Decision on Size and Vacuum hold down

[zeke]

Hello, I'm closing in on purchasing a ShopBot and need your help selecting the right product. A few questions;

1) If you had to purchase a PRS unit, what size would you buy and why? Has anyone with the PRS96 ran into limitations due to size?

2) Which vacuum hold-down system do you feel is the best for the money?

3) Is it possible to hold down a 2" x 2" square with a vacuum hold down? How is this accomplished?

Best Regards,
Zeke

[thewoodcrafter]

Zeke,

1. It all depends what you intend to use it for.
Are you cutting cabinets parts or carving?

2. depends what you are cutting. You can't hold down a sheet of plywood and a 2 x 2 item with the same vacuum system.

3. Vacuum pucks work great for this.

[ed_lang]

Zeke,

I bought a PRT Alpha 96 (4'X 8' bed) and thought that was going to be the right size for me. Soon after I started cutting baltic birch, which comes in 5' X 5' sheets. So I wished that I had a larger machine. Now I have been cutting smaller parts for months and wish I had two smaller machines. 4' X 4' or the Buddy. So, all that matters is what you need to cut.

Vacuum, well I have tried several ways and I like the full table vacuum setup. I have multiple zones in my table. When I need to cut that small part that a full table vacuum will not hold, I have a fixture I put on the table and either clamp or use vacuum to hold the fixture in place and then either use wedges or high vacuum and pucks to hold material to the fixture.

There is no one magic fix to everything..... but we all keep looking for it.... The adventure is fun.

So, your full sheets could be screwed down, or a full table vacuum. Your smaller parts could also be held with vacuum but you would need a high vacuum low volume vacuum pump for them.

Help that helps.

[zeke]

Great feedback! Do you have a link to a picture of a puck that you could provide?