Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Gridley51 on November 01, 2006, 03:08:42 PM

Title: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Gridley51 on November 01, 2006, 03:08:42 PM
Hi.The heading says it all.I have a machine shop with a lot of cnc and manual machines.Since seeing Hoods retrofit Bridgeport I`ve quite fancied building a plasma table using mach 3 control.At the moment I`m not convinced that being open loop it would be suitable for other machines although I am wondering whether to retrofit an old cnc Citizen sliding head lathe that I have in store.
With the plasma in mind I have bought an oxy acetylene profile cutter which I suspect will not have fast/powerful enough drives for the speeds required for plasma so I have also bought servo drives and motors to upgrade this just in case.
To counteract the angle on the side of the kerf I am considering mounting the torch on a gimbal type mounting with two servo/stepper motors at 90 degrees to each other to tilt the torch and keep the part side of kerf square.
What I would like to know is how have other people tackled this problem and if there`s a better solution and also does Mach have the capability to control X,Y and Z axis and the torch angle all at the same time.
Could I programme Mach to keep the torch at the correct angle vertically in relation to the direction of travel automatically or would it have to be written into each programme if it is possible at all.
I have some ideas for THC as well but don`t see that being as big a problem.
Anyone else doing this at the moment who would like to compare notes?
I am in central Scotland BTW.
Mark
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Hood on November 01, 2006, 03:12:38 PM
Quote
I am in central Scotland BTW.
and thankfully there are rivers North and South of you to keep you contained ;)

Hood
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Gridley51 on November 01, 2006, 03:45:40 PM
I am going north of the river tomorrow to visit an OLD friend in Arbroath.He`s that ugly he wears a hood. ;D ;D
Mark.
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Hood on November 01, 2006, 03:48:28 PM
Wow maybe you can teach old dogs new tricks, see you have found the smilies :D
 BTW I am getting your crappy AOL account throwing back my emails again, time you switched to a better ISP.

Hood
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Chaoticone on November 01, 2006, 04:13:12 PM
Hey Gridley,
    Hood has more than one friend on here. Carefull how you treat him. We can bum rush you from all corners of the world. ;D If you know Hood, you got to be a good guy.

Hey Hood, when you see him tomorrow, tell him what my Grandfather use to say. :D
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Hood on November 01, 2006, 04:16:56 PM
Will do Brett.

Hood
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Gridley51 on November 01, 2006, 04:31:22 PM
Hood,
my aol account only throws back your emails,not anyone else`s,only yours.Brett it was probably Hood that taught your grandfather. ;D Maybe Hood will tell you all one day why we all know him as Splat. ;D
Mark
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Hood on November 01, 2006, 04:47:55 PM
Hood,
my aol account only throws back your emails,not anyone else`s,only yours.

How do you know?  maybe others are not able to tell you by forum ;)

Maybe Hood will tell you all one day why we all know him as Splat.

mmmmmmmmm well I will give them a clue, has something to do with a sub standard ladder owned by a an old Fifer ;D

Hood
Title: Re: New to Mach and want to build plasma
Post by: Chaoticone on November 01, 2006, 09:23:23 PM
Quote
Hood,
my aol account only throws back your emails,not anyone else`s,only yours.

Hey mark, it threw mine back too. I know you are not putting me in the same group as that Hood fellow.


He would be very offended. ;D


Just kiding. I hope you men are wearing boots today. I bet you will need them.LOL