I’m looking into vacuum pressing veneers. The most expensive part of the setup is the vacuum.
Is there an inlet on the Swift’s vacuum pump that could be used for this?
Alternative does anyone want to go in on a vacuum pump that might work for other applications like resin?
If you’re just getting started with vacuum press for veneer then consider this bundle from Rockler. It will require you to check on the vacuum status and perhaps apply a few manual pumps periodically but it’s a great value and the tar seal works well. It’s also much less noisy.
https://www.rockler.com/roarockit-thin-air-press-vacuum-bag-kit-26-x-28
If you get serious about vacuum pressing veneers then the kits from Veneer Supplies are worth considering. I built one of the EVS kits and it’s proven to be a great performer. The kits are a good value but they’re not complete as you’ll need to supply some additional materials: wood, pump, etc.
I was looking at the kits from Veneer Supplies. I was hoping their CRS kit could hook into a pump on the Swift, but I don’t see an input valve so that’s probably out.
I’ll try that Rockler kit, I believe they have a sale starting next week.
The vacuum hold-down pumps on the Swift CNC are regenerative blowers and not appropriate for vacuum clamping – they’re high-volume/low-pressure and don’t work well with zero air flow. For vacuum clamping you want something that can pull vacuum down to 0CFM.
Just looking at veneersystems.com, their pumps are all positive-displacement pumps that can pull 25"Hg. The 10HP pumps on the Swift max out around 5"Hg, but they move a ton of air.
If your workpiece fits, what about 3D printing filament vacuum bag systems?
The bag has a vac port, and comes with a small hand vac that draws a fairly deep vacuum.
There’s not much additional value in making a SUPER deep vacuum. If you can get 90% of atmospheric pressure out, that’s still over 13 psi, whereas the deepest vac ever possible with the best pump could get to is 14.7 psi. Lot of additional expense and complexity for a pretty marginal difference, and the job probably would set as well as possible with like 5 psi.
Rather, the challenges are keeping the bag from sucking its far side in and sealing the rim of the port, isolating the actual bag contents from evacuation, or sucking in glue/epoxy. Also, just giving the extra glue/epoxy somewhere to go. Usually epoxy vac layups have a special porous extra ply above the fiberglass to give a path for air to leave laterally and absorb the excess epoxy that squishes out under pressure. It’s a special product that does that, it needs to be removable and not glue itself to the work.
But, to be honest, the laser veneer inlays we’re working with haven’t needed it. If it’s done right, small parts press-fit. I could see where this wouldn’t be the case if it were a regular veneering instead of an inlay, or an inlay that was very wide and bowed instead of press-fitting into the pocket
Thank you for this, especially the Hg measurements.
I thought “more power is good” but now see the power of those vacs aren’t the type of power (force?) I need.
I went to Rockler today and ordered that hand pump kit. The website says $89 but I got it for $26, maybe it’s discontinued or on clearance.