Mark,

I have an idea of setting up jigs for cutting parts and using your idea of a syringe, with a valve to create the vacuum to hold them down. Where do you get your syringes from? I would be hooking the tubing into a block of HDPE that would be shaped so that flat surface on the bottom would have vacuum draw against them to help hold the piece in place. If you could let me know where you got those from and/or what you consider good pricing I will post some pictures of the pieces once they are assembled and working.

The other idea I am looking at in a vacuum bed made out of a solid surface (Hi-MACS or Corian). Which since they are non porous could be a very useful option instead of steel or aluminium. Also a good bit easier to machine and assemble.

Michael