Install A Spoilboard The Right Way

The most important thing about a CNC is the spoilboard. If you ever have issues with parts sliding or moving on your CNC bed, its probably not what you think. The spoilboard installed properly is probably the most important step you have in setting up your machine. In this video, I show you every step you need to take in adding a spoilboard to a CNC whether its a vacuum bed or a standard CNC unit. This video is geared more towards vacuum tables, but the physics and importance of a solid foundation still apply to non-vacuum CNC tables. Follow these steps and you will be much more happy and profitable when it comes to cutting on your CNC.
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[@alpertunga18]

Thank you for all the valuable information you provided 🙏

[@Statedwoods]

So glad it helped

[@Flenderr]

Excellent presentation skills and very good spoilboard tips! 🤘

[@Statedwoods]

Thanks. I appreciate that.

[@chrisjaustin88]

Interesting. I dont do large format CNC stuff so I was naive to this. Not all what I thought a vacuum table did. Good content.

[@Statedwoods]

Thanks so much. Check out the physics of a vacuum table video on our channel as well to see what they really can do

[@sidekaar]

Great video. We are troubleshooting a spoil board with a low spot in the middle right now, and this gives us some things to check right off. Thank you!

[@Statedwoods]

Glad it helps. Make sure to screw it down throughout the table. Then flatten

[@NolanBuilt]

Great video Nick! 👌🏾

[@Statedwoods]

Thanks! Appreciate that

[@awl_in_woodworks]

Appreciate the detailed info. You made a few points I didn’t think about.

[@Statedwoods]

Awesome. Glad we could help

[@kenf2662]

Nick, You didn't tell anybody how much is the primer surface to take-off of the spoil board, what's that sweet spot.

[@Statedwoods]

Cut off .02 of an inch. Thats what I always take off each time i flatten.

[@magicbazzo]

Do you use the same holes for the screws every time you change the spoilboard or make new ones? If you use the same holes won't the holes after a few times be useless? And if you make new holes, aren't you damaging the CNC bed and will have to replace it sometime in the future? I have been thinking of putting threaded inserts in the bed of my CNC and then screwing the bed using the inserts, but I'm not 100% if I should. I was also wondering. Why don't you use the CNC itself to make the holes on the spoil board? Thanks for the great and detailed video.

[@Statedwoods]

You can do any of those options. Inserts work too. Phantom has them in their tables now. I get 12 fattenings out of a spoilboards and only need to flatten maybe every 8 months or so so by the time holes are an issue, I would have newer technology in a new machine. Maybe replace spoilboard every 5-6 years or so.

[@MrDec1129]

If my spoilboard is "floating", and when I apply the vac, it pulls the board dead flat. How is that not flat? As long as I surface with vac on is that not good enough?

[@Statedwoods]

Because if you dont cover the entire spoilboard with your cut material, the spoilboard and material wont suck down flat and even. If there is a void area, air moves through the spoilboard and it stays elevated. As you cut and open pockets of open areas, the spoilboard would release and rise due to loss of suction. It will never stay flat. I hope that makes sense.

[@MrDec1129]

@@Statedwoods Ahhhhhhhhh yes... I gotchya. Good point. Looks like I'm screwin it down!

[@coryschulthies8731]

great video. Why didnt you have the CNC drill the countersink for the screws?

[@Statedwoods]

You sure could let the CNC do it. I don’t replace spoilboards for years so not a big deal for me.