[davida1234]

HuguesP and mactec54, thanks for your encouragements.

[davida1234]

Now, the machine needs to be leveled,
not only for actual cutting but also for
the cutting coolant system to work.

Poor a bit of colored water on the bed.
Also a good test for any leakage:
Attachment 414108

You want the water to ever so slightly
and evenly to collect along the line of
the drain slots:

[davida1234]

The machine weighs about 330 pounds.
Attachment 414114

It is a bit tough to turn the 1" bolts of the
feet with that weight on them. A car
jack makes it easy to fine tune the level
of the machine without hurting my back:

[wmgeorge]

Looking forward to the first project!!

[davida1234]

Hah, wmgeorge, me too, believe me.

Still some ways to go though......

I will need all the expertise I can get
once I get to the electrical part.

[davida1234]

Cutting coolant pump in action.

It's got way more flow than I was thinking.

Anybody has an idea for a simple flow restrictor
for 3/8 OD tubing?

Maybe need to put some flow restrictor in line:
https://youtu.be/ZA0YPjmymPo

[davida1234]

And here are the spouts discharging.

I need to design better spouts though,
splattering all over the tray. Needs short
pieces of tubing instead of a slot:
https://youtu.be/gHQY4D2CxuU

[davida1234]

The cutting coolant system works better
than I expected but needs a bit of fine
tuning.

Anybody has an idea for a simple flow
restrictor for 3/8 OD tubing?

Do these revisions ever end?

[davida1234]

Move on to the next component.

THE VACUUM SYSTEM:

The table is made up of 1" HDPE strips:
Attachment 414166

The aluminum sheet bed has corresponding
transfer holes for the vacuum system:
Attachment 414168

The HDPE has vacuum holes on top
throughout on a 1-3/8 grid:

[wmgeorge]

If your just needing to cut aluminum than a mister directly on the tool would work fine. Of you can flood coolant. In either case you need a add a small ball valve for control.

[davida1234]

Close-up of the vacuum holes:
Attachment 414172

There are channels on the bottom of
those HDPE strips, carrying the
vacuum to each hole:
Attachment 414174

[davida1234]

There is a simple manifold at the bottom
of the machine bed, connecting all
vacuum channels on top of the HDPE table:
Attachment 414178

Attachment 414180

Ready for assembly to the bottom:
Attachment 414182

[davida1234]

Align the manifold to the bottom of
the bed and tighten it from the top:
Attachment 414184

Manifold installed to the bottom:
Attachment 414186

Choose the size of your PVC fitting to
match the size of your vacuum hose:

[davida1234]

Vacuum system finished.

Of course, the PVC fitting can be rotated in any
direction you want. I oriented it to the front:
Attachment 414190

Attachment 414192

[davida1234]

If your just needing to cut aluminum than a mister directly on the tool would work fine. Of you can flood coolant. In either case you need a add a small ball valve for control.

Thank you wmgeorge. I read somewhere
that misting works great but flood coolant
can actually produce a better finish.

No idea if that's true. Will try out both.

[mactec54]

The cutting coolant system works better
than I expected but needs a bit of fine
tuning.

Anybody has an idea for a simple flow
restrictor for 3/8 OD tubing?

Do these revisions ever end?

You don't need any flow restrictions the more flow/ pressure the better, for your drain yes you want to drain that down into the tank with a large tube

[davida1234]

Thanks mactec54, I need to play around with it a bit.

[davida1234]

Machine is somewhat cleaned, ready
for a test of the vacuum system.

I will be using a 12 gallon, 5 peak HP
shop vac to try out the vacuum:


The 1-3/4" hose end fits tightly over the
vacuum adaptor with some sweet talk:

[davida1234]

Shop vac hose and adaptor hooked
up to the vacuum system:
Attachment 414270

Later, there will be a single piece
4MM or 6MM MDF cover over the
table which I don't have at this moment.

Here I am trying it out with a 13x18
plastic pouch. Remaining holes are
covered with sheets of paper:

[davida1234]

Here is the test.

You need about 9-10 pounds of pull to make the pouch move.
The single point pull with the scale makes the pouch
crease up before letting go. A full width, even pull would
probably show somewhat higher values:

https://youtu.be/m4Y1mKaiFt0