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Forming Surface...

 
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ofthesith
Newbie


Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Ohio

PostPosted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:15 pm    Post subject: Forming Surface... Reply with quote

Hello all,

Lemme say first that your site is great! It's gotten me into building a vac table myself now....

I've got a question about the forming surface though... from the pics, it looks like you've drilled 9 holes into the top MDF (I'm assuming for the vac to pull through) but I can't find what size they are? I haven't started putting anything together yet, cause I'm wanting to make sure I have everything correct before I do...

Help?

Aaron
BH/TC 975
OG
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jegner
Site Admin


Joined: 30 May 2003
Posts: 2144
Location: Texas, USA

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello and welcome to the board!
As for the forming surface AKA platen, there are quite a few more thank 9 holes. The platen I made for a 24x24 machine has something like 480 holes! Each drilled on a 1 inch grid.

Some folks have used pegboard for thier platen. It works too, but I like the metal rapped MDF personally. Much more solid and rigid!
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ofthesith
Newbie


Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Ohio

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, it was confusing seeing the circles on the first picture of its construction, it gave me the impression that they should have been there.

Thanks again!

Aaron
BH/TC 975
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jegner
Site Admin


Joined: 30 May 2003
Posts: 2144
Location: Texas, USA

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your welcome! Those 'discs' are nothing more that some spacers that were the right thickness.
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Armour Downunder
Novice


Joined: 26 Oct 2005
Posts: 27
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Jim,
While we are on the subject of the forming platen,
What size vacuum hole did you drill in the bottom piece ? Ive seen different suggestions from 1" - 2"
Cheers
Mitch
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jegner
Site Admin


Joined: 30 May 2003
Posts: 2144
Location: Texas, USA

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The hole in the bottom of the platen on my machine was 1 inch. Mainly due to the cost/availability of this size pipe and fittings. I will say, that a larger dia. hole will draw more air. So keep that in mind. I would not recommend any smaller than 3/4 inch.
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harley guy
Novice


Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 71

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i was woundering iam making a platten 33.5 x 21.5.useing a 10 cfm vaccum pump with 30 gal tank.iam useing 1 inch piping from tank to platten connection.ok iam making my grid on my platten now .i made them 1.5in. grid with 1/8 in.holes, will this be good enough or should i make it 1 in. grid instead,and is that good enough size holes to,iam going to be pulling .125 and .250 abs with very smooth and lite detail molds.
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crashmann
Guru


Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 501

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'll probably be fine with the holes spaced 1.5" apart. Having them closer together is important if you plan on pulling multiple items simultaneously.

Curiously, for my 21" x 29" forming platen with holes drilled in a 1" grid, it came out to 560 holes Razz Kinda wierd, huh? (Oh, and my battery powered drill conked out at 383 holes...)

Charlie
TI-386
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Mattax
Expert


Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 160
Location: Virginia

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a 24 by 24 inch 1/4 thick aluminum plate with holes spaced 1 inch apart. The chamber underneath 1/4 steel plate on the bottom with 1/4 inch keystock welded around the edges. I still need to weld 1/4 keystock spacers throughout the 24 inch span to keep the top from crushing down. The entire edge and where it mates to the aluminum plate will be siliconed. The center of the steel plate is a 2 inch nipple welded into place. From here is attached the PVC piping leading to two 6 HP Shop Vacs.
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Mattax
TK487
Garrison Tyranus
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