View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
ofthesith Newbie
Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:15 pm Post subject: Forming Surface... |
|
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jegner Site Admin
Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 2144 Location: Texas, USA
|
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
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! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ofthesith Newbie
Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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
OG |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jegner Site Admin
Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 2144 Location: Texas, USA
|
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Your welcome! Those 'discs' are nothing more that some spacers that were the right thickness. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Armour Downunder Novice
Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Australia
|
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jegner Site Admin
Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 2144 Location: Texas, USA
|
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
harley guy Novice
Joined: 25 Nov 2005 Posts: 71
|
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
crashmann Guru
Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 501
|
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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 Kinda wierd, huh? (Oh, and my battery powered drill conked out at 383 holes...)
Charlie
TI-386 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mattax Expert
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 160 Location: Virginia
|
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. _________________ Mattax
TK487
Garrison Tyranus |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|