#vac sys review

[workshopaddict]

Work Holding

Working with any material in any working environment, there are two main points to review when talking about work holding. Work height and orientation. If you cannot have your material in the location and orientation your work becomes increasingly less enjoyable and less comfortable. For discussion purposes, this blog will lean towards woodworking as that is Andy’s expertise and the main industry for the Festool Vac-Sys Vacuum clamping system but a lot of these points and discussion topics can be cross related to almost all other industries that require someone to hold a piece of material or part in place and complete a task with it.

There are a variety of different levels of woodworking shops that can be categorized into four levels. The beginner, weekend warrior, professional, and the production shop. Between these three levels you will find various different grades of equipment and abilities. Obviously the professional shop will have the bells and whistles but maybe a little more specific while the beginner will have exactly that. An introductory set of equipment and a more broad brush for applications. The production shop will have dedicated equipment for the repetitive tasks that they do. Typically this equipment is extremely specialized and expensive. It is meant to do a task efficiently and to the correct specifications. We can’t forget about the contractor on the job-site!

Festool 203148 vacuum unit VAC SYS System

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Work holding equipment is an extremely large and creative category. You can see clamps, bench vises, large vacuum tables, specialized equipment for dog holes, etc. All of these options have their own pros and cons but we have received an ultimate work holding piece of equipment in the shop that can apply to just about all categories. It is pricey so it maybe out of the reach for the beginner or weekend warrior but that is to be discussed later.

Festool Vac-Sys Vacuum Clamping System

An incredible way to harness the power of vacuum to hold your material in the orientation and the height you desire. Festool released their Vac-Sys Clamping Sytem March 1st 2016 and has been a show stopper ever since. “The Vac-Sys provides fast, easy, and highly maneuverable solutions for almost any clamping application” said Steve Rangoussis with Festool and we could agree more. The system relies on a vacuum pump to apply vacuum to the two clamping modules. We have the Vac-Sys System Set which includes the Vacuum pump (VAC-PMP) Vacuum clamping unit (VAC SyS SE1) and the Clamping module (Vac-SyS SE2). This full system allows you to clamp extremely large objects such as doors, counter tops, or anything that requires two points of work holding. The main clamping module (Vac-Sys SE1) has an integrated foot pedal to release your material from the clamping force. It essential allows atmosphere to enter the system again eliminating the vacuum and holding power of the system. The user can quickly attach and remove their material from the units utilizing the foot pedal and the green plunger that is in the middle of the clamping cups. This green plunger gets depressed allowing the vacuum to have access to the clamping cups. With your material making a tight seal, the vacuum give some intense holding power to your material. The unit can be held down to the table with clamps, screws, or the integrated vacuum clamping on the bottom.

The clamping head can be rotated a full 360 degrees and/or can be tilted from 0-90 degrees.

Features and Specifications:

Includes:

Vacuum Pump

Vacuum clamping unit

Clamping module

Can hold up to 200 pounds

Two different shaped clamping cups

Various accessories and clamping cups available

Vacuums to your work surface

Foot pedal to release the vacuum

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Setting Up and How To Use

Setting up the Festool Vacuum clamping system is extremely easy. You first need to decide how you would like to hold the units down to your work surface. You can utilize the vacuum bases on the units themselves but will need a nice smooth and nonporous surface. You can screw it down with some wood screws or even clamp it down. It will depend on how often you will use it and how much space you have. For a dedicated space in a shop, securing it down with screws to your work surface is the best option. If you are in a shop where you have to tear it down quite often , like a weekend warrior or a regular shop without dedicated space for the setup, you can use the vacuum base or screw it to a piece of wood and then clamp the wood to your work surface. This is equally applicable to the person on the job-site. Festool also offers an accessory for quickly attached and removing from the MFT tables.

Once the unit is secured to your work surface, you simply need to turn on the vacuum pump and place your material on the clamping cups. Apply a little force to complete the seal on the clamping cups. This force will also depress the green plunger we discussed earlier. That will  also the vacuum pump to remove the atmosphere in the clamping cup and apply an intense amount of clamping force to your material. You can either manipulate the clamping head before or after placing your material on. We find it easy to do it after with small pieces of material and before with larger ones. When you would like to remove the material, press you foot on the foot pedal to release the vacuum clamping force. The plunger will reseal the system and the pump will begin to build vacuum again and ready for your next clamping needs.

  Fast, Easy, Simple

The Festool vacuum clamping system is extremely fast, easy, and simple to operate. This is exactly what everyone wants from any product. The vacuum clamping system is extremely fast. It allows a user to switch between clamping one part to another in a blink of an eye. The system is extremely easy and simple to setup and operate. This means that there is minimal training and risk with new employees and gets them focused on the actual task at hand rather than learning a new piece of equipment.

Applications and Uses

Oh boy! Where do we start! In a woodworking shop, typically the middle to the end of a project is when parts need to be held for sanding, scraping, planing, chiseling, etc. Cabinet doors, custom shapes, full sized doors, small parts, repetitive tasks, etc are all tasks that are common parts in a woodworking shop.

On the job-site, a finish carpenter or installer may need to hold some doors to trim them to size. The Festool Vacuum System is the perfect on the job-site clamping system. It is small and portable, easy and fast to setup, and is quiet. The vacuum pump barely makes any noise so it is perfect for the occupied space.

Two major applications that we believe this unit can pay for itself in efficiency and comfortably is edge banding and large man door work.

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Conclusion

The Festool Vacuum Clamping System is expensive. We believe that expense is an investment to both your, your labor force, and your products. It will make completing the required task faster, make it more enjoyable, and allow you to get better results (over a long stretch of time).

GAME CHANGER | Festool Vac-Sys Vacuum Clamping System Work Holding Working with any material in any working environment, there are two main points to review when talking about work holding.

[irobotroombapenang89-blog]

iRobot Roomba 980 Kampung Raja Huge Rebate

With their Botvac “D that was somewhat improve being lately released by rival Neato ” collection, it was theorized that iRobot might be following suit. Nevertheless, it is a comparatively long time since the Roomba 880 and 870 debuted. I actually didn’t understand what to anticipate. Certainly, iRobot isn't interested in ceding any market share to competitors, and rightfully so.

As with all preceding Roomba’s there are things that I don’t like and things to enjoy. It ’s going to be challenging for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the essential characteristics (what’s new) as well as the Advantages and Disadvantages. At the bottom, I’ll suggest several options and make an overall recommendation.

Essential Attributes –

The following are some of the new, updated, and remarkable features on the 980:

The Roomba 980 is now effective at running fro a complete 2 hours before needed to recharge. This is a personal best for Roomba. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for people who like that), but it's an advancement. Now it will recharge, and resume where it left off cleaning, although like the 800 series robots, the 980 will return to the docking station base.

iRobot DWELLING App: For me, this really is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become fully integrated into the house experience that is smart. iRobot is the first robot hoover firm – to my knowledge – that's a program like this. It's possible for you to press “Clean” from everywhere and the 980 will start/stop as desired. If I’m at work or from the home, I will get things began while I’m away. The program is easy enough basically functions as an advanced remote control and to use. On the Roomba’s that is older you could have a predetermined schedule to run each day, but not immediate control in this way!

New Navigation System: It’s actually more of an upgrade. This can be a big deal. Essentially it lets the visual localization map the room and allows the Roomba to “look” up and out to help browse. This is the kind of groundbreaking enhancement that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean practically? Bumping into things randomly and a more organized efficient and – – cleaning path.

Mercifully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a couple new attributes. Additionally they upped their game in the power department. The AeroForce cleaning system is exactly the same base technology, but 2 times more efficient at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which maximizes air power when it discovers a carpet or rug underneath. The outcome is a vacuum that is conventional that is comprehensive clean, reproducing a higher grade.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: Roomba uses these small towers to signal where to clean (and where not to clean…acting as an invisible wall obstacle). The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They have been now smaller and require AA batteries (compared to the hulking “D” batteries for previous set). This really is a nice advancement because who has spare “D” batteries?

Pros and Cons – Things I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

It means everything to me: It’s straightforward and fairly easy, although the Program is Awesome. Having the ability to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is currently part of my smart home family. Picking up on where tools like Ecobee smart thermostats and the Nest have left off, iRobot has actually delivered on a smart, net-joined, roomba vacuum. I eagerly thinking about the possibilities for future integration with my various smart home programs and controllers.

App Helps Screen Maintenance: There is a very cool “diagnostics” portion of the app that monitors distinct parts of the Roomba and uses simple bars to tell you when things must be altered or serviced (believe emptying the bin, changing extractors, filters, etc…). Additionally, it tells you exactly how to perform the desired care demand.

Better on Carpets: Robots hoovers constantly often perform better on hardwood floors and hard floor alternatives (tile, etc…). Now, the recently redesigned motor is not especially bad at adapting to carpeting surfaces as well. Once found, the 980 will engage a little more muscle to thoroughly clean carpets the manner they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a group of spilled crushed cheerios), both “appeared” to clean the same at a distance, but the 980 really could pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the bottom of the carpeting. It was a subtle difference, difficult t tell from standing up but an important difference however.

The new program, the battery that is more powerful and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than both previous models and the contest. Slowly but certainly, house robotics is living up to it’s assurance. If you hate vacuuming – or physically cannot do it anymore – this is the quintessential outsourced option. Short the Roomba 980 is now the best option out there.

Navigation is Apparently Improved: Sometimes new features are added and I will barely tell the difference. In the recent past, Roomba’s have had the knock for cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern. While the ending result was clean floors, how it occurred wasn’t quite. Still, it was also somewhat wasteful. This was one of the contrasts I enjoyed about most Neato versions. Now, the 980 is methodical, much more organized, and efficient.

It still bumps into matters to gain its bearings, especially in rooms with tons of furniture. Merely not nearly to the level it did in the past. On careful observation it WOn't keep doing it with the same wild abandon and seems the 980 will recall these “lumps” for future cleans.

Smarter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is really smarter than it’s the competitors and predecessors.

Strong Secondary Parts Market: Unlike other robot companies, the Roomba has a deluge of after market businesses specializing in creating better replacement accessories and components. For instance, I’ve been able to find replacement batteries that are not worse in relation to the factory default ones.

Exceptional Customer Service: iRobot remains the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “ace” and less specific to the model, but worth noting. They truly are also not bad at walking you through diagnosing issues.

Better Suction Overall: My two quasi scientific methods for measuring this are that A) I can feel a lot more wind/air coming out of the device and B) those larger particles of grit that only high powered vacs have a tendency to get are being caught in the dust bin.

Disadvantages

Use Could be More: This isn’t really a legit gripe, because I’m thrilled with the new program. It’s more of a wish. I’d like to completely incorporate my Roomba with the rest of my home that is smart. It would be pleasant in order to handle everything from one app (and one controller like the SmartThings Hub and others). It probably wouldn’t be difficult to do and it may be something iRobot plans to do anyway.

Not “Perfect”: It’s a certain improvement, but it’s still not perfect. Power cords occasionally confused it and can have problem with thresholds that were ample. It’s simple to “Roomba evidence” your house, once in a while it will get stuck, but once you figure out the issue areas. It’s not quite like an individual….yet.

Both Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Connected are rumored to be coming out “ soon”. How? I can’t actually tell. The Botvac Connected (which features similar app controls) will likely be out sometimes this year, but no firm release date continues to be set. I 'ven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date, although the Dyson Eye was rumored to be in the works for years. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. Right now, the 980 is the best robot in the marketplace, but that could change. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has been released. In general, it's a more powerful vacuum, but less room that is competent -to-room navigation. You can read my complete review for additional information.

Doesn’t Work in Entire Darkness: As long as there's some light i.e. you can see your way around, the 980 should function fine. However, for pitch black rooms you'll necessarily get an error code. My easy solution would be to keep night lights on in every room that needs it.

Only Available in One Area: So far as is often true for new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY available via the store that is iRobot here. This really is likely because they want to control pricing as long as possible. As soon as it’s released to other marketplaces like carton retailers and Amazon, I’ll make sure to update this post.

Cost: As always, iRobot is the price leader. All their robots usually are somewhat to somewhat more expensive than the contest. The 980 is no distinct. In fact, it’s not pretty darn cheap! At RM 4850 per unit, this is likely not something that’s simple to spring for. It is possible to check out this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this case, you do get what you pay for. This generation actually HAS improved many important facets. Hands down, this is the best robot vacuum currently accessible. However, if that is your first robot, you may want to look into some less pricey – but still competent – alternatives (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Alternatives to Contemplate

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, not to worry. There are with contemplating other great hoovers.

Roomba 880

Sometimes last years model is the best value. The Roomba 880 WAS the cream of the crop, until the 980 was released. You are able to take a look at my review of it here. At the time, it was the most effective robot vacuum money could buy. The AeroForce cleaning system that is patented is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris than the 700 series. This, combined with a an improved battery, a larger dust bin, and a remote control made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. It's all the other essential features for an actual runner up, although it doesn’t have the ground-breaking use. Above all, it’s a total  cheaper compared to 980 (check this listing for even steeper discounts). Still costly, but a lot.

Botvac D80

The new “D” chain has made some developments that are helpful, although I wasn’t overly impressed with the original Botvac release. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by changing a bearing) to ensure it is less susceptible to getting tangled (especially with individual and pet hair, in my own experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t only look better, it also functionally performs better than previous Neato models. The suction power is the finest yet and arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980. It’s still not too hard to schedule and use, although still, you won’t get the program controls. The patented laser navigation technology means more organized courses and it usually works fairly well. Where it normally sells for less compared to the top line Roomba’s, it's possible for you to see this listing here.

Roomba 650

It’s not still false, although it’s been around for a while. It’s also MUCH cheaper. It is possible to read my full take here. Try the 650 out to see if it for the needs if budget is the top concern. Yes, it’s missing a group of pleasant “extras” but the cleaning technology that is core is till there. The 650 is perfect for individuals who have flats, modest homes, or only a little space they desire frequently cleaned. It will not come with the typical HEPA filter (good for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. Generally, this can be a great robot for those just getting started, curious to see if the technology works due to their needs. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a couple replacement batteries). On top of that, you're able to find the 650 for a really affordable price at this listing.

As I mentioned previously, the long rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development. Who knows when it will be released. They haven’t discussed release dates, but as of this stage it will not be likely to hit before the 2015 Holiday season. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may really lead them to delay release until the core characteristics can be matched by them.

The more fascinating possibility is the the Neato Botvac “Linked” robot which plans to add similar WiFi capability to the Roomba 980. It is possible to read more about it via the official press release here. It'd seem sensible about them to release it but they’ll have to do it shortly to capitalize completely.

UPGRADE: See my full review.

Believing Cleaner Faceplate

I was a little skeptical of this “work around” at first, but it really works reasonably well. Believing Cleanser was the outcome of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds WiFi capability to any Roomba 500 or 600 series robot. Skeptical? I was too. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that changes your Roomba. It’s easy enough to attach. Additionally, it can synchronize with other smart home programs (like SmartThings, etc…), something that I’ve criticized the Roomba 980 for not doing. You can do most of precisely the same functions only in intuitive manner and a less “ polished”. The app is fairly solid and will let you schedule remotely, alert you when your Roomba wants help and plays a tune if you need to locate your lost Roomba. It’s available for just a fraction of the cost of a new Roomba here.

I’ll caveat by saying that 1) it’s still “laggy” 2) reduces typical run-time by about 10-15% and 3) it’s not native to iRobot (third party program). Thinking Cleanser is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 series, but as of yet it only exists as a Kickstarter endeavor here.

Who's this a great option for? 1) Present owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who need WiFi capability, but can’t afford/don’t desire to spend $899 on the 980. By way of example, you will be run by buying a new Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate no more than $500 total.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Linked

I desired to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it, although I’ll be writing up a full comparison shortly.

Both Roomba 980 and Botvac Linked characteristic WiFi enabled control. This really is certainly the headline characteristic for both. Both are comparable with regards to attributes/utilization, although I personally prefer the Roomba app better.

What are the Essential Differences? 1) The Botvac Linked is significantly more affordable (usually about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date information. 3) The Roomba 980 has “carpet boost” and the Botvac doesn’t.

UPGRADE: You'll be able to read my complete comparison (recently completed) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The short answer: Yes! The longer answer? This is arguably the greatest robot vacuum cleaner available on the market if you've got the cash. At minimum, it’s definitely the greatest roomba version to date.

The 980 is the greatest robot for the occupation, if you have a larger house or office/company that needs to be cleaned frequently. The earth can be covered by it and recharge own as needed. If you'll need a vacuuming occupation that strongly resembles a traditional upright vacuum clean, the 980 has the most power/suction and the finest cleaning technology of any robot.