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Apex Series · Vacuum & Power Systems
The Power Behind
The Power Behind
The Hold-Down
Industrial 3-phase blower pumps, software-controlled vacuum zones, and VFD-tuned suction, engineered as one system on every Apex Series digital flatbed cutter.
Standard Configuration
Built On 3-Phase Power
Every Apex Series flatbed cutter ships with a standard blower-pump power configuration of 3-phase 220V (±5%) at 60 amps. That is not an arbitrary spec. It is the foundation the entire vacuum hold-down system is engineered around.
3-PhasePower Circuit
220VSupply ±5%
60AStandard Circuit
40–70HzVFD Output Range
Why 3-Phase Is The Efficient Circuit
Single-phase power rises and falls to zero 120 times per second, which means the motor is coasting between pulses. Three-phase power overlaps three alternating currents 120° apart, so the power delivered to the pump never drops to zero. The result is smooth, constant torque with no pulsation.
For the same amperage, a 3-phase circuit also delivers roughly 73% more power than single-phase: more suction per amp, smaller conductors, and less heat in the panel.
- Constant power delivery. Three overlapping phases mean zero dead spots in the waveform and steady, uninterrupted suction.
- More power per amp. Three-phase moves roughly 1.73× the power of single-phase on equal current, so a single 60A circuit drives serious vacuum.
- Simpler, tougher motors. Three-phase induction motors self-start without capacitors or centrifugal switches, which means fewer wear parts and longer life.
- Continuous-duty ready. Smooth torque and cooler running windings are exactly what an all-shift production blower demands.
- VFD-native. Variable frequency drives are built for 3-phase motors, unlocking precise, adjustable suction (more on that below).
That efficient circuit is the engine behind the table suction on every Apex Series machine. It is what lets one integrated vacuum system pin down substrates ranging from corrugated and foam board to acrylic, aluminum composite, and textiles without breaking a sweat.
New to the platform?
What Is A Flatbed Cutter →
No 3-Phase At Your Facility?
There Is Still A Path To Apex Power
Plenty of shops run on single-phase service, and that does not take these machines off the table. For configurations and installations without 3-phase power, we can suggest manufacturers you can call about isolation transformers and rotary phase converters that derive clean 3-phase power from single-phase service. In addition, the Apex Plus Series is the only Apex model offered with single-phase pump options, so ask our team which route fits your building best.
Apex M Series · Magnetic Drive
Apex M Series Vacuum System
Every Apex M Series table runs a single 15 kW (20 HP) high-speed centrifugal turbo pump, one precision unit powering the entire deck.
15 kW (20 HP)Centrifugal Turbo Pump
Apex M Series Flatbed Cutter With Its Vacuum Pump
Why A High-Speed Turbo Fits This Table
- Ternary-flow (3D) impeller machined from aerospace-grade aluminum on 5-axis centers to tolerances under 5/1000 mm (0.0002″) for maximum airflow from a compact package.
- High-speed permanent-magnet synchronous motor. The impeller is direct-coupled, with no belts or gearboxes and precise electronic speed control.
- Ceramic bearings engineered for high RPM, delivering longer life and stable, quiet operation at full working speed.
- Class H insulation rated to 180°C (356°F) for continuous production duty.
- One pump, whole table. A single unit generates the airflow the entire zone deck draws from, simplifying power, plumbing, and maintenance.
≤65 dB
Running noise level, about the level of everyday conversation, right on the production floor
Power note: input power on all Apex Plus Series and Apex M Series machines is 3-phase 220V (±5%) at 60 amps. Every Apex M Series machine also includes a supplied transformer that converts the incoming 3-phase 220V service to 380V output at the pump.
Interactive
Vacuum Zones: Tap To Actuate
The Apex M Series divides its deck into software-controlled vacuum zones. Pick a table size, then tap zones to switch suction on and off, exactly how the operator does it from the controller.
Zone 1 starts at the machine origin
Table Area
0Total Zones
0Zones Active
1×15 kW (20 HP) Turbo Pump
By The Numbers
Apex M Series: 6 Standard Models
| Model | Table Area (mm) | Table Area (in) | Vacuum Zones | Vacuum Pump |
|---|
All six standard Apex M Series configurations shown. Zone counts can be tailored to production requirements. Every Apex M Series machine includes a supplied transformer that converts the incoming 3-phase 220V (±5%) 60A service to 380V output at the pump.
Apex Plus Series · Rack & Pinion
Apex Plus Series Vacuum System
The Apex Plus Series scales differently: banks of 7.5 kW (10 HP) side-channel blowers, from a single pump on compact tables up to eight pumps on the longest conveyorized decks.
7.5 kW (10 HP)
Side-Channel Blowers
Side-Channel Blowers
Apex Plus Series Flatbed Cutter With Its Vacuum Pump Style
Why Side-Channel Blowers Fit This Table
- Regenerative ring design. Peripheral impeller blades accelerate air again and again around the ring channel, producing strong, stable vacuum with a single moving part.
- 100% oil-free and contactless. The impeller never touches the housing, so there is no lubrication schedule, no wear parts to service, and no oil mist near your material.
- Scales with the table. Pump count grows with deck area (1 to 8 pumps), so a 20+ meter (65+ ft) conveyor table holds down as confidently as a compact one.
- Built-in redundancy. On multi-pump decks, the machine keeps producing even during single-pump service windows.
- Flexible installation. Pumps can be plumbed further away from the table to reduce noise at the operator's station, and in some configurations they can be installed directly under the unit itself to save floor space.
Interactive
Vacuum Zones: Tap To Actuate
Select a popular Apex Plus Series configuration to see its zone deck and pump bank. Tap zones to switch suction. There are no manual valves and no walking the table.
Zone 1 starts at the machine origin
0Total Zones
0Zones Active
By The Numbers
Apex Plus Series: All 52 Standard Configurations
Standard pump and zone counts for every one of the 52 Apex Plus Series configurations, from compact tables to full conveyorized production lines. Scroll inside the chart to browse the complete range.
| Model | 7.5 kW (10 HP) Pumps | Vacuum Zones |
|---|
No models match that number. Clear the filter to see all 52 configurations.
Standard quantities of vacuum pumps and vacuum zones shown; final configuration is tailored to your real production needs.
See These Vacuum Systems In Person
Current factory offers and demo equipment are available now, including machines you can watch hold down material live.
System Design
One Engineered System vs.
One Engineered System vs.
A Pile Of Small Pumps
Some platforms hit their vacuum numbers by ganging together many small single-phase pumps. Here is why the Apex approach of fewer, larger, 3-phase pumps on one engineered circuit wins on the production floor.
The Apex Way: 3-Phase Industrial Pumps
- More suction per amp. Three-phase delivers roughly 73% more power on the same current, so one 60A circuit outworks a wall of 15A plugs.
- Smooth, constant torque. Overlapping phases mean vacuum that does not pulse, flutter, or sag mid-cut.
- Fewer failure points. One or a few industrial-duty pumps take the place of a dozen consumer-grade motors, capacitors, and relays.
- VFD-controlled output. Suction is dialed in electronically for the whole deck, not balanced by hand across mismatched units.
- Cleaner install. A single engineered circuit and manifold replaces a tangle of cords, breakers, and hoses.
- Quieter floor. One pump running at ≤65 dB (Apex M Series) or remotely plumbed blowers (Apex Plus Series) beats a chorus of screaming single-phase motors.
Numerous Small Single-Phase Pumps
- Pulsating single-phase waveform: power crosses zero 120 times a second, so suction is never truly steady.
- Start capacitors and centrifugal switches on every motor, and each one is a wear item waiting for its day.
- Multiplied maintenance: more filters, more brushes, more bearings, more downtime windows.
- Stacked noise: several small pumps at 75+ dB each quickly dominate a shop floor.
- Uneven hold-down as individual pumps age and drift at different rates.
- Circuit sprawl: many separate breakers and outlets, with no single point of control.
Controller Integration
Zones Live Inside The Software
Vacuum zones on the Apex Series are not plumbing accessories. They are integrated directly into the controller software. Watch the system actuate zones on command:
Software ActuatedEvery zone switches from the controller. There are no manual valves, no turn handles, and no walking the table.
Match The JobEnergize only the zones under your material, whether nested sheets, partial decks, or the full table.
Operator SpeedZone changes happen in seconds between jobs, keeping spindle-on time high and changeovers short.
Want to see how integrated vacuum control fits a complete production workflow?
Workflow Solutions & Idea Hub →
Variable Frequency Drive
Dial In Your Hold-Down Power
Every Apex Series vacuum pump is paired with its own dedicated VFD, so pump output is adjustable from 40 to 70 Hz to match your application: gentle enough for thin films, strong enough for warped rigid sheets. Drag the sliders and watch each pump respond.
Apex M Series
15 kW (20 HP) Centrifugal Turbo · VFD Controlled
55Hz
79%Pump Output
MedImpeller Speed
Hold-Down Power55%
Apex Plus Series
7.5 kW (10 HP) Side-Channel Blowers · VFD Controlled
55Hz
79%Pump Output
MedImpeller Speed
Hold-Down Power55%
Sliders are illustrative. Suction pressure rises steeply with frequency, and turning up the VFD from 40 Hz toward 70 Hz can roughly triple available hold-down force.
A Moment Of Honesty
Ask This About Any Other Platform
If you own, or are considering, a cutter with less integrated system controls, put it through these questions first.
Does zone control mean walking the table?
Manual turn-handle zones require an operator to physically open and close valves along the frame for every material change. How many times per shift does that happen, and what does that time cost across a year?
Are the zones buttons on a box, or part of the job?
Individual zone buttons are better than handles, but they still live outside your workflow. When vacuum zones are integrated into the controller software, the hold-down becomes part of running the file, not a separate chore.
Can you adjust suction, or only switch it?
Without VFD control, your only options are on and off. Can the platform ease off for thin, delicate films and lean in for warped rigid sheets, all from the same screen the operator already uses?
What happens as the pump fleet ages?
On platforms running many small single-phase pumps, hold-down slowly drifts as each unit wears differently. Who is tracking which pump is weak, and what does troubleshooting look like?
Spotlight Fact
Built On Site.
Built On Site.
Built To Last.
Here is a detail most buyers never hear: most Apex M Series and Apex Plus Series machines are assembled on site thanks to modular construction. Big-table capability arrives without big-table rigging headaches. The machine ships in sections, gets built where it will live, and goes to work.
Apex Plus Series
Aerospace-Grade Aluminum
The Apex Plus Series uses aerospace-grade aluminum modular construction: precision extrusions that bolt together into a rigid, dead-flat deck. Light enough to move through a standard door in sections, stiff enough for rack-and-pinion motion at full speed.
Apex M Series
Welded Steel Sub-Assemblies
The Apex M Series is built on high-grade steel welded sub-assemblies: a reliable, robust table structure engineered to stay square and stable under years of high-speed magnetic-drive motion.
Curious what a partnership with our team actually looks like, from site survey to install day?
Why Work Together →
Let's Talk Vacuum
Ready To Hold It Down?
Tell us your materials, your sheet sizes, and your throughput targets, and we will spec the pump, power, and zone configuration that fits.
Contact Us Today
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