Vacuum Table Options:

pins-300x168

Automatic pin registration may be added as an option for your vacuum table to register your substrate.

sliding-vac

Sliding vacuum tables can be made custom for your application with up to two axis of travel. We also offer swiveling casters for easy transportation.

formica-vacuum-top

Formica is an option for your vacuum table surface if your substrate is prone to conductivity or sensitive to scratches.

vacuum-table-base

Bases manufactured custom for your vacuum table. Any size and any shape.

test

Valves may be added to your vacuum table to turn custom zones on and off.

test

Vacuum Table Zones for actuating different specified areas of the vacuum table with vacuum.

anodized vacuum table

Anodize may be used for insulation and corrosion resistance. Options for colors are also available.

Construction

The standard 1/8″ thick vacuum table top skin is a tough aluminum alloy backed up by a layer of epoxy resin. This combination provides excellent resistance to dents and dings. You literally have to hit these tables with a hammer to dent them. The entire vacuum table is constructed of aluminum with an aluminum honeycomb core. Commonalty of materials reduces the affect of temperature differences affecting the table flatness. The honeycomb core has a slotted top and bottom to provide vacuum flow evenly across the table.

A 1″ x 1″ manifold surrounds the slotted honeycomb core all around the core internally. This provides the best possible distribution of vacuum at all of the vacuum holes across the vacuum table top.

Weight Calculation

Standard Table:
1/8″ thick skin on top and 1/16″ thick skin on bottom
3.6 lbs (58 oz) per square foot
1/8″ thick skin on top and bottom
4.5 lbs (72 oz) per square foot. Subtract 28 oz per square foot if 1/16″ skin is used on top and bottom of table
4.5 lbs – 28 oz = 44 oz per square foot. Naturally, the thinner the top skin, the more vulnerable the vacuum table top is to dents. The aluminum honeycomb core and epoxy coating behind the top skin adds some additional resistance to dents, but we advise using 1/8″ top skin with 1/16″ bottom skin if possible.

All 1 3/16″ thick tables have a 3/8″ flange all around for clamping on or drilling through. If you choose a vacuum source from one of the sides of the table instead of from the bottom, there will not be a flange on the side of the table that has the manifold. We will drill and tap any holes or add any additional flanges to suit your application. Just send a drawing.

Holding Power

1/16″ diameter holes 1/2″ apart are standard and work well with most applications. Materials as thin as .005″ thick polycarbonate or vinyl sheets do not dimple perceptibly when being drawn against the 1/16″ hole under the full vacuum force provided from our standard vacuum pump (see specifications and formulas on this page).If you require a hole size under 1/16″ (1/32″ is minimum) there is a 15% increase in cost from our standard pricing.

When a part is placed over the vacuum table it is not correct to think that it is being held only by the 1/16″ vacuum hole size. This is because air is removed all around the holes as well. This effectively makes the holding power of the vacuum table much greater. If the material is flexible and can be peeled away from the holes (like peeling a banana) then this is less true, but the initial resistance of the material to shifting sideways or lifting vertically is always greater than the force calculated by adding the total area of vacuum holes beneath the material being held against the vacuum tabletop.

As a reference, each square foot of 1/16″ vacuum holes on 1/2″ centers would total 1 3/4 square inch of direct vacuum area. Our standard high flow vacuum pump draws 45″ of water or 1 psig for a total direct hold of 1 3/4 lbs. The actual holding effect of these 1/16″ holes is much greater as explained in the above paragraph.

Mounting

All 1 3/16″ thick tables have a 3/8″ flange all around for clamping on or drilling through. If you choose a vacuum source from one of the sides of the table instead of from the bottom, there will not be a flange on the side of the table that has the manifold. We will drill and tap any holes or add any additional flanges to suit your application. Just send a drawing.

Standard Sizes

The sizes listed below are the outside dimensions of Systematic Automation vacuum tables (custom sizes available). The standard vacuum hole pattern is two inches less than the outside of the table, so a 20″ x 20″ table will have an 18″ x 18″ vacuum hole pattern. Custom sizes available upon request.

  • 5″ x 6″ x 1 3/16″
  • 8″ x 8″ x 1 3/16″
  • 12″ x 8″ x 1 3/16″
  • 12″ x 12″ x 1 3/16″
  • 12″ x 16″ x 1 3/16″
  • 12″ x 24″ x 1 3/16″
  • 12″ x 30″ x 1 3/16″
  • 14″ x 14″ x 1 3/16″
  • 16″ x 11″ x 1 3/16″
  • 18″ x 11″ x 1 3/16″
  • 20″ x 16″ x 1 3/16″
  • 20″ x 17″ x 1 3/16″
  • 20″ x 18″ x 1 3/16″
  • 20″ x 20″ x 1 3/16″
  • 22″ x 22″ x 1 3/16″
  • 24″ x 18″ x 1 3/16″
  • 24″ x 22″ x 1 3/16″
  • 24″ x 28″ x 1 3/16″
  • 26″ x 14″ x 1 3/16″
  • 26″ x 19″ x 1 3/16″
  • 26″ x 20″ x 1 3/16″
  • 26″ x 30″ x 1 3/16″
  • 26″ x 34″ x 1 3/16″
  • 27″ x 40″ x 1 3/16″
  • 28″ x 32″ x 1 3/16″
  • 30″ x 20″ x 1 3/16″
  • 30″ x 34″ x 1 3/16″
  • 30″ x 40″ x 1 3/16″
  • 36″ x 36″ x 1 3/16″
  • 48″ x 48″ x 1 3/16″*
  • 48″ x 96″ x 1.50″*
  • 72″ x 144″ x 1.50″*
  • Custom sizes available upon request.

*Note: Vacuum tables over 48″ x 48″ require support at more than four points to maintain the plus or minus one thousandth of an inch flatness specification.