VacSys under $100

[Doug H]

That is a fun project.  I modified the plans a bit for mine.  The pads and pump fit in a sys-2. Here are a few photos.

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[Doug H]

I also had some left over tubing so I made a saw rest for my TS-55.

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[afish]

Nice work, but I think that valve might cause you some issues.  Isn't your part staying stuck once you release it with the lever?  If your working with some very porous material it probably isn't an issue.  However, if you try with something like melamine, laminate, or sealed wood its probably going to stay stuck for a bit until enough air bleeds out that you can remove your part.  If you are able to remove your part straight away using that valve then you have a significant leak somewhere in the system.   

 

[Bob D.]

That valve looks to me like it has a common port that would be connected to the pod, a port that would be vented to atmosphere, and the third port would be connected to the vacuum pump. So when you operate the valve the vacuum is removed and the pod is vented so vacuum is released from the pod and workpiece.

 

[Doug H]

Exactly. One lever direction applies vacuum to the pod.  The other direction vents the pod to atmosphere.