[alanhhhhh]

I'm the new guy running a Weeke Vantage33 in a cabinet shop. My instructions are to cut the Vac off completely between sheets. I run about 6-7 sheets an hour. The manually states not to exceed 4-6 power on/off per hour. My question is "What is the best practice when it comes to the Vac motor?" Others I have run leave the power on and let the machine program cycle it (never really shuts it down completely).

Thanks for your help.

Alan

[Jim Dawson]

I guess I would do what the boss says. Kinda between a rock and a hard place. Best practice? .....dunno.

[ger21]

Doesn't it have a switch to release the vacuum, while the motor is running? Or does the software do it?

On our Morbidelli, we leave pumps running as long as we are running part. They can run for 6 hours straight, or more.
If you are completely turning off the pumps between each sheet, you are probably going to seriously damage your pumps. Tell your boss to expect a very expensive repair or replacement bill.

What's the reasoning behind powering them off each time?

[Al_The_Man]

Is your spindle running the whole time? If not, what kind of spindle is it? As the either the signal that issues a M3 etc OR if a VFD, an output can be set for at zero speed, or up to speed, which can turn off/on the vacuum at the same time.
Al.

[alanhhhhh]

I load the program I need and "accept" it. Then I press "control on" which turns on the vac motor and cycles the vac/suction once. During that time i can not load my sheet, maybe 30 seconds. Then I load my sheet, step on the foot pedal which activates the suction, step back and push the "program run" button. The spindle starts up and XYZ happens and the machine complets the paths, spindle stops and returns to home, then vac releases the sheet (vac motor still running) and the stops pop up. Then I press the "Control Off" button, which turns off the vac motor completly.


I asked WHY? They said "thats the way we always have done it.".

[ger21]

Never used a Weeke, but I've used similar machines (Morbidelli currently) and have never turned the pump off, until I was done using the machine. I think what you are doing is incorrect. Call Weeke support and ask them.

[alanhhhhh]

I am going to make that call to Weeke. The owner here is 6 months new and will appreciate my being proactive. Thanks for y'all's response.

Alan

[alanhhhhh]

Weeke said to keep it running, except for breaks and lunch. Thanks for y'alls imput.