What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Off-topic discussion that doesn't pertain to the other forums.

Moderator: Jason Susnjara

Post Reply
Scott Marshburn
Guru Member
Posts: 837
Joined: Sat, Mar 05 2011, 7:29AM
Company Name: Heritage WoodWorks
Country: UNITED STATES
Location: Jacksonville Nc
Contact:

What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Post by Scott Marshburn »

I am curious to know what methods our members use to hold down small parts that will move even with a vacuum table. I recently came across this video from a subscriber Mark Lindsay CNC. Pretty sweet trick. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3uTsQ3dYR ... qoD7nMOPjk
Jeremy Schiffer
eCabinets Beta Tester
Posts: 1119
Joined: Tue, May 10 2005, 9:36PM
Company Name: Corlane Custom Cabinetry LLC
Country: UNITED STATES
Location: Carnesville, GA
Contact:

Re: What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Post by Jeremy Schiffer »

ANY MEANS NECESSARY

Never used double sided tape though. We have used contact adhesive, nails, screws, clamps, and hands.

This is an interesting method, thanks for sharing. And I hope someday that guy will flycut or replace his wasteboard...OMG I almost had a heart attack when I saw it.
http://www.corlanecabinetry.com

Intel Core i7-5820 3.3GHz, 16GB RAM, NVidia Quadro K2200 4GB, Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
CS-41 4x8
CS-45 5x12
Tommy Wieler
Senior Member
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri, Sep 22 2017, 7:49AM
Company Name: Silverpine Cabinets
Country: CANADA

Re: What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Post by Tommy Wieler »

Our favorite method is to use additional part clearance, and leave a skin before final outline, although I plead guilty to adhesive and nails as well. But hands? Really?? Not sure I have the guts to hold down a small part by hand with a router bit spinning at 20000RPM within a few inches of my hand.
Clint Buechlein
Thermwood Team
Posts: 696
Joined: Fri, May 15 2015, 1:21PM
Company Name: Thermwood Corp
Country: UNITED STATES

Re: What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Post by Clint Buechlein »

Tommy Wieler wrote:Our favorite method is to use additional part clearance, and leave a skin before final outline, although I plead guilty to adhesive and nails as well. But hands? Really?? Not sure I have the guts to hold down a small part by hand with a router bit spinning at 20000RPM within a few inches of my hand.
I recently saw the after effects of someone trying to use their had to hold a part down. They were cutting acrylic and the material started to lift. He went to hold the material down and at about that time it broke and piece stuck to the bit. Cut a couple of his fingers really good.

From the tips side of things, if you have a large run of small parts to do, we have been known to make some fixture boards. We take a sealed piece of 3/4 MDF and use it to replace the tableboard and wasteboard. Pocket out the area where the parts are going to go, cut a channel for the foam to fit into for a gasket around the edge of the pocket to seal the part into the pocket, drill holes all the way through the pocketed area to get vacuum from underneath the board, and then cut channels that lead to the holes for vacuum to distribute throughout the pocket. If this were going to be a fixture board I plan to use more often in the future, I'd spring for some StarBoard or the likes so I don't have to worry about the fixture board getting wonky like MDF would, but for a relatively decent price and a little bit of set up time you can have a good fixture board.

-Clint-
David Egnoski
Senior Member
Posts: 209
Joined: Tue, May 17 2005, 1:05PM
Company Name: Richmond Cabinet
Country: UNITED STATES
Location: Delavan, WI

Re: What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Post by David Egnoski »

I've used custom spoilboards with great success. The gasket technique Clint talks about takes time to implement but is very effective for large runs. I've also used custom boards with just 3/16" through holes to direct the vacuum to the part. I've cut literally hundreds of sheets with the boards in the photos. For small parts that are mixed with larger cabinet parts in a sheet tabs and skins are about the only option.
Attachments
20200331_071258 (Medium).jpg
20200331_071054 (Medium).jpg
Dave Egnoski
Richmond Cabinet & Millwork
Will Williamson
Guru Member
Posts: 448
Joined: Thu, Dec 08 2005, 6:10PM
Company Name: Williamson Finewoodwork
Country: UNITED STATES
Location: Capac MI
Contact:

Re: What methods do you use to hold down small parts?

Post by Will Williamson »

If you are cutting nested parts, The best way, I have found, is to use a down, spiral, cutter and let it pack the kerf, with sawdust.
I cut a lot of, small, intricate, parts and I am only running a 18 HP Becker Vacuum. If necessary turn off your, sawdust extraction.
The smaller, the cutter the better.
If you are running, small, single, parts, the gaskets, from All Star Adhesives work well.
Will

http://www.willmade.com

KEG/Intel Core i 7 CPU K875 @ 2.93 GHZ/12G Ram
Dual boot XP PRO/Windows 7 Nvidia Quatro 600 1Gig Ram
Post Reply