worth knowing about vacuum presses

1. Quality in mechanical engineering
Columbus means ISO-certified, Austrian engineering quality and the exclusive use of quality components such as Becker, Siemens, Festo, etc. (learn more)

2. The digital master manual - we share more than 45 years of experience with you!
We have summarized all the answers on application technology, adhesives, materials, technology and implementation examples in a clear presentation. So you don't have to pay dearly in terms of material and time, but start with a big head start. (learn more)

3. The patented modular system from PIONEER
PIONEER is the only vacuum press that you can expand afterwards. You can start with a simple press with flap opening (BASIC) and later expand it with the vertical opening mechanism (VERTICAL) or a heating system (HEAT). The machine does not have to go back to the factory for this. PIONEER is available in 3 sizes, most of which are available from stock. (learn more)

PIONEER BASIC and MOVE are equipped with a flap opening, ie manual opening with the support of gas pressure springs. With this opening, the workpiece should be max. 600 mm high. Due to the lever function when closing the machine, the layers to be pressed must be firmly fixed to the workpiece, otherwise they could be displaced.
With the vertical opening mechanism (VERTICAL), the membrane frame is moved up and down by compressed air cylinders. Therefore, there is no difference in the workpieces. The maximum workpiece height here is 850 mm and the press can be operated from all 4 sides.

The maximum size of the workpiece depends on its shape. If the workpiece is a cuboid, ie the sides are vertical, the distance between the membrane frame and the workpiece should be half its height. If the sides of the workpiece run out towards the edge, you can use almost the entire pressing surface.

100% vacuum - which is not reached on earth - would be 10 to/m². Vacuum presses normally achieve a pressure of 8 to 9 tons/m².
The pressure is ALL SIDES on the workpiece and should not be underestimated. When layer gluing, it is therefore important to make a stable template so that it does not implode.

All commercially available adhesives can be used for vacuum pressing.It is advisable to protect the machine from adhesive residues. We recommend, for example, construction foil, fabric, fleece, etc.
The digital master manual contains specific adhesive recommendations from well-known manufacturers.

All work surfaces of our vacuum presses are made of stable phenolic resin panels that are heat-resistant up to 120 °C. To ensure an even vacuum, the surface is provided with vacuum channels. The air extraction points and the channels up to the vacuum pump have a particularly high cross section, which supports the extraction speed.

The shaped tubes of the membrane frame are pre-stressed to avoid drawing false air even under high tensile loads (due to high workpieces). If, after a long period of use, false air is nevertheless drawn in, only the adjusting screws of the bridge construction have to be tightened to restore the tightness of the machine.

Durability?
Between 7 seconds and 7 years 😉
Sounds funny, but it's true.
If sharp edges, e.g. of HPL, are not covered (e.g. with felt or fabric) or a nail sticks out of shape, the membrane can tear very quickly.
Otherwise, the average lifespan is about 7 years, although we also have customers who work with it for 15 years and more.
It is advisable to protect the membrane from direct sunlight.

Stretchability?
approx. 700%

Difference between silicone and natural rubber?
Natural rubber is suitable for temperatures up to 130 °C and silicone up to 230 °C
since the membrane made of natural rubber is significantly cheaper than the one made of silicone, it is advisable to change the membranes if an activity (e.g. cold pressing) is carried out for a longer period of time (membrane change with the Columbus quick-change system approx. 10 to 15 minutes)

PIONEER BASIC – the high-precision vacuum press with flap opening
manual opening and closing of the membrane frame
suitable up to a max. workpiece height of 600 mm
available in 3 sizes:
Size L

• Usable area: approx. 3050 x 1350 mm
• Internal frame dimensions: approx. 3130 x 1430 mm

Size XL

• Usable area: approx. 4050 x 1350 mm
• Internal frame dimensions: approx. 4130 x 1430 mm

Size XXL (recommendation: PIONEER VERTICAL XXL from a workpiece height of 100 mm)

• Usable area: approx. 4050 x 1700 mm
• Internal frame dimensions: approx. 4130 x 1780 mm

PIONEER VERTICAL – the vertical opening mechanism
PIONEER BASIC can be upgraded immediately or afterwards with PIONEER VERTICAL
Opening and closing of the membrane frame via a controller and compressed air cylinder
Advantages:

• no slipping of the workpieces
• Workpiece height up to 850 mm
• 4-sided operation of the press

PIONEER VERTICAL is available in sizes L, XL and XXL

PIONEER HEAT – the high-performance heating system
independent heating system that can be pushed (immediately or afterwards) under PIONEER BASIC
suitable for heating plastic sheets such as mineral materials, acrylic, etc. which are pressed onto a mold after heating in the vacuum press and removed after cooling down
infinitely variable up to 230 °C
Material-friendly circulating air heating
available in 3 sizes:
Size L

• Usable area: approx. 2700 x 1100 mm

Size XL

• Usable area: approx. 3700 x 1100 mm

XXL size

• Usable area: approx. 3700 x 1600 mm

it fits a heater of the same size or a smaller heater under the vacuum press PIONEER BASIC (independent of PIONEER VERTICAL)