Holding down Sheet aluminum on router table?

[ssutton]

Just completing a 4' x4' machine. Built primarily for cutting out 6061-t6 sheet aluminum no thicker than .063. On a STRICT budget, what are my options for vacuum hold down. I am not going to be cutting fast, so forces should be relatively low.

Thanks to all,

Scott Sutton

[-Chris-]

Hi, in our shop we cut alot of al. sheet, we have a vacume table with a MDF SURFACE. We usually spray one side, the side with vynal cover with a easy release contact adhesive made just for that application. Somtimes with small parts we will screw them down after drilling operations then conture the outside. just a couple ideas -Chris-

[machiningweasel]

Tell you the truth, we use a strong double sided tape for alum sheet (max .125 thick) with step downs around outside and it works well, and then it depends how big your sheet is to, just a suggestion

[soundoffaudio]

you can use tabs when you machine and just cut them apart when your done. it holds the parts together good.

[Boltz]

Hi, can you give us some details on the adhesive?

thanks,
-Jim Hart

Hi, in our shop we cut alot of al. sheet, we have a vacume table with a MDF SURFACE. We usually spray one side, the side with vynal cover with a easy release contact adhesive made just for that application. Somtimes with small parts we will screw them down after drilling operations then conture the outside. just a couple ideas -Chris-

[-Chris-]

let me say that i mis spoke that the contact adhesive was made spacifically for the purpose of holding parts down to a router table. it is however a product that works very well for us. Our company does alot of vacume bagging of composite parts for airplanes along with alot of landing gear parts and the like We have a large 5 foot x12 ft multicam router and cut Alum sheet and plate up to around 2in thick but mostly thin al sheet we glue it all down with a product called AIRTAC 2 FROM airtechintl.com But Bostic/3M makes some spray adhesives that work well also and it cleans up nicley with aceatone. i hear its a little expensive but i dont worry about that im only one of the machinists. -Chris-