Method and apparatus for improving cutting table performance

A method for cutting a material on a cutting table while preventing a cutting tool from contacting a top surface of the cutting table, the method comprising:

• providing a cutting table comprising:
• a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
• plurality of holes extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;
• a plenum in fluid communication with the bottom surface of the cutting table;
• a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the plenum, wherein the vacuum pump is adapted to produce a partial vacuum in the plenum while operating and draw air downward through the plurality of holes in the cutting table;
• and
• providing a buffer layer positioned on the top surface of the cutting table, the buffer layer comprising:
• a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface of the buffer layer is adapted to rest against the top surface of the cutting table, and wherein the first surface of the buffer layer is adapted to receive the material to be cut;
• a channel in the first surface of the buffer layer, the channel corresponding to a pattern to be cut from the material, wherein the channel has a depth adapted to provide a clearance depth between a cutting tool and a bottom surface of the channel while the pattern is being cut from the material;
• and
• a plurality of air passages extending from the first surface of the buffer layer to the second surface of the buffer layer, wherein the plurality of air passages are adapted to permit airflow through the buffer layer and into the plurality of holes in the cutting table when the vacuum system is operating.

A method for cutting a stack of two or more ballistic sheets simultaneously on a cutting table, the method comprising:

• providing the cutting table comprising:
• a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
• a cutting tool movable relative to the top surface of the cutting table;
• a plurality of holes extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;
• a plenum in fluid communication with the bottom surface of the cutting table;
• a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the plenum, wherein the vacuum pump is adapted to produce a partial vacuum in the plenum while operating and draw air through the plurality of holes in the top surface of the cutting table;
• providing the stack of ballistic sheets to be cut, the stack of ballistic sheets comprising a first grouping of one or more ballistic sheets and a second grouping of one or more ballistic sheets, wherein the one or more ballistic sheets in the first grouping are more stiff than the one or more ballistic sheets in the second grouping of ballistic sheets, wherein the stack of ballistic sheets is arranged with the first grouping of ballistic sheets positioned on top of the second grouping of ballistic sheets;
• and
• providing a protective layer positioned on the top surface of the cutting table, the protective layer comprising:
• a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface of the protective layer is adapted to rest against a top surface of the cutting table, and wherein the first surface of the protective layer is adapted to receive and support the stack of ballistic sheets to be cut;
• and
• a plurality of air passages extending from the first surface of the protective layer to the second surface of the protective layer, wherein the plurality of air passages are adapted to permit airflow through the protective layer from the first surface of the protective layer to the second surface of the protective layer and into the plenum that is fluidly connected to the cutting table.