Brian Gray
Posts: 339
Joined: 2004-01-21
Location: Sandusky, OH
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If I'm reading this correct, it sounds like you want to build a table that will pull the veneer flat with a vacuum during the laser cutting process. Is this right?
If so, I think that your efforts should go toward flattening the veneer with more conventional methods. Even if you can build a vacuum table that will pull the burls perfectly flat, your pieces will go back to being funky after they are cut, and then they will very be tough to piece together.
There are methods that involve flattening solutions and a vacuum press to get your funky veneers perfectly flat, and they will stay that way if you store them between cauls.
This is a thread that outlines a good flattening strategy.
http://www.vacupress.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=16004&MessageID=31315#31315
You also should just do a search within this forum. Just use the word 'flattening', and you'll get LOTS of info.
Let me know if I'm understanding your question correctly. I think that when you said "vacuum table" some people here assumed that you meant a frame press.
Also, as a side note, I did some experimenting with some laser cutting a while back, and I'll share some tips.
Consider paperbacked veneer when cutting with a laser. I found it to be easier to work with.
Try placing the veneer in the laser cutter with the glue surface of the veneer UP. This way, most of the burning will occur on the bottom, and not show as much on your display surface.
A lot of guys who use laser cutters do not sand-shade. Consider it...it makes your piece look more 3-D and hand-made.
There are some guys here on the forum who do a lot more laser cutting than me, and I only experimented with a laser cutter a couple of times, but that's what I learned. The other guys may have some other tips.
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