Vac-Plate & Puc Workholding Kit from Swan Tool Group
Tonight I'm taking the Vac-Plate & Puc Workholding Kit from Swan Tool Group for a spin. I'm using it on my CNC table since I use that a lot for things in the shop. This comes with a Vac Plate to attach to your Grabo lifting tool that connects via vacuum tubes to one or two of the included Vac Pucs.
My CNC table has the T-track installed at the same level as the bottom of the MDF so I used some slightly longer 1/4-20 machine screws with the included nuts to hold the pucs in place. This is super easy to set up and the vacuum holds everything with no movement.
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Using vacuum-based workholding solutions like the Vac-Plate & Puc Kit really transforms the way I approach CNC projects. One thing I’ve noticed is how crucial it is to match your setup—like aligning your CNC table’s T-track perfectly with your base material thickness, as mentioned with MDF in the article. This ensures a secure fit when fastening the Vac Pucs. From personal experience, the true game changer is the stability vacuum provides. Traditional clamps can sometimes obstruct tools or leave marks, but vacuum pods firmly hold workpieces flat without that hassle. The ability to connect the Vac Plate to a versatile Grabo lifting tool through vacuum tubes creates a highly adaptable system for different project sizes. Installing the Pucs using slightly longer machine screws, like 1/4-20, offers a customizable approach, so if your table or material thickness varies, you can adjust easily. It’s also worth noting the effortless setup—within minutes, I had everything arranged, which let me focus more on the machining process rather than fiddling with clamps. If you spend a lot of time in your workshop needing reliable, repeatable workholding, investing in vacuum-based kits such as this one can dramatically improve efficiency. Additionally, Swan Tool Group’s range includes tools designed for precision and durability, so exploring their full catalog might unlock other solutions tailored for your workflow.
