Vacuum clamping system question

[Greg Crawford]

I'd like to set up a vacuum clamping system, mainly for router templates. I searched SMC and found a few answers, but have one specific question I couldn't find.

If I have a tank (I think it's 5 or 6 gallons), how big should the vacuum pump be? I don't want to use a venturi system with my compressor, and have seen A/C vacuum pumps that don't cost much money. I was wondering if they would work.

Thanks in advance for all the help I know I'm going to get.

[David DeCristoforo]

I have a 1HP pump motor on mine with 5 gal tank. But be careful here because the tank has to be designed for vacuum and those have different specs than compressor tanks. Actually a larger pump with a tank will not draw a vacuum any "better" than a smaller pump with no tank. It will just draw the vacuum faster. As with compressors, it's all about CFM.

YM

[Greg Crawford]

Thanks for the info. The tank I have available is a compressor tank, so I'm glad I posted.

Greg

[Steve knight]

I have a small maybe a 1/6" hp gast pump that will suck all the air out of my 4' long 4" abs tank I made in a minute or less. it works great on my cnc router.
You can also make a vac table using a shopvac that will work very well that does not need gaskets and will work with more varied shapes.