The Ultimate Guide To CNC Router Vacuum Tables

Vacuum Tables & Benchtop CNC Routers

I’m Garrett Fromme, CEO of IDC Woodcraft, the CNC router bit company that provides you with premium CNC router bits.

In this article, we are going to discuss vacuum clamping, a method of holding your CNC projects that was not available to benchtop owners until recently. More specifically, we will discuss this CNC project holding method for benchtop CNC routers.

This guide will also provide valuable insights into vacuum systems, how they work, and why they are more effective than clamps, CA glue, and other CNC project work holding methods.

At the end, I will discuss whether I recommend them or not for your benchtop CNC router.

Work-Holding and Vacuum Clamping

There are multiple ways to hold your CNC projects while they are being carved. they include clamps, the use of tape, and fasteners such as screws, to hold your project to the spoilboard.

These methods have been the typical approach for those with benchtop CNC machines. But vacuum clamping has not been available for smaller CNC machines. Only for industrial units.

Basically, vacuum clamping holds a CNC project in place by suction. And it works extremely well! But if you have a benchtop CNC router, and wanted a vacuum table, you had to make it yourself.

That changed recently with a company called AirWeights. AirWeights, at the time of this article, is the only company that has developed a vacuum work-holding system tailored specifically for benchtop CNC routers.

The Basics of Vacuum Work Holding

Vacuum work holding operates on a simple principle: A CNC project is placed on a vacuum table. Air is pulled down through the table, creating suction under the project. This creates a pressure difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the material being held.

The pressure difference generates a force that holds the material securely in place. For example, a small 8x10 part with 10 psi of vacuum pressure can produce a massive 800 pounds (362 Kg) of holding force!

That’s far more holding power than CA glue, or clamps generally create.

The more air the system pulls, the stronger the holding power. And it does not require a lot of air movement to create strong suction.

The Importance of Flow Rate

The effectiveness of a vacuum system is determined by the flow rate of the pump. In other words, how much air is being pulled through the system. Traditional large industrial routers use high-flow pumps because they have such large tables. But for benchtop CNC routers, not as much flow is needed because the projects are smaller, so the vacuum pumps can be much smaller.

Methods of Vacuum Work Holding

Even with vacuum tables, there are multiple ways to use them to hold your projects for carving. Let's discuss them.

Direct Mount

Direct mounting involves creating a vacuum pocket around the material using gasket material placed directly in the slots of the vacuum table grid. This method is ideal for tasks like engraving and light cutting where you don't need to cut through the material completely.

Tile Gasket and MDF

Using a perforated rubber sheet (tile gasket) on top of an MDF spoilboard creates a strong hold by increasing friction and reducing air leakage. This method allows for complete cut-throughs while preserving the life of the gasket material.

Tile gasket is very forgiving and makes it very easy to place a project anywhere on the surface, while still having very effective holding.

By the way, regardless of the machine size, including large industrial CNC routers, I strongly recommend tile gasket, because it significantly reduces down draft. Down draft is the air leakage cause by areas not covered where vacuum does not pull on the parts.

Tile gasket is made by a company called All-Star CNC. You can look at the tile gasket by clicking here.

Fixture Plates

Fixture plates offer the highest holding power and is exceptionally good for and CNC creator who has a CNC business, and makes many of the same projects repeatedly. They allow for customized layouts and can handle complete cut-throughs without damaging the vacuum table. This method is perfect for production runs.

Can You Cut into a Vacuum Table

A common concern for those who first see vacuum tables is, what happens if you cut into the vacuum table?

This is actually not an issue, as long as the area can still be sealed. In other words, you can cut into a vacuum table and it will still be effective in all future projects. I demonstrate this in this video, where I intentionally cut through th project and into the vacuum table multiple times.

The table still works just as effectively. You can watch this video by clicking here now.

When are Vacuum Tables Practical for Benchtop CNC Users?

Until recently, vacuum tables were not practical for benchtop CNC machines. Vacuum tables were not available for machines, such as Longmill, Altmill, CNC4Newbies, Onefinity and others. If you wanted one, you have to make it yourself.

This is a fairly involved process, and requires a clear understanding of exactly how you want your system to function. You also have to consider air leakage, vacuum zones, plumbing, valves, etc. Not to mention the time to make it.

For DIY'ers, this can be a fun process. But for the average user, and especially small CNC business owners, going this route will take away from why they got a CNC router in the first place. For me, I want to design and create projects to give away and sell. I'd rather be making a project for my grandkids. Basically, if you wanted a vacuum system, this was the only route.

That changed with a new company called AirWeights.

Jace Dispenza, the owner of AirWeights, saw this gap in our industry, so developed a vacuum system just for our machines. You can see this in the image below.

I had my doubts, but after testing them, I was completely converted to this holding method for my CNC work. Simply because of how fast it was to position my projects. I did a video on this system, which you can watch below.

Compatibility with Benchtop CNC Routers

AirWeights vacuum systems are designed to be modular and compatible with a wide range of benchtop CNC machines. The systems are available in 24”x24” and 24”x48”. So, as long as your CNC router has a working area 24”x24”, it will work for you.

These are well thought out. the table is located with pins, and screwed down. If you need to remove it, it can be repositioned in exactly the same place. Drawings are provided by AirWeights so you have an exact reference.

The one thing I found was the drawings did not provide locations for the mounting holes. So I had to modify theirs. If you are going to consider this unit (either the 24" or 48"), you can have my modified version. I also provide the g-code for the drilling. To get if free, click here now.

Title

Should You Consider a Vacuum System?

Adding a vacuum systems is a significant upgrade for work holding. Since I got mine, I almost never remove it from the router table and hardly ever use any other clamping methods. It is just super convenient, and takes some guesswork out of my CNC creating.

Being very practical CNC business owners sell projects, and need to make sure their machine is making projects to sell. A reliable vacuum system will significantly increase productivity and precision. Fixture plates, in particular, are a game-changer for producing consistent, high-quality parts.

If you own, or are considering starting a CNC business, you will definitely want to consider a vacuum system for efficiency.

Even for hobbyists, vacuum systems significantly speed up project placement for carving, and it almost eliminates the need for clamps, tape and screws to hold your CNC projects. Once a vacuum is generated, even the most aggressive cuts can be done.

I see vacuum systems as a powerful addition to any CNC setup, offering precision, efficiency, and versatility. Whether you're a hobbyist or a business owner, investing in a quality vacuum system like those from Air Weights will definitely elevate your CNC projects to the next level.

The biggest benefit is you do not have to make one yourself. I see CNC as a creative journey, and the more time I spend not carving is time not creating.

In the end, I absolutely recommend considering one for you. You’ll see what I mean when you start using it.

Go To AirWeights Website

FAQs

Can I Use My Existing Vacuum Pump?

Yes, as long as it meets the necessary flow rate and is oil-free. Consult the specifications provided by Air Weights to ensure compatibility.

Is the System Portable?

Absolutely! Air Weights vacuum systems can be easily moved and set up on different machines or work surfaces, providing flexibility for various projects. They are designed so you can quickly remove it from your machine, and relocate it in exactly same place.

How Do I Maintain My Vacuum System?

Regularly clean the inlet and exhaust filters and check for any debris that might affect performance. Follow the maintenance schedule provided by Air Weights.

What Happens if I Cut Into the Vacuum Table?

As long as you do not cut so deep that it cuts into the bottom seal slot (1/4" deep), the vacuum table will still perform without loosing effectiveness.

Can I Make My Own Vacuum Table?

Yes you can. There are a few videos on YouTube where users have done this. If you like to create tools like this for your CNC, then it can be a fun project. Personally, I don't like this approach, only because I got a CNC router to make projects, and I want it carving, not making things for the CNC itself.

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