Machsupport Forum

General CNC Chat => Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) => Topic started by: drad98 on January 22, 2007, 11:18:04 PM

Title: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 22, 2007, 11:18:04 PM
Hey guys,
Here are a few pics of the plasma table I am working on, should have the z stage done tomorrow and the plasma torch this weekend. Am planning on the campbell thc once I get all the bugs worked out. Feel free to make comments and suggestions.
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: ynneb on January 23, 2007, 12:38:09 AM
Thanks for the pictures. Its starting to look good.
I dont know much about the speed / acceleration / deceleration requirements for plasma, but if that were a router, you would find that the Y axis is not reduced enough.

You're doing well, keep up the great work.
 
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 23, 2007, 01:23:00 AM
Thanks ynneb,
I dont plan on putting a router in it but I built it heavy enough so I can upgrade to that if and probably when I decide to. For right now it should move the plasma torch fine but i will find out shortly, it is a 750 oz stepper on both x and y stages and a 425 for the z. Thanks again for the input.
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: jeep534 on January 23, 2007, 05:10:35 AM
Cool,
    Looks like something I would like to build....... how do I / WE get more info.
Thanks for shareing
archie =) =) =)
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: Chaoticone on January 23, 2007, 07:23:59 AM
Looking good. The one thing I see that I don't like is the chain.


Brett
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 23, 2007, 12:12:13 PM
Well, as far as plans go I just built it using the plans in my head, I can get some info up on what i used for parts. This is my first attempt at a cnc machine, I have zero experience. Brett, what would u suggest instead of a chain, it is adjustable  but I do notice a little backlash but it is very minimal right now, I expect more as everything 'wears in'. I have put a pencil in it and it will draw at a pretty close tolerance, more then I need for the application I plan on using it for. It is going to be used mostly for signs. Thanks for the input, keep it coming.
Dave
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: Chaoticone on January 23, 2007, 02:17:21 PM
Hey Dave,
    I'd try to replace the chain with a timing belt. These folks could help with the components.

http://www.sdp-si.com/

Brett
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 24, 2007, 12:17:53 AM
OK, here are a few bits of info on the table, like i said this is my first design so I wanted to be able to buy everything 'off the shelf' so it is easy to get parts. First of all the frame is 3" x 3" x 1/8" steel tube, I used 1" x 1" x 1/8" angle for the slat supports and the slats are 3" x 1/8" flat steel (cheap to replace). The table is 5' y (gantry) and 6' x inside measurements, gives me plenty of room for a 4' x 4' sheet. I squared and trued the table. The linear slides are from www.igus.com Drylin T for the x axis and Drylin W for the y and z axis, those are the most expensive parts for the machine. I used a fixed slide on the motor side and a floating slide for the other side, per the igus rep. I then used 1/2 plywood to 'mock' up the gantry sides to get all the placements right then machined then out of 12" x 12" x 1/2" steel and welded them to the gantry crossmember which is 2" x 6" x 1/8" steel. All the motors (2 - RHT34-740 oz/in (x and y) and 1 RHT34-425 oz/in for the z), Gecko g201 controllers, and all the power supply parts i ordered from www.homeshopcnc.com. The drive belts and pulleys and misc bearings are all from McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com). Like i said this is my first attempt so I hope it works out, if not there is always rework!!! Hope I didn't miss anything, if so just let me know. Hope to have it cutting this weekend. All said and done, I should have about $2500-$2800 into it, that includes a cheap computer I got at Wal-Mart, didn't want anything fancy, I also Powdercoat and I get dust ALL over!! When it is all done I get to tear it all apart and Powdercoat the whole thing, gonna be hard to do when it is working :( Well, thanks for listening to me ramble, hope this is good info for anyone who in interested in a cheap table.
Dave
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: Chaoticone on January 24, 2007, 12:46:16 AM
Hey Dave, sounds and looks like you are allmost there. Looking good. Keep us posted.


Brett
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 24, 2007, 12:59:30 AM
Got the z on tonight, had to come in and get the pinout on the stepper, seems I had a phase or 2 wired backwards. Ill throw the pic in anyways.
Dave
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: Brian Barker on January 25, 2007, 04:06:59 PM
I love the Clamp!!! I did a plasma and it ran off clamps for about 6 months  ;D
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 26, 2007, 03:19:43 AM
Clamp worked great but I had to take it off tonight and bring it to the neighbors to weld on his fishhouse, I have a bad bering now lol. It is going to be cutting on saturday, I will get some pics of it cutting and hopefully there will be enough sparks so you guys cant se how bad it cuts!! lol!
Dave
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 31, 2007, 04:39:01 PM
Well guys, I got the thing working saturday, have a few bugs to work out but for the most part it is working great. I will attach a pic of the first sign I cut for my neighbor. Thanks for all your help so far, I am sure I will be asking for more.
Dave
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: drad98 on January 31, 2007, 04:41:27 PM
Oooops, Sorry guys, wrong pic. that was a pipe threading machine I powdercoated last weekend. Mods, delete it if you want.
Dave
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: Chaoticone on January 31, 2007, 05:19:02 PM
Dave, you can modify that post since you are the one that put it up. Go back to it. In the upper right corner you will see modify, click it. go to additional options, uncheck that picture. More options, add the one you want.

Brett
Title: Re: Here is my plasma machine I am working on.
Post by: cephjedi on February 02, 2007, 11:08:43 AM
Phooey, I really wanted to see the pipe threading machine.   ;)

Nice machine!    I'm just beginning to build a guitar body mill....plasma seems so exotic!   Very cool.

cephjedi