24R - Vacuum Hold Down - Spoilboard Choices

Greetings,
This is my first time to post to this forum…

– I am located in Oklahoma.

  • I own a Tormach PCNC-1100s3 & an 1100M … and several other CNC machines… but router machine is all new to me!!! (( And I am struggling with a few topics ))

– I purchase this Tormach 24R used…. it is serial number: “RA10020” (so among the first)… no “T-Slots”….

  • I have the STORM Vacuum pump … has never been hooked up to the Tormach yet…

– The Vacuum table looks good… I did not get gaskets of any type with it (to go around the vacuum pod areas)…. I also did not get bolts to secure the SpoilBoard to the top of the vacuum table… but I did determine the size and length… and purchase some “Hex Head” bolts (My stored did not have the Socket Cap head).

– I eagerly ran to “Lowes” (30 mile one way trip)… and purchased a sheet of MDF …. cut it up into (4) equal size pieces… and was all set to use one of those pieces as the “SpoilBoard” … (the concept of Vacuum Hold Down … and Spoilboard that works with vacuum is all new to me).

– I have not yet installed the newly purchased MDF to the table….. but I have found (through watching videos and reading)… that I purchased the wrong type board …. As I understand it my “lowes” product (MDF) is “Medium Density Fiberboard” … and will not allow the vacuum to pass through??? …. and I need to find “LDF” (Light Density Fiberboard)???

  • I am eager to find folks that are familiar to give me some guidance and advice on setting this spoilboard up….. where it is acceptable to be used with my Vacuum.

What info is there about “Gasket” material…. hopefully something I can find local….

please educate me further about the MDF vs LDF … (I know I need to face both sides)….

and advice appreciated

The gasket on your machine is 6mm dia, FYI.

I use MDF in the showroom, I just face off ~0.05” of each face to remove the “skin” that is created when they press the material.

6mm round? — is it just “Rubber”

We use and sell a D shape or round hollow foam gasket. The gaskets we sell are neoprene but there are a few material options out there.

Tormach Workholding - Vacuum Table Grid Gasket: 1/4 x 5/16 D Shape. 100 ft. roll. - SKU 39418 is ever so slightly larger diameter than what you need but you can likely stuff it in there.

We also sell 6mm round gasket in 6m lengths but don’t have that listed on our website. If you email Orders@tormach.com and ask about 50362 then they can help you out. The current price is $4.95