Holding material to table

[janz]

Searched for diff ideas on how to hold down the material while using the 3d
I am trying to do the porsche in the freebies projects. So far I think I have
make a pocket in the ends of the wood block so the clamps will grab there.
Model is 6" so if I cut the block at 8" long I can cut out the pocket 3/4 " on
each end. Wish someone would post some pics of how they hold their project
material for 3d cut. Its probably quite simple but I'm not seeing it.
Thanks
JANZ

[BDM]

You can screw it into your spoil board, you can use alignment dowels, various jigs, double sided tape, vacuum table, clamps, plus numerous other ways. If your machine has t-track, it's pretty easy with all the various clamps available.

[janz]

If you screw it into the spoil board how do you machine bottom of 3d.
Still not getting it, some pics or links to such holding material to table.

[martin54]

I can't do 3D work so don't have cut3D but have you tried watching the tutorials? Not seen it myself but there is one on doing 2 sided machining, all the vcarve tutorials are worth watching so I am guessing these will be as well.

http://support.vectric.com/training-material/cut3d

[martin54]

Sorry double post, not sure how I managed that lol

[BDM]

If you screw it into the spoil board how do you machine bottom of 3d.
Still not getting it, some pics or links to such holding material to table.

That's a different question. The simple answer is that you flip it over and screw it back down, but in reality you should have some index holes so you can get it lined up perfectly. Do a search on two-sided machining. I know this was discussed not too long ago and there are different ways of doing it, but I think Tim Merrill gave the best description. As others have mentioned, watch the tutorials (both Cut3D and Aspire) to see how to do it.

[janz]

Watched tutorials and they shown how to do everything except holding to table.

[Adrian]

Clamps, screws, nails. Whatever works for you. Holding down a 3D job is no different to a 2D job really. Just make sure you allow enough material to get hold of and keep the piece level.

As has been said the holding down is the easy bit. Getting the sides to align is the trickier part. That's where the tutorials on two sided machining come into it.

[zeeway]

If I have an extra thick block of material, sometimes I will do some preliminary machining - sometimes on my table saw - to get the edges down to a reasonable thickness for clamps, screws, or whatever...like this...

As others have said you have to include some index holes to make sure your second side is aligned with your first. So you may need to do this trick in both directions, but on opposite sides of the matl. Hope this helps and is clear.

Angie

[Dclifton2]

When I do a two sided job I use two locator pins in the middle of each end. I also zero center of the material and center of the block. When you make your file flip it in the direction in which you flip the block. Also set aspire to zero from table even though your zeroing z from the middle of the block. I have made guitar necks this way.
Don Clifton

[janz]

Thanks guys, I ended up making clamps for hold downs with the SBD and a couple of wood squares
to help with alignment. Ended up pocketing out the ends so there will be 4 sides that have a 3/4"
thick clamping surface x 5/8" deep. This extra material should allow me to keep my material flat
on all sides. Just need to figure out which way to flip material for bottom cutting.

[GraClay]

To hold down the material I just hit those two buttons labeled Vac Table.