Techno Vacuum Table Help

[eruzich]

I like to make my own techno vacuum table, can somebody explain the stock setup you buy from them.
I looked a the pictures on the web site, but they lack detail.
How are the manifold hoses attached to the bottom of the aluminum table?
Is there just a 2" or so dia hole cut into each extrusion and the hole is glued?
Are holes drilled in the top of the extrusion to line up with the mdf holes?
I would love if somebody would explain or if you have ideas to make your own. Thanks for your help!

[Oaktreeman]

The thing with building your own vac table is: How much can you spend? A full 4 by 8 table could easily use a 7 or 10 HP vac.....that's big in my world! I think the hoses & holes are the easy part of the equation. Tell your budget & we'll see what others have to say.

[eruzich]

The thing with building your own vac table is: How much can you spend? A full 4 by 8 table could easily use a 7 or 10 HP vac.....that's big in my world! I think the hoses & holes are the easy part of the equation. Tell your budget & we'll see what others have to say.

My budget is under 1,000$ ?I simple want to mimic what techno sells for 2,500.
Which includes the manifold, hoses, plugs, ect. If any body has a techno vacuum setup I would like to know if you have holes drilled in the alum table to line up with the the mdf grid that I assume is glued to the alum table.

As far as the vacuum source, it will most likely start with a shop vac then I will buy a real pump asap.

[eruzich]

Just got the install manual from techno, Which happen to answer all my questions.

[Dave's_Not_Here]

My budget is under 1,000$ ?I simple want to mimic what techno sells for 2,500.
Which includes the manifold, hoses, plugs, ect. If any body has a techno vacuum setup I would like to know if you have holes drilled in the alum table to line up with the the mdf grid that I assume is glued to the alum table.

As far as the vacuum source, it will most likely start with a shop vac then I will buy a real pump asap.

You are lucky you got a quote for $2,500... mine was $3,000.

I have since decided to build my own "Techno" knock-off. I have already test fit the initial install and hope to have the complete install done by the end of the month.

If I continue to have a high degree of success, I may be offering a bolt on kit to Techno owners, who want to save $$$ on their real vacuum table.

The kit will include all the 6061-T6 vacuum extensions (threaded to accept the 2" PVC connectors), a full set of threaded PVC Connectors, a full set of 2" PVC Ball Valves, End Caps to close off the table and all the necessary hardware plus instructions and dxf files for the plenum strips... for easy installation.

Just add the necessary vacuum source, shop vac, blower, etc., and a few dollars of pvc pipe or flex hose and you would be in business.

The target price point is $995+ flat rate USPS shipping for a 4896 Machine. If it actually comes together, look for me to advertise the new venture here on the Zone and in the Classified section.

Dave

[eruzich]

Great I will leep a look out. Keep me posted

[Dave's_Not_Here]

I have all the milling of the components completed. Turned out very nice! I could not be more pleased.

Next step is the installation, with photographs and maybe some video, to show how easy it is to install.

Then I need to remove the existing vacuum table ( will offer to anyone that wants to stop by and pick it up) and mill off all the black strips on the extruded table top.

Followed by milling the replacement plenum strips and attaching them to the extruded table top.

Finally, I will add the spoil board and test out the new vacuum setup. If all goes as planned, I will have a fully functional vacuum table setup, for around 1/3 the price of the factory vacuum table, which will operate off of a regenerative blower, ring compressor or shop vac.

Hoping to be done before Christmas!

Dave

[eruzich]

Looking forward to some pics

[advt001]

Eruzich was the installation manual a hardcopy or a pdf? If it is a pdf would you forward it to me? This is something I have been kicking around myself.
tia,
Scott

[Dave's_Not_Here]

For those that asked, below are some pictures of the Tech-NO Vacuum Table Kit I have designed for my Techno 4896.

It is a component based system, 6061-T6 Aluminum with dual, milled chambers and a base plate for attaching to the bottom of the table. Both mating surfaces have been surfaced milled.

You will also note that the dual chamber section, has had the faced opened up to match the cross-section of the table extrusion; there is an access slot milled into the top of each chamber for installing and removing T-Slot based tools; the top surface of the chamber unit is .005-.010 below the extruded table top so I would not get hung up sliding my heavy tail stock off the table.

As you can see, there is also no need for end-caps on the vacuum end.

After assembling the a chamber and base component, I use two (2) 1/4-20 cap screws and T- Nuts, to attach the chamber to a section of table extrusion from the bottom of the extruded table.

I then use a center punch to locate the hole for attaching the chamber against the end of the table extrusion. I drilled and tapped the hole location and reattached the chamber unit with the single cap screw; pulling it snuggly against the end of the table extrusion.

I then use up to four (4) 1/4-20 cap screws and T-Nuts, and attach the chamber unit from below the table extrusion.

I insert the two included Male-Female threaded adapters, into the milled and threaded chamber ports, cut some 2" PVC/ABS piping and then add the 2" Ball Valve to control air flow for that specific vacuum chamber.

I then go to the other end of your table and thread the two existing hole locations in the extruded table section and add the end cap to close off the entire section of extrusion and I am done with one complete section of the Tech-NO Vacuum Table kit.

I repeat for as many extruded table sections that I want to add vacuum capability to on my Techno Extruded Table.

For sealing the edges, since the mating surfaces are milled flat, I will use a thin layer of brush on Copper Gasket material around the perimeter. For the surface mating to the end of the table and on the end caps, I may use a bead of silicone, as I cannot control the flatness or squareness of the Techno Table from the factory.

All in all, I am pretty pleased with my "much less costly" Tech-NO Vacuum Table Kit.

Dave

[Pplug]

That is awesome! Did you use the techno to mill those parts?

- Stupid question! I just saw the earlier posted pict!

[Dave's_Not_Here]

Glen,

Thanks for the kind words.

Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention... they say.

I could not afford $3,000 for a factory set up that is nothing more than an extruded table top cut into 6" strips, a couple of 2" threaded holes and a set of end caps, ball valves and fittings. I realize they want to sell the Phenolic Strips but phenolic is not necessary.

With my kit setup, some additional 2" PVC/ABS piping and some 6" x 97" Extira Strips ($60 for a full 49"x97" sheet!), a milling program to cut the Extira plenum and mill the vacuum holes into the table top (nothing but a few minutes of my time)... and I am good to go.

It will take longer to remove the black strips from the table top than to install the vacuum chamber units.

My target is to keep the whole package at about 30% of what the factory charges... we shall see.

Dave