Vacuum Table for Mini CNC Milling Machine

Tired of having to drill into your Milling Machine's Table?
Tired of having to plot out where supports and clamps are located?

Look no furthur, because you have found the right place.

I will show you how to make an effective Vacuum Table for you CNC Machine.

Step 1: Materials

Materials:

- 6" X 6" X 3/4" MDF
- Surgical Tubing - Can be free if you go to a hospital and get all the tubing that they use for I.V. food bags.
- Some of the accessories that usually come with the surgical tubing (plugs)
- A Vacuum
- A Drain Plug

Tools:

- Drill
- Drill bits
- Counter Sinking bit
- Ruler
- Pencil

Step 2: Make the Vaccum Table

First, you want to plot out where you are going to drill the holes

I chose to have a 4 x4 of 1/4" holes in the center of the table. This will make it so that the vacuum works for small AND large pieces of material.

Using a 1/4" Drill bit, drill 1/8" down into the Mill Table

then, use a counter sink bit to clean it off and give it a professional look.

using a counter sink will ensure a smooth finish, cleaning off any burrs on the top of the mill.

Step 3: Drill the Pipes for the Suction to Effect

Now you need to drill holes from the side of your machine, to the furthest hole that is going through the top of the table.

Step 4: Tubing Assembly

First, get some of these plugs: 1st picture
Second, cut off the sharp points (i used wire cutters)
Third, attach tubing to the plugs
Fourth, attach all tubes to the Tube bay
Fifth, punch hole in the drain plug and stick the tube from the Tube Bay into the drain plug

EDIT: Make sure you turn the valve for the other tube connectors in the tube bay that aren't being used, to the closed position, or else your table wont have any suction.

Step 5: Putting It All Together

Now, just plug all the plugs into the side of the vacuum table and then set the drain plug at your vacuum's nozzle.

Step 6: Finished and Testing

Now, just turn on your vacuum and stick a piece of material on your mill and ur set!.

Since the tubes are fairly skinny, it will provide a strong suction because air that would be trying to go through a vacuum's big tube, is being forced to be pulled through tiny tubes.

No more clamps or supports or ANYTHING! :D

Might make a new design that won't require the tube bay.