The aim of the thesis was to design and manufacture a vacuum table for a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, for clamping flat workpieces for easier wood processing. On the existing CNC machine, workpieces were clamped using a force-based lever principle. This type of clamping method is the least expensive to manufacture, but at the same time the most time-consuming in terms of time efficiency. The vacuum table was manufactured entirely in a domestic workshop, from the basic idea to the final table. The vacuum table is made from a two-layer high pressure laminate (HPL) compact board, where grooves represent the paths of air during the machine’s operation. The entire vacuum table is divided into four sections, which make it possible to open or close individual sections, depending on the size of the workpieces. The HPL board placed on the bottom each individual section has grooves arranged in a larger pattern, while the upper board has a greater number of grooves, resulting in a larger contact surface with the MDF board placed on the top of vacuum table. The edges of the medium density fibreboard (MDF board) are sealed with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS edging tape. The structure for the vacuum pump is made of metal, and the supporting structure for the HPL board is made from aluminium pipes. The research shows that the vacuum table operates as expected, providing effective workpiece clamping. The clamping force depends on the surface area of the workpiece, and the use of four separate sections is convenient when clamping smaller workpieces.
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