[mxtras]

You may also want to zone your table - a 10HP pump sounds excessive for a 4'X4' area - but then again, I have no idea what the particulars are for your application. I currently operate a 6'X12' zoned table machine with an 8HP oil ring pump made by Travaini(sp?) with an Agip pump. I guess it depends on what you are doing and what your table looks like.

Hold down with vacuum depends on what you are doing - no doubt, but I think for most routing situations you won't need the super high pressures - you need more recovery potential to maintain a minimum hold down force which equals high volume, not high pressure. Having a good distribution network with minimal loss is important. With nothing on your table and the pump running, you want to see the lowest differential between the trunk line near the pump and the directly below the table. Additionally, the table surface should not be restrictive, either. A minimal gage reading under the table when the pump is running and the table surface is completely empty is a good indication of a non-restrictive surface. Hard to achieve, but something to strive for.

For 15 years I worked at a company that made ultrasonic cutting machines (in addition to other machines - including routers) up to 180 feet long that used zoned vacuum tables and the majority of what I was cutting was lofty continuous strand fibergalss mat. We would also contract cut other fibrous goods as well as sheet goods for a huge variety of companies - mainly aerospace and textile industries. We predominantly used blowers. When higher pressures were required to counter higher cutting forces, like when cutting Titanium honeycomb materials for example, we would process on a smaller table with water or oil ring pumps. Most of the pumps were made by Busch. I can't recall who makes the water rings but I am sure Google would turn up a number of potential folks making these pumps.

I can't agree with Goef this time. I can not stand using compressed air - it is not anywhere near effecient. Electrical and maintenance costs combined with initial installation costs gives it a black eye for me. It's necessary - yes, but I would not recommend using one inefficient process to drive another. Not good economy in my mind. Sorry, Geof. They have their place, but the drawbacks for this application are too numerous for the gains. Just get a pump or use a big ShopVac or two.

Scott