Product Description
Available soon... Pictures and more information coming soon!
RawVac™ Vacuum Tables
RawVac™ is a modular vacuum workholding system developed for fast, safe, and flexible clamping on CNC machines — without traditional clamps or screw fixtures. The tables are available in 300×300 mm and 600×530 mm, and are designed to be placed directly on top of an existing machine bed. This makes RawVac ideal for both prototyping and production.
A well-designed channel and hole pattern helps distribute vacuum evenly across the surface, resulting in more predictable workholding — even for small parts, mixed part sizes, or irregular shapes.
Typical workflow: place the workpiece, open the relevant zones, start the vacuum, and begin machining.
Modular System with Zone Control
RawVac is built to scale. Multiple tables can be connected and controlled via a manual control unit, allowing vacuum to be distributed between tables or zones depending on the job.
This makes it easy to adapt the system to:
- machine size
- workpiece size and geometry
- workflow (single table → multiple tables)
Zone Division and Flexible Vacuum Control
Each RawVac table is divided into multiple vacuum zones so the active vacuum area can match the workpiece. Zones that are not in use can be sealed using the supplied rubber plugs, concentrating vacuum where it matters.
For additional flexibility, sealing strip is included. This allows you to create custom zones directly on the table surface — useful for unusual contours or when you want repeatable “templates” for series production.
This is especially useful for:
- small workpieces
- irregular shapes
- fixture work and contour cutting
- series production with recurring geometries
The zone system improves efficiency by reducing unnecessary airflow and leakage, helping the system stay more stable in real-world machining.
Through-Cutting with Spoilboard (MDF)
RawVac is designed to work with through-cutting using an MDF spoilboard. MDF is porous and allows air to pass through in a controlled way. When the pump reduces pressure under the workpiece, atmospheric pressure above presses the material down against the spoilboard.
This enables:
- contour cutting and cut-outs
- faster production with minimal setup time
- machining without clamps interfering with toolpaths
RawVac Gasket
For improved sealing and more “forgiving” workholding, RawVac can be used together with RawVac Gasket, placed on top of the spoilboard. The gasket sheet helps reduce leakage and improves vacuum distribution — especially when:
- machining small parts
- the workpiece does not cover an entire zone
- spoilboard condition varies
Spoilboards are easy to resurface and replace when worn. Gasket sheets are consumables and can be replaced when needed — and with the right machine settings, the same sheet can often be used for a long time.
Benefits
- Fast and simple clamping
- No risk of collision with clamps
- Zone control for better efficiency
- Modular and scalable system
- Suitable for both fixture work and through-cutting
- Optional gasket for improved sealing and stability
Included
- RawVac vacuum table in the selected size
- Hose + fittings (push-to-connect) for vacuum pump connection
- Sealing strip for flexible zone division
- Rubber plugs for sealing zones
RawVac Pumps
A vacuum table is only as good as the pump behind it. The right pump capacity provides more stable clamping, better repeatability, and a system that feels easier to use — especially with MDF spoilboards and through-cutting.
RawVac pumps are oil-free and selected specifically for vacuum workholding — meaning stable negative pressure in a system where some airflow and leakage can be present (for example with spoilboards and through-cutting).
This is not the same type of pump commonly used for things like heat pump installation, where oil-lubricated service pumps are typically used to evacuate refrigeration systems. They are built for a different application and operate under different conditions.
What do the numbers mean?
Our pump names are based on nominal airflow (free air) measured in m³/h, which is a common European way of specifying vacuum pump capacity.
RawVac 8.5 / 15 / 29
Nominal airflow (free air): 8.5 / 15 / 29 m³/h (≈ 142 / 250 / 480 L/min)
🔹 RawVac 8.5 – Compact and Efficient
Nominal airflow (free air): 8.5 m³/h (≈ 142 L/min)
Ideal for small workpieces and well-sealed fixtures where compact size and low noise matter.
🔹 RawVac 15 – Balanced All-Round Pump
Nominal airflow (free air): 15 m³/h (≈ 250 L/min)
A strong all-round choice for standard tables, MDF spoilboards, and through-cutting with moderate leakage.
🔹 RawVac 29 – For Higher Demands
Nominal airflow (free air): 29 m³/h (≈ 480 L/min)
Best for larger surfaces, multiple zones/tables, and higher leakage situations where extra airflow improves stability.
Quick guide
- Tight fixtures / vacuum plates: RawVac 8.5–15
- Spoilboard + through-cutting: RawVac 15–29
- Multiple tables / large surfaces / higher leakage: RawVac 29
All RawVac pumps are selected to work optimally with our vacuum tables and are delivered ready for installation.
How Vacuum Workholding Works
A vacuum table does not hold the workpiece by “suction” in the traditional sense. Instead, negative pressure is created between the table and the workpiece by removing air using a vacuum pump. As the pressure under the workpiece is reduced, atmospheric pressure above presses the material down against the table/spoilboard.
In real CNC machining, performance is largely determined by leakage. Small leaks in porous materials, edges, zones, or fittings can quickly reduce vacuum level and stability. That’s why channel structure, surface finish, zone control, and sealing strategy are critical.
Reference: Gauge Pressure vs Absolute Pressure
Vacuum level is commonly expressed in two ways:
- Gauge pressure: 0 bar = atmospheric pressure, negative values indicate underpressure
- Absolute pressure: 0 bar abs = perfect vacuum, 1.013 bar abs ≈ atmospheric pressure at sea level
This means:
- −1.0 bar (gauge) is the theoretical limit, corresponding to 0 bar abs (perfect vacuum)
- −0.95 bar (gauge) typically corresponds to about 0.05–0.06 bar abs (≈ 50–60 mbar abs), depending on local atmospheric pressure
Typical Measured Vacuum (Reference)
In a well-sealed setup (good sealing, minimal leakage), it is normal to see high values on the vacuum gauge. In our own sealed test setup we typically measure around −0.95 to −0.97 bar.
Actual results depend on material, spoilboard condition, leakage, and pump choice.
Theoretical Holding Force (Transparent Calculation)
Maximum theoretical holding force is determined by pressure difference and area:
Holding force (N) = ΔP (Pa) × Area (m²)
Example reference: at −0.95 bar (≈ 95 kPa pressure difference) and a fully sealed surface, theoretical maximum force is approximately:
- 300×300 mm (0.09 m²): ~0.87 ton equivalent
- 600×530 mm (0.318 m²): ~3.1 ton equivalent
Important: these values are theoretical maxima based on pressure differential and full sealing across the entire surface. Real holding force depends on sealing, material porosity, spoilboard condition, leakage, and pump capacity.
The product is CE-marked and developed in accordance with applicable EU requirements for safe and proper use in professional environments.
