A New Standard in Control and Efficiency
In today’s workshops, precision and efficiency define success. Whether you’re routing, sanding, or machining, the way you hold your material determines everything that follows. That’s where vacuum workholding comes in — a smarter, faster, cleaner method for securing workpieces without clamps, screws, or bulky fixtures.
Vacuum workholding replaces mechanical restraint with air pressure. By creating negative pressure beneath the workpiece, atmospheric force presses the material firmly against a sealed surface, providing even, repeatable holding power with no obstructions.
What Is Vacuum Workholding?
At its core, vacuum workholding uses negative air pressure to secure a workpiece. When air is evacuated from a sealed chamber beneath the part, the surrounding atmospheric pressure pushes the piece down uniformly.
This approach has long been used in aerospace and CNC manufacturing, but it’s rapidly becoming a favorite among woodworkers, fabricators, and makers looking for speed, precision, and clean workflows.
How Vacuum Workholding Works
- Vacuum Source – A pump or Venturi generator creates negative pressure.
- Seal or Gasket – A soft gasket isolates the work zone, ensuring airtight contact.
- Distribution Channel – Shallow grooves or ports allow air to evacuate evenly.
- Holding Surface – The flat top of a pod or fixture supports the part.
- Atmospheric Pressure – The ambient air around the workpiece applies downward force.
When properly configured, this simple principle can deliver hundreds of pounds of holding force — without a single clamp in sight. The effectiveness of any vacuum workholding setup starts with one critical factor — your vacuum source. The type of pump, flow rate, and duty cycle you choose will determine how consistently your system performs and how quickly it releases between jobs.
Benefits of Vacuum Workholding
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Unobstructed Access | Toolpaths are clear — ideal for edge routing, sanding, or finishing. |
| Even Pressure Distribution | No clamp marks, no deflection, no stress points. |
| Rapid Setup | Parts align and release in seconds. |
| Adaptable Layouts | Combine pods or zones for parts of any shape or size. |
| Scalable Systems | From a single pod to a full-bench array. |
Challenges and Design Considerations
- Leaks reduce holding force — every gasket and connection matters.
- Surface finish affects performance; smooth, non-porous surfaces hold best.
- Force direction must be managed; vacuum resists lift but not lateral load.
- System routing should be intentional to avoid pressure loss or complexity.
Understanding these variables is the difference between an occasional success and a dependable daily system.
Why Vacuum Workholding Matters Now
- Faster throughput for custom parts
- Consistent accuracy across operations
- Cleaner, safer work environments
- Compatibility with both manual and CNC tools
For small shops and advanced production alike, it’s the bridge between craftsmanship and automation.
SYS-GRP: A Modular Approach to Workholding
Where traditional vacuum systems depend on fixed tables or single-purpose plates, SYS-GRP by FORG3D takes a modular approach. Each element in the SYS-GRP family — pods, anchors, rails, and adapters — is precision-engineered to integrate with 20 mm or ¾ inch workbench systems, offering a scalable framework that evolves with your workflow.
SYS-GRP isn’t just a collection of pods; it’s a complete ecosystem that unifies vacuum and mechanical workholding across horizontal and vertical applications. From quick bench setups to full workholding arrays, the system lets you build precision from the ground up.
BenchGrip: Modular Power for Every Angle
Versatility at the Core of the SYS-GRP System
The SYS-GRP BenchGrip line brings flexibility and precision together in one platform. Designed for both horizontal and vertical vacuum workholding, BenchGrip pods let you position holding power wherever you need it — across your benchtop, along the edge, or even on the side of a cabinet or fixture.
Instead of forcing your workflow to match a fixed vacuum table, BenchGrip adapts to you. Each pod connects via a standard vacuum hose, allowing you to configure custom zones, build temporary fixtures, or create setups that traditional clamps could never handle.
Engineered for Flexibility
- Dual-orientation capability – secure materials on flat, vertical, or angled planes.
- Precision sealing geometry – hybrid machined and additive construction ensures reliable sealing across wood, metal, and composite surfaces.
- Standard vacuum fittings – connect to virtually any pump, Venturi system, or Grabo Pro-Lifter.
- Modular layout – combine pods, create zones, and reposition quickly for different projects.
- Durable hybrid design – engineered from reinforced polymers and machined interfaces for longevity and repeatability.
BenchGrip pods are available in multiple sizes to match the scale of your work:
- Minimus – the compact specialist for small details and tight spaces.
- Harpyie – optimized for narrow stock, rails, and face-frame applications.
- Maximus – the all-around workhorse suited for most benchtop operations.
- Magnus – the heavyweight champ, providing maximum surface area and holding force for large panels and demanding setups.
Whether you’re edge-banding, sanding, or routing, BenchGrip provides consistent holding force and the freedom to adapt your setup to every task.
Expanding Beyond the Bench
- Pair pods with AnchorDogs and brackets to fine-tune alignment and offset positioning.
- Use rail inserts or mounting plates to integrate BenchGrip pods into jigs, fixtures, or assembly tables.
- Attach a Nexus Baseplate to your Grabo or Dewalt Grabo to take vacuum workholding on the go — from jobsite installations to mobile workstations.
From benchtop to field use, BenchGrip gives you modular holding power that moves with you.
Why Makers Choose BenchGrip
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Freedom of placement | Move pods anywhere for unlimited layout possibilities. |
| Fast transitions | Reconfigure setups between jobs in seconds. |
| Full-surface access | No clamps or vises blocking toolpaths. |
| Vertical compatibility | Work on edges, sides, or face panels with ease. |
| System integration | Works seamlessly with other SYS-GRP components for complete modularity. |
AnchorPod: The Foundation for Everyday Vacuum Workholding
Always Ready. Always Precise.
Vacuum workholding is powerful — but it’s only as convenient as your setup allows. Traditional systems often require dragging hoses across the bench, repositioning fittings, and reconnecting components before each use. Over time, that extra friction means vacuum workholding gets used less often, even when it could save time.
AnchorPod was engineered to change that.
Part of the SYS-GRP ecosystem, the AnchorPod System creates a fixed, low-profile foundation for horizontal vacuum workholding — designed to stay in place, ready to use, and free from surface clutter. It’s the perfect complement to BenchGrip, built for makers who value speed and simplicity without sacrificing precision.
Engineered to Be the Core of the System
Every AnchorPod is built around a patent-pending hybrid structure that combines precision-machined interfaces with an additively manufactured body — a form made possible only through advanced manufacturing techniques.
This internal geometry enables vacuum routing, integrated sealing paths, and structural reinforcement within a single continuous form. The result is a foundation that’s lighter, stronger, and more capable than traditionally machined components — delivering the precision of metal with the complexity of engineered composites.
Mounted directly into 20 mm or ¾-inch workbench holes, AnchorPods connect beneath the surface to your vacuum manifold — keeping hoses and fittings neatly out of sight. Once installed, they can remain in place permanently or be reconfigured as your bench evolves.
Three operating modes:
- Vacuum Seal Mode – use the integrated gasket for a direct vacuum hold against the workpiece.
- Pod Interface Mode – pair with AnchorPod Edition pods for full-surface vacuum workholding.
- Mechanical Anchor Mode – use as a precision AnchorDog for non-vacuum jigs and fixtures.
One foundation. Three capabilities. Unlimited workflow options.
AnchorPod Edition Pods: Seamless, Surface-Ready Performance
Where the AnchorPod forms the foundation, the AnchorPod Edition pods bring the contact surface to life. Crafted through advanced polymer additive fabrication, each Edition pod is engineered for consistent sealing performance, smooth airflow, and structural rigidity.
They seat directly over the AnchorPod interface, locking in place with precision geometry and delivering a uniform vacuum pull across the gasketed surface — no external hoses, no setup time.
- Precision anchor interface – secure alignment with every placement.
- Integrated vacuum channels and gaskets – clean, hose-free performance.
- Lightweight composite body – strong, rigid, and tuned for consistent sealing.
- Dual sealing surfaces – optimized for different material sizes and surface conditions.
- Drop-in setup – ready to use the moment it’s placed on the AnchorPod.
A System Designed to Encourage Use
The greatest barrier to vacuum workholding has never been capability — it’s convenience. AnchorPod eliminates that friction. By keeping vacuum routing below the surface and the interface ready for instant use, you can engage vacuum hold-down as naturally as reaching for a clamp.
The result is a cleaner workspace, faster setups, and a bench that’s always ready to perform.
BenchGrip + AnchorPod: Better Together
While AnchorPod is optimized for fixed horizontal workholding, it’s designed to work alongside BenchGrip pods — the flexible, hose-connected solution for vertical and adaptive use.
- BenchGrip delivers modular freedom and multi-orientation capability.
- AnchorPod provides integrated simplicity and always-ready vacuum access.
From adaptable jobsite setups to streamlined production benches, the combination of these systems lets you build your workspace exactly the way you work.
Choosing the Right System
Every shop, project, and workflow has different needs. The strength of the SYS-GRP ecosystem is that it adapts to all of them — from one-off builds to full production environments.
| Use Case | Recommended System | Orientation | Setup Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic setups & vertical workholding | BenchGrip | Horizontal + Vertical | Hose-connected, repositionable | Adjustable layouts, changing projects, field use |
| Clean, fixed horizontal workholding | AnchorPod System | Horizontal | Hose-free, integrated | Everyday bench setups, repeatable operations |
| Hybrid workflows | BenchGrip + AnchorPod | Horizontal + Vertical | Mixed configuration | Full-bench versatility, multi-process workholding |
The Complete SYS-GRP Ecosystem
From pods to plates, anchors to adapters, SYS-GRP is more than a collection of parts — it’s a unified system designed to make vacuum and mechanical workholding accessible, scalable, and precise.
The ecosystem extends far beyond BenchGrip and AnchorPod:
- ComponentGrip Pods deliver specialized holding solutions — from FS Rail Pods that secure your track saw guide rails to Shaper Plate Pods built for precision handheld routing.
- The Maximus, Minimus, and Orthus Bracket Systems expand mounting and alignment possibilities even further, enabling multi-axis workholding and fixture integration across a range of setups.
Each component is engineered around the same principles — modularity, repeatability, and simplicity — so every addition to your bench strengthens the system as a whole.
(We’ll take a deeper dive into ComponentGrip and our bracket systems in an upcoming article.)
Your Workflow. Without Limits.
Vacuum workholding isn’t just about holding material — it’s about how you move through work. With BenchGrip delivering freedom and AnchorPod ensuring readiness, the SYS-GRP ecosystem empowers you to work faster, cleaner, and more confidently — at the bench, on the jobsite, or wherever precision matters most.
SYS-GRP by FORG3D
Your workflow. Without limits.