Vacuum Chuck Top Plate Troubleshooting

In this video, we look at a custom top plate that a customer was having problems with. They couldn't get all 16 parts to hold. It turns out their parts weren't flat which caused sealing issues. Jay Pierson troubleshoots the problem and walks through a solution to get them back into production. For more details, visit www.piersonwork...

[@danielhertz7266]

As a machinist I'm always amazing at the little things customers fail to notice. Great video!

[@terrellbradshaw3504]

That’s what I was thinking. Uhh 🤔 You didn’t even try to see if they were flat before trying to pull a vacuum? 🤦‍♂️

[@angrydragonslayer]

Recently had a worker who removed an o-ring on a vacuum system and didnt get why it didnt work....

[@DieselRamcharger]

i think a better solution, if possible would be to divorce the left and right side vacuum path so you have 2 blocks of 8 parts and 2 vacuum operators. Load all 16 parts, small press plate over 8 parts apply vac 1, slide press plate to parts 9-16 and apply vac 2. voila 16 parts per cycle.

[@woobspyro]

Great video! It would be nice if the base vacuum distribution block had two (or four) vacuum quadrants. Then you could use two vac generators and two press plate operations to completely fill up this pallet. Beautiful product and love what you do!

[@woobspyro]

Just read that someone brought this up! Great audience

[@richhuntsd12]

Thank You Jay. Very informative and well done

[@clintw438]

Would love to see more videos like this Jay or rather any videos from you! thanks

[@kentvandervelden]

"It's not you, it's me" - love these videos! What are the air requirements and sound level of the SmartVac II? Thank you

[@lilchirp4846]

Was just thinking, maybe you could add a spring assisted mini valve under each part and as you place each part you would also push down the mini valve and open suction to just that part thats being placed. Could be as simple as a peak(plastic), cone shaped seal plug with a spring underneath and then seal off the hole on the back side with a set screw.

[@tonyjohnson2256]

I'm building parts out of .062" thick polyethylene. The parts are a big round washer. Would O-rings work? I've used gasket material before. I spent more time messing with the gasket than I did running the parts.

[@PiersonWorkholding]

O-rings have terrible performance for vacuum applications. Check out our top 10 tips video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epLVeKerrdeVi6M

[@tonyjohnson2256]

@@PiersonWorkholding great information. Thank you for the knowledge.

[@steelfalcon2755]

I work with wood machines on a MDF 3x2 meter table, our raw sheets are always bent, but the high spot in the middle and the sides touching the table, this way is easier

[@jerhemygallagher6417]

Any chance you could tell me where you guys happen to get your non breathable vinyl stickers from. Thanks in advance!!!

[@PiersonWorkholding]

A local sticker shop made them for us on their large format vinyl cutter.

[@nicolaslowman2704]

This is a very interesting video. Would it be possible to split the vacuum system on the existing top plate in such a way that one vacuum controller could control spaces 1-8 and a second vacuum controller could control spaces 9-16? If that is possible the vacuum could be activated on spaces 1-8, then after parts 1-8 are seated the vacuum for spaces 9-16 could be activated and those parts seated. In this manner the 16 spaces could be populated.

[@PiersonWorkholding]

You can't split the vacuum within the chuck, but two separate chucks run by one of our vacuum generators would have worked. Then again, this problem wouldn't exist if they started with flat parts.

[@dulsineyatambovskaya6873]

a small groove around the outer rubber will solve the problem. Or belt grinder. or cut the workpiece on the other side.

[@nelsonbrum8496]

I would have checked stock flatness before op1. Rejected material too warped.

[@Th3mast3r69]

too bad there isnt a way to add the parts one at a time while pulling a vacuum on each as you go

[@tkheng]

whr can get the vacuum generator

[@PiersonWorkholding]

Kheng Thee Check the video description for the link.