On a whim, got a vacuum pump

[ryanjg117]

A local auction had a bunch of woodworking gear for sale (likely a big shop closing down) and I purchased a used Fisher Scientific D8A Maxima Rotary Vane Dual Stage Mechanical Vacuum Pump for a little over $200. Pics and specs attached.

From the little I know of vacuum pumps, I don't think this has enough HP to be useful for CNC hold-down, correct? What about a small, custom built vacuum clamp like the very expensive Festool VAC-SYS? Would this work for venner bagging?

Any other fun uses for this new tool?

Here's the only real page I could find on it:http://www.pchemlabs.com/product.asp?pid=1568

 

[lwoirhaye]

It should be more than adequate for veneer bag pressing.  I have one probably even smaller that works fine for that.  I also use it for vacuum clamping with a right-angle clamp I made from MDF, about 8" on a side.  It's gasketed with some basic window gasket I got at a home center.  I have 2 valves on it, one for each face. 

 

[Gregor]

3 mbar absolute end pressure is quite good, 190L/minute is also not that bad and with the reservoir you can quickly evacuate even big bags (or vacuum tables) into near maximum clamping pressure. Will clamp ~80 times better than the festool VAC SYS pump, so you can run this in gas ballast mode for such applications (still ~8 times better but the oil will last longer as gas ballast will remove water vapor that condensed into it).

Should even work for CNC hold-down as long as the open area is not to big, might be on the 'to powerful' side for some vacuum tables (as of the high low end pressure), you'll need one with good internal supports or the pump could flatten it.

Other applications include low temperature vacuum distillation: make your own moonshine, without thermal destruction of the flavours, but you'll need a good column and condenser for it - and good pressure vessels to not accidently build an implosion bomb.

I suggest an oil change prior putting it to use.

 

[Bob D.]

Vacuum is vacuum more or less. What I mean is if you have no leakby then size doesn't matter, you should be able to pull up to the maximum capability of the pump. Size or pump volume will only affect how quickly you get there as I see it.

 

[rst]

That will work fine with the Vac Sys...I have two units and use an ancient HVAC pump that I got 20+ years ago for $15.00 because it is 220v.  Years ago I used a Sears vacuum for my first jigs, later the intake on my air compressor.  Bob D. is correct...vac is vac.  Most people way over think this process.

 

[ryanjg117]

Thanks all. Can anyone explain the purpose of the air tank? (Clearly I need to do a little more research here - but glad to hear it should work for most of my future applications.)

Any websites recommended for learning up on vacuum clamping and bagging?

 

[Bob D.]

You might want to grab a copy of the manual if you didn't get one with the pump.

Used to use pumps like this to do vacuum fills on capillary tubes for differential pressure transmitters.
http://www.idealvac.com/files/ManualsII/Leybold_A_Series_Pump_Service_Manual.pdf

 

[Oldwood]

That will work fine for vac press or clamp not enough CFM to deal with CNC work. The tank will prevent the pump from cycling too often.

Try Joe Woodworker for press bag plans, parts and ideas.http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/welcome.htm