Add some intelligence to vacuum clamping

[Kev]

This is a thinking exercise ... vacuum clamping is great, but it's not particularly advanced from a technical standpoint. Imagine a surface covered with small intelligent vacuum units that were intelligent enough to shut off it they weren't drawing down a vacuum.

Discuss [big grin]

 

[Bohdan]

These already exist. In the 70s I had a vacuum table that was covered with little ball valves that were activated when a panel was placed on them. Each valve controlled a small pad.

 

[bryan1982]

Hey [member=13058]Kev[/member] You can buy these pods with ball from veneer supplies in the USA

They ship to aus they also sell this rubber for making your own vacuum jigs contact joe he is very helpful.

If you wanted to go full tech. I'm sure you could hook up an arduino with a sensor  to turn areas on and off.

 

[bryan1982]

http://www.veneersupplies.com/categories/Vacuum__Press__Items/Vacuum__Clamping/

 

[Lbob131]

I've noticed  axminster  tools cheapest  vacuum pump  is £700  quid.  And the Rothenberger  unit that fridge  techs use  is  £276  quid.  [eek]