have a 4 x 8 machine.
Fein Vac? Imperial motor? Shop vac? Air compressor motor? Some other motor that I can scrounge up cheap? The options seem endless - any input would be appreciated. Basically, I know I'm not going to get an incredibly performing setup on the cheap, but I'm not necessarily looking for it. I don't mind also screwing the sheets down, tabs, and using clamps around the edge. But, if I can minimize some of that, and get some extra help on larger size pieces being cut out, that would be great. Also though, I'm hoping that it will help keep slightly bowed sheets flat. I know it won't pull a ton of warp out, but if I have only a little bit of a bow in a sheet, if it pulls even a little of it out, that would be great.
Also though, in my current bed, I have 1/4-20 T nuts underneath, on 4" centers. I use them all the time, and love them. I would hate to give them up - they're so handy for small pieces, jigs, and for clamping the entire perimiter of a sheet. If I can use those around the edge of sheets, or for smaller pieces, and a vacuum to help in the middle, that would seem ideal. Has anyone made a vacuum table which also has T-nuts? I'm curious how you would go about it, and if you could then just let the vacuum suck up through the T-nut holes, and cover the holes you're not using. Any ideas or examples? I'll keep researching, but I'm hoping someone here can help point me in the right direction. Thanks,
Dameronw