Connecting Vacsys pump to third party clamping system

[deepspeak]

Hello FOG members

If you have a Vacsys pump and have used aftermarket connectors to connect the hose to the pump, can you please let me know the specification or product type that connects the air hose to the pump?
I know that the air hose I am trying to connect has an outer diameter of 1/4" or 6mm (this is the spec I received, and I don't know if the exact matters or more importantly, if what I need is actually the inner diameter). However, I don't know the inner diameter of the Vacsys pump port and what type of connector attaches to it.

Background:
I have a Vacsys pump that I am trying to use for vacuum clamping with two head units.
Since I don't have the Vacsys head units, I am looking at the Kouros tools Vacpad system as long as it is compatible. The Kouros tools hose is the only thing I need to fit to the pump, as I am using their head units and foot pump. The Kouros hose is 1/4" or 6mm as per their specifications.

Thanks in advance!

Deep

 

[Hawkeye0001]

Just had to do a deepdive into my email folder from an order I did years ago: What you need are the Festo KD4 connectors with whatever hose inner diameter you intend to use (e.g. KD4-CK-6 is for 6mm hose with clamps, KD4-1/2A would be for a 1/2" screw type connector etc.)

KD = Kupplungsdose / female
KS = Kupplungsstecker / male

Festool went with a slightly modified (read: longer) version of the Festo KD4 connector which sticks out a bit further from the systainer housing and is thus easier to remove - unfortunately the standardized Festo KD4 connector can be a b*tch to get out as you can't reach the retaining ring very well.

Check here for an overview of connector types you can use: https://www.landefeld.de/gruppe/de/kupplungsdosen-kd/FTO-151995

Btw: a very affordable and easy to use way to interconnect any of the hoses 'south' of the KD4 pump connector are IQS connectors:
https://www.landefeld.de/gruppe/de/l-steckverschraubungen-kurz-standard/IQSL184

 

[deepspeak]

[member=68534]Hawkeye0001[/member]

This was most helpful - I just ordered the kit from Kouros, and went ahead and ordered the KD-4 CK-6.
It is a lot harder to find these in the US without unusually high shipping, and I wouldn't have known what to order without your help since trial and error was not an option.
Many, many thanks!

 

[rmwarren]

Elsewhere IIRC [member=44099]Cheese[/member] provided a source for the direct replacement fittings Festool uses, and there is info on McMaster options Alos. I'd have to do some searching to locate the specific thread.

High flow air fittings will interchange but I'm unsure how they perform with vacuum.

Update us on how the Kouros pads work, I've been intruiged with his system.

RMW

 

[Cheese]

Elsewhere IIRC [member=44099]Cheese[/member] provided a source for the direct replacement fittings Festool uses, and there is info on McMaster options Alos. I'd have to do some searching to locate the specific thread.

High flow air fittings will interchange but I'm unsure how they perform with vacuum.

As Richard mentioned, I've used Husky high flow (HF) fittings because I needed the 1/4" NPT thread.

[attachimg=1]

Matt [member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] has used Prevost high flow fittings.

[attachimg=2]

And I just noticed that Milton now offers high flow fittings.

[attachimg=3]

 

[rmwarren]

Elsewhere IIRC [member=44099]Cheese[/member] provided a source for the direct replacement fittings Festool uses, and there is info on McMaster options Alos. I'd have to do some searching to locate the specific thread.

High flow air fittings will interchange but I'm unsure how they perform with vacuum.

As Richard mentioned, I've used Husky high flow (HF) fittings because I needed the 1/4" NPT thread.

[attachimg=1]

Matt [member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] has used Prevost high flow fittings.

[attachimg=2]

And I just noticed that Milton now offers high flow fittings.

[attachimg=3]

Thanks Cheese. I think I'd confused Matt's VacSys setup with you, for the OEM fittings.

RMW

 

[rst]

I've always fused standard Milton fittings, although I've also used metric push/pull fittings and tube that I buy from Automationdirect.com.  I bought 8mm tube and fittings so I could disconnect the feed hose from the primary module, making the unit easier to put away.

 

[deepspeak]

Hi all

Updates:

Received all the parts I ordered and they all look good - unfortunately, the setup isn't complete yet.
The Kouros hose is 6mm OD (and 4mm ID), and the KD-4 CK-6 is a barb connector for a 6mm ID  [crying] hose.
My own fault and ignorance, but some of these things are hard to wrap one's head around just by looking at specs.
KD-4 does not come in a CK-4.
I need to find a fitting that would go into a 6mm ID barb, and takes in a 6mm OD hose.
I will look into the threads here more, especially into [member=44099]Cheese[/member] 's thread about HFFs.

Will keep you posted on the Vacpads.

Thanks
Deep

 

[Hawkeye0001]

Cr*p, now I feel bad, should've specified ID vs OD on the K4-connectors but didn't think of it at the time of writing [sad]

However before going down the rabbit any further I'd simply try to warm the end of the 6mm OD tube and try to widen it with a cone shaped object to a 6mm ID - not much to lose but about an inch of hose.

 

[woodferret]

I'd suggest a small section of 8/6 nylon or silicone tubing on the barb, to an pneumatic push-in coupler adapter that goes from 8mm-OD to 6mm-OD.  That should hook up to the 6mm PU hose that sounds like what Kourotools uses.

 

[deepspeak]

Cr*p, now I feel bad, should've specified ID vs OD on the K4-connectors but didn't think of it at the time of writing [sad]

However before going down the rabbit any further I'd simply try to warm the end of the 6mm OD tube and try to widen it with a cone shaped object to a 6mm ID - not much to lose but about an inch of hose.

[member=68605]HawkEye[/member] Not at all, the KD4 connector actually gave me a great starting point!
Otherwise I would be fumbling in the dark for both ends!

I am pretty sure I have a solution, which is what [member=72072]woodferret[/member] suggested, but I will confirm when I receive the parts.
The Festo KD4-CK6 connects to the Vacsys pump and allows a barbed connection for an 8mm OD/6mm ID tube
So, I connect an 8mm OD/6mm ID tube (got a foot of it at a local fittings store)
The Festo QS-8-6 reducer should connect the above-mentioned tube to the 6mm OD/4mm ID tube from Kouros.https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/festo-corporation/QS-8-6/13977581
The local store had a 3-stage solution for this and that's my fallback option, but the Festo connector, if it works, is cheaper and simpler.

BTW, I did try heating the tube both with hot water and a hair dryer, and it was worth a try, but 4mm - 6mm is too much of an expansion for a relatively thick tubing I suppose.

Thanks to all the amazing forum members for your help! I will update with pictures.

 

[cpw]

I took an alternate approach, which is certainly more expensive; but seemed like a low hassle solution trying to source Festool compatible connectors.

I didn't try getting a fitting to go on the vacuum pump, I bought a replacement Festool hose, then used a 3/8" barb fitting to 1/4" NPT to hook to a valve, gauge, filter, and another barb into 3/8" tubing that is what veneer supplies usually uses for vacuum bags.

The barb was a tight fit, but I was able to make it work, with a heat gun if I remember correctly.

 

[Cheese]

The problem with trying to diagnose the issue from afar is that Festool has used at least 2 different diameter hoses and fittings with at least 2 different OD's.

Early on, I decided to use the Festool couplers because that meant I was only searching for a suitable mating piece. Knowing that there is a difference between couplers used for compressed air and couplers used for vacuum, I decided to play it safe and ordered the Festool couplers.

Here's an example of the different size of various Festool components.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]