Airweights LLC is a small team of designers, engineers, and maker enthusiasts. We work in manufacturing as our “day jobs”, and spend our free time playing with our hobby CNC setups. We love digital manufacturing and its ability to bolster our creativity and productivity.
The goal of AirWeighhts LLC is to provide makers, artists, and entrepreneurs with tools to help realize their artistic visions, and empower their small businesses.
We are thrilled to be able to build the products that empower our creativity, and we are humbled by the opportunity to share them with you.
This KZread channel will host useful product information, demonstration, and instruction. Please follow us for product announcements and updates.
More information about our company and our products can be found at:
www.airweights.com
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Just ordered the 24x24 setup. After pricing out a diy setup I'm more than happy to pay for your efforts. Espeeecially considering the manifold. Well done sir, thank you!!
Is the air weights vacuum table made of plastic or mdf
can you demo vacumming down a board, say 1/4" and 1/2" that have bows on the sides to demo how well it vacuums flat a board?
I must be missing something. How can you cut all the way through the material? As soon as you do you’ll break the vacuum created in the pocket under the work piece and thus the seal. You’d have to only cut outside the tape perimeter area under the work piece, right?
I live in the Denver area and would like the opportunity to stop by your shop. Is that a possibility?
How long can vacuum pump run continuously?
These are rated for continuous duty and can run non-stop all day. We have tested them holding vacuum for over 24 hours non-stop.
@@AirWeights thank you
How long can you run a vacuum pump continuously ????
These vacuum pumps are rated for continuous use. We have tested them holding vacuum for periods over 24 hours non-stop with no issues.
@AirWeights thank you
I'm assuming the fixture plates are only for NON-through cuts? What do you suggest for repeatable Through cuts. How would you go about indexing the material using air weights so you set it in the place every time (like using bench dogs)?
Fixture Plates ARE used for through cuts! You can cut through your part into the fixture plate material. You just need to make sure you do not breach the vacuum seal when doing so and account for your through cuts in your fixture design. Each fixture plate is completely customizable, allowing the user to machine in flats, add fences, create stops, add holes for dogs or pins, etc... you name it! The fixture plate is your oyster.
“Whosoever pulls this block of wooden scrap, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of vacuum.”
...so the legend goes....
What did you put on top of your vacuum table? The fixture plate, what material is that?
The fixture plate is a rigid non-porous material that can be cut into. Custom made to fit the AirWeights vacuum tables, and available through AirWeights
Great idea! I have purchased your Airweights system but I need the dxf files for the pin placements please. Thanks Chris
Sure thing, please shoot us an email and we will provide that file. We are working to add more instructional info and setup files to the website as well. Thanks so much for your support!
People are so messed up
for reliable CNC workholding check out AirWeights. Even this very strong man is no match for vacuum hold-down power ;)
STRONG! 💪
Can you do a video on the fixture plate?
We just uploaded one! Let us know if you have any questions.
Do you not have to worry about the zones and covering up the zones that you don't need? If so, how do you get access to the zones with the sacrificial mdf on top?
The zones that aren't being used are simply plugged. The included rubber plugs can also be cut down for a zero-clearance plug that does not interfere with a top layer.
Will the touchplate adhere to the tile gasket?
Is there an advantage of buying the fixture plates as opposed to 1/4" mdf. Can you make a video of using the fixture plate?
They both have specific advantages. The MDF is porous and can provide vacuum across the entire table. The fixture plate is sealed, and provides vacuum under a specific area, and at a stronger vacuum force.
Can you leave the gaskets at those locations or do you have to reinstall after every use?
Absolutely, you can leave the gasket in place and quickly swap your part. You can even leave different gasket shapes on different locations of your table, and just open up the port you need, essentially leaving dedicated gaskets on the table for different sized parts. Any time you need to re-orient the gasket, it can be moved quickly and easily.
Can you re-use the sacrificial piece or is it at 1 time use? If the latter that would make this process pretty expensive
Yes, one sheet of the gasket can be re-used many times over. The intention is to cut through your part, and cut just a hair deeper into the gasket. This leaves a tiny mark on the gasket material, but does not compromise the sealing ability. If you are careful with cut depth, you can extend the life of one gasket sheet for a long lifespan. Eventually, if/when the sheet loses its sealing power, or you cut too deep, you can just peel the gasket sheet off the MDF, and re-apply a new adhesive backed sheet.
What is the DBA of the pump?
I have a question for you. If I get a second 24x24 board will the vacuums pump work with both at the same time? So to cover a 24”x48” area.
Yes, the vacuum pump will be able to handle an expansion up to 24x48. You can attach 2 of the 24x24 tables to one pump to run both at the same time, and cover a 24x48 table
@@AirWeights fantastic! Thanks. When I’m up and running and need to expand. I’ll order another one!
Got my kit !! Arrived 2 days ago but can’t try it out for a few weeks since I just had ankle surgery 😢
Does the gasket material compress when vacuum is pulled, so that the workpiece is pulled flush to the AirWeight's grid-table thing? Or will the gasket material cause a gap between the AirWeight and workpiece?
The material will compress, as the vacuum pulls the material flat to the Airweights table. This approach ensures you maintain a consistent Z height, with the table surface serving as the same consistent hard stop.
Exactly what I wanted to know- thanks.@@AirWeights
Instead of using two long pieces of grid gasket and then cutting two short pieces to fit between them you can place them in a pinwheel arrangement and never need to cut a short one.
Great tip!
I just have to watch this over and over when I miss my beautiful, authentic and Brilliant Son Jace! Who would ever do this CNC business without AIRWEIGHTS! Love being your Mom! xo
This is Video is beyond me, I don't see why anyone would still use clamps...? They are understandably not only inefficient ( Clamps ) but also dangerous... time communing, and just a total drag to have to deal with! AirWeights will soon be the industry standard. An elegant Level up! I'm so proud of you! Whats next? xo Mom
I so LOVE being your Momma! You are out of the World!
Who's demoing that Jace?
Hi, I tryed but my pumps goes about - 12 Kpa versus -90 Kpa if I put a Composite Aluminum Polyethylène over my table ... What Do I do wrong ?
I have a similat pump and I have a tile gasket 6 mm diameter with 25 mm pitch ...
You can do the same with a newspaper 😅
Do you have a video of this to share?
Hi ! What is the material of the table ?
just paint the edge with heavy paint and no leaks out the side. very easy and basically free
What material is it made of? Will it stay flat?
The AirWeights table is a multi-layer assembly comprised of several different materials, with the bottom surface being a very flat aluminum sheet. Flatness will only be compromised by installing over a non-flat machine surface. In either case, the AW table would only improve the flatness of the prior surface.
@@AirWeights ok. Thanks
hi, should the pump run all the time or you can turn it off once the vacuum is created???
The pump needs to be powered on to maintain holding power.
How much vacuum pull should we expect using the tile gasket?
Good machine
Love the concept and the product, can't wait to see where you guys take AirWeigts!! Can you "daisy chain" multiple plates? I regularly cut 2x4 sheets of HDPE and something like this would be perfect for that workflow.
Thanks so much! Yes, multiple vacuum tables can be connected together. We are also considering offering a 2x4 table. In either setup, the system can occupy a larger footprint to hold bigger workpieces. Please feel free to direct any specific question on the contact section of our website, we are very responsive there and happy to help!
Interesting. I had bought some 1/4" pegboard, fly-cut it, and experimented with putting it right on my HDPE vacuum pad, hoping to do what you've done but in one less step. It didnt work at all, I couldn't draw any vacuum to hold my workpiece on top of all that.
Awesome, this is pretty much my setup, but with a smaller vacuum pad. Are you using an oil-less vacuum pump?
Yes, it is an oil-free maintenance-free pump, and it is rated to run continuously.
What are you using for grid gasket? I've been researching neoprene, but what I'm currently using is a 1/4" round foam "wire" or "rope", commonly found in hardware stores, in the door insulation aisle, called backer rod.
THIS is the first video I've found, in all my months of research this year, of somebody doing exactly what I've been wanting to do...using a small vacuum pump, connected to a small (HDPE?) platen, holding a piece of wood, where you are working on more than one project at a time with your CNC. Thank you for showing this. I've made myself a couple of 8"×12" HDPE platens (no grid though) this year, and bought myself a small vacuum pump, but I havent yet used it for a project with my CNC. It's just cool to see that it will work, in your video.
It works well! The goal was to utilize a small efficient vacuum pump! Good luck with your build!
Another great product 😊
How secure would a smaller part be on just one of those vacuum seals? Seems like you would need at least two points of contact for rotational holding
You can cut smaller parts from larger stock by leaving an 'onion skin' on the bottom layer of the cut (instead of cutting all the way through). The thin onion skin can be easily removed once the stock is removed from the CNC.
Such a great video!!!
Awesome!
Genius upgrade that will revolutionize the CNC World... I love it!
That's the plan!
No doubt this will revolutionize the CNC World!
Fabulous invention! Imagine how many people will be able to revolutionize their CNC Businesses! Great work!
REVOLUTIONIZING! I love it! A whole new 🌎~