Vacuum Clamping for CNC Woodworking w/ Rockler's Vacuum Pods

Rockler sent me their vacuum clamping system to try out, so I spent a week playing around with it and learning how best to use them.
Rockler Vacuum Clamp Pod Kit - www.rockler.com/rockler-vacuum...
Rockler Vacuum Pump Kit - www.rockler.com/rockler-vacuum...
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Пікірлер: 68

  • @CajonLiving
    @CajonLiving6 жыл бұрын

    This is a tip for anyone that doesn't know. The process in making MDF leaved a skin on both sides of the MDF so MDF should be fly cut on both side to improve vacuums holding force. As he did mention the sides of the MDF should be sealed or taped to prevent loosing vacuum. The thickness of MDF may be the same but the weights per sq/ft can be different from different manufactures. The lighter the weight the MDF the better air flow. I myself always us 3/4 inch MDF from HomeDepot and fly cut 1/8 inch off each side.

  • @waterfordrs22

    @waterfordrs22

    6 жыл бұрын

    How powerful is your vacuum pump?

  • @rockball1376

    @rockball1376

    5 жыл бұрын

    I am the person that don't know it.Thank you so much.

  • @COdrummaCO
    @COdrummaCO6 жыл бұрын

    I love how you show any and all problems. Very real. Very helpful.

  • @chrisk1898
    @chrisk18986 жыл бұрын

    Nice video. Have looked at vac-clamping for a while now. Your video answered some questions I was still struggling with. Thanks.

  • @abcqer555
    @abcqer5556 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic video! Loved watching it!!

  • @dorianmccarthy7602
    @dorianmccarthy76025 жыл бұрын

    This was an awesome video! It's rare to come across someone who is articulate, and does not use earrape/dubstep backing music - well done.

  • @SuperMakeSomething
    @SuperMakeSomething6 жыл бұрын

    Great overview Winston! Thanks for sharing! Instead of sealed MDF, plastic like ABS or acrylic may also work in conjunction with the double sided tape as a wasteboard. I've had success with this on bigger CNC machines, but have never tried this on my Shapeoko. If I ever get my hands on the Rockler pods, I will have to give it a shot!

  • @WorksbySolo
    @WorksbySolo6 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting and informative video. I learned a lot about this technology just now. Thank you for taking the time to share this experience.

  • @hotfuzz1913

    @hotfuzz1913

    5 жыл бұрын

    Well said

  • @karipenttila2655
    @karipenttila26554 жыл бұрын

    Also there are vacuum pads that have seal in groove, where it compresses, thus having no issue with leveling

  • @billysmether6237
    @billysmether62376 жыл бұрын

    Hi Winston. Thank you for all your awesome videos! Especially CNC related. Was wondering if you could dive a little deeper in vacuum tables and see what you can come up with. You know how much time is spent in setup and clamping of a piece. Vacuum tables save so much time. I have built several myself. I use 3/4 mdf (so much dust) and create the form on the top side and then the vacuum channels (paths) on the back or second side. Use paint on the mdf when finished as it is porous. I use EVA Foam for gaskets. You can get the foam locally. It's used as mats to stand on. I use the quarter inch that comes in a roll and it's so inexpensive and easily cut into custom shapes on the cnc. I use a shop vac to create suction. I have not tried a vacuum pump yet. Thanks again!!

  • @grantclarke4713
    @grantclarke47136 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing....great video!

  • @rickhalverson2014
    @rickhalverson20145 жыл бұрын

    Regenerative pumps/ blowers often work well. Continuous duty, quiet, maintenance free and extremely reliable. They pump insanely fast. Make any size holding jig with common thin adhesive foam stuck to a plywood jig on your CNC router etc. They work better on larger areas. For example a 20" x 20" panel will be held down with about 500+ lbs of force. On large panels add a few extra thin foam center strips to avoid bowing your panels on vacuum. Plus regenerative pumps vacuum large amounts of CFM air so imperfect seals are not a big issue. Open your valve and you have vacuum in 1 second.

  • @CliffsShed
    @CliffsShed5 жыл бұрын

    Nice video, thanks!

  • @Z-add
    @Z-add5 жыл бұрын

    The wood piece is lifted above the spoilboard , giving clear view of the edge of the wood. If you use an edge profiling router bit, can you do edge profiling?

  • @robr3015
    @robr30156 жыл бұрын

    Hmmm I wonder if the MDF trick would work for PCBs as well. It pulled the sheet flat!

  • @byoung255
    @byoung2556 жыл бұрын

    Wow, I never would have thought MDF was porous enough to hold the brass like that!

  • @GENcELL2014
    @GENcELL20143 жыл бұрын

    I'm opting for a venturi based vacuum system powered from compressed air with a secondary vacuum vessel and some valves. From my understanding as long as the vacuum vessel is large enough once it also reaches vacuum along with vacuum pods or fixture plate(and a couple valves are turned to seal everything including from vacuum pump) you'll have ample "reserve" vacuum force to keep everything clamped without having the venturi or diaphragm vacuum pump running the entire time. Watched a KZread vid where a guy tested how long it holds(good seals), there was still a lot of clamping force after days of just having a closed loop system between vacuum vessel and vacuum plate. I don't plan on using mdf, going with proper top plates that are either aluminum, robust polymer like maybe delrin, or even composites that sit on a custom aluminum vacuum fixture plate.

  • @movax20h
    @movax20h3 жыл бұрын

    The ball thingy valve is genius.

  • @robclark4962
    @robclark49625 жыл бұрын

    Nice video. I nomrally keep up to date on your videos, but some how I missed this one. I love my shapeoko 3 and you have helped me figure out many things about it. What bit are you usinging for your facing operation? I got a super cheapo off of Amazon, but Im not really happy with it.

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    5 жыл бұрын

    Whiteside 1" has worked great for me so far. Just make sure your machine is trammed.

  • @OU81TWO
    @OU81TWO6 жыл бұрын

    8:56 "...like using packing tape. Now...I wanna be perfectly clear..." Nice. lol

  • @mlee6050

    @mlee6050

    4 жыл бұрын

    So weird as my country packing tape is brown lol

  • @FurtherFabrication
    @FurtherFabrication6 жыл бұрын

    really enjoyed your 'science whiteboard' explanation, except now I also want pizza

  • @nickm324
    @nickm3244 жыл бұрын

    How much are you shaving off the top of your work piece to clear the paint?

  • @MohamadJamilKayali
    @MohamadJamilKayali6 жыл бұрын

    Nice video, can you share the link of the tool you used to cut the brass and the tool to engrave it as well, what speed an d feed did you used

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    6 жыл бұрын

    I have an entire video about the engraving process. kzread.info/dash/bejne/lH2kk9yMecbRabA.html Tool is a generic 1/32" endmill, you can get them from Carbide3D, or eBay in packs of 10. Nothing special about them.

  • @kristianhansen3453
    @kristianhansen34536 жыл бұрын

    What facing tool are you using?

  • @pctatc66
    @pctatc663 жыл бұрын

    Any Idea how does the Festool Vacuum pump compare to the Rockler pump?

  • @jdholbrook33
    @jdholbrook335 жыл бұрын

    Be sure to face both sides of the MDF to remove that sealed layer from both sides.

  • @afbigfish1
    @afbigfish13 жыл бұрын

    was there any issues with the ball plunger bleeding air or leaking? I dont think they have anytype of o-ring so Im concerned the metal to metal contact might leak.

  • @ismsanama6587
    @ismsanama65875 жыл бұрын

    The tool you use for engraving 120º in bronze. Where did you buy it? and the cutting speed and advance you use, what is it? Fantastic jobs regards

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    5 жыл бұрын

    It's brass, softer metal. Video about it here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lH2kk9yMecbRabA.html

  • @manmademayhem8925
    @manmademayhem89256 жыл бұрын

    Interesting video, but it looks to me like it's introducing more uncertainty into the workflow than it is adding value. I'm more and more leaning towards just screwing things to the wasteboard. I can't tell you how many projects got f'ed up because of insufficient workholding.

  • @sidneyapolinariogoncalves1661
    @sidneyapolinariogoncalves16615 жыл бұрын

    Que luta pra prender a peça em? Se tiver mais sapatas espalhadas de vácuo prende melhor...

  • @turok31993
    @turok319936 жыл бұрын

    cool logo

  • @coreyward
    @coreyward6 жыл бұрын

    I enjoyed this video even before the unexpected twist of being included in it. 😆

  • @jeffwimer3969
    @jeffwimer39696 жыл бұрын

    When you created the pocket to hold your dog tags for engraving. Could you have turned the center of the pocket into, in essence, a downdraft area. Drilled holes all the way thru to give better suction.

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yes, but then the MDF itself would not have stayed put without the dogtag on top. If you used some clamps to lightly hold it in place it might work. Otherwise you'd lose your origin.

  • @LucasHartmann
    @LucasHartmann6 жыл бұрын

    Love your videos (envy you bad). How much power does the vacuum and cnc require? I got a CNC3018 from China, 24V4A power brick so 100W max, but my shopvac is rated at 1200W! At $0.30/kWh this is not very interesting here. I assume your pump takes way less than that...

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    6 жыл бұрын

    The Shapeoko is about the same. 100-120 ish watts max. Makita router is another 780 (maximum). Pump is another 100. But practically speaking, you'll probably never see 1kW of draw except at the instant you turn on the router.

  • @RCflyer729
    @RCflyer7296 жыл бұрын

    What kind of bit do you use for facing?

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    6 жыл бұрын

    1" surfacing bit made by Whiteside

  • @koum6984
    @koum69846 жыл бұрын

    does the pump works all the time? or when it reaches the desired vacuum it stops?

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    6 жыл бұрын

    It runs continuously.

  • @darranedmundson1505

    @darranedmundson1505

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@WinstonMakes Have you thought about adding a reservoir tank between the pump on the pods? Depending on the holding force needed and the leakage, you'd be able to have the pump off (ie. quiet) for some portion of the job.

  • @andreascosta5781
    @andreascosta57815 жыл бұрын

    Why not create a pocket with integrated vacuum pods where the pods pull the stock against the pocket.

  • @ravenmooore
    @ravenmooore Жыл бұрын

    I can create the pods but I wish someone could help me in selecting my own vaccum pump. I wonder if it's fine to choose the ones for Airconditioning maintenance?

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    Жыл бұрын

    Pick a pump that doesn't require oil and is rated for continuous operation. Most cheap pumps will overheat, you want a diaphragm type pump.

  • @ravenmooore

    @ravenmooore

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WinstonMakes thank you! What kind of specifications would you recommend for the pods? I have the old XCarve (SO2) build. I use a normal household vacuum for a vacuum Workholding table right now.. I'm new to vacuum pumps and i don't have much knowledge about their specs, mbar? pumping speed? ultimate vacuum? Was hoping to see the specs of the Rockeler pump itself, but couldn't find much info.

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ravenmooore I don't think the product number of Rocker's pump exactly matches, but it's made by Gast. If you look on their site for similar units, you can use that as a baseline when shopping for cheaper alternatives.

  • @leebryton8613
    @leebryton86134 жыл бұрын

    Use a touch probe.

  • @waterfordrs22
    @waterfordrs226 жыл бұрын

    Rather than those pods with your CNC router..... look at the vinyl gasket material and other hardware Rockler provides with the pump. You would be better served with a larger platen than those pods. Here is an example to give you an idea: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dn1s2cuIocq8eJc.html

  • @gearhed1971
    @gearhed19714 жыл бұрын

    Don't use MDF, always use closed grain wood or something comparable

  • @xaytana
    @xaytana6 жыл бұрын

    You should build yourself a vacuum table, it'll work much better than these clamps that're meant for hand work like sanding or hand routing.

  • @WinstonMakes

    @WinstonMakes

    6 жыл бұрын

    I was thinking in the shower about making like an ABS or Delrin version of the Pierson system. But that's a fair bit down the road for me.

  • @JamesMooreSeattle

    @JamesMooreSeattle

    6 жыл бұрын

    It does seem like the hard part is the pump, not the little squares. Building those yourself seems much more likely to work well; you can size them to be exactly what you want, and you can remake the tops so they can be sacrificed whenever you want.

  • @Th3mast3r69
    @Th3mast3r694 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for showing me every reason why vacuum clamps are a completely stupid idea lol.

  • @markadamarnold
    @markadamarnold3 жыл бұрын

    Now I want pizza...

  • @starrstroh3578
    @starrstroh35783 жыл бұрын

    I think I'll do it myself this week. I just got instructions from woodprix and I'm ready for it: D

  • @bucknaked31
    @bucknaked316 жыл бұрын

    These are the wrong type of vacuum clamps for CNC.

  • @steveh365

    @steveh365

    6 жыл бұрын

    What is BEST..?

  • @easterstedman236
    @easterstedman2363 жыл бұрын

    This time I will use Stodoys to make it.

  • @user-zq6pj5jo8j
    @user-zq6pj5jo8j5 жыл бұрын

    Not worth the cost. Unless you get them for free, like you did.... Sponsor stroking...

  • @jgiuguigiugigiugugiuuig4050
    @jgiuguigiugigiugugiuuig40506 жыл бұрын

    Alot of imperical measurements. Some of them unnecessary. Becomes annoying after awhile for metric countries.