We're back thinking we can't possibly live without a cnc plasma table. Been thinking about building one for a few years now, procrastination has payed off by the look of things. The electronics are a LOT cheaper than when I started looking.
Your right Ed 4 x 8 isn't small in my world, mind you the place that made my boiler had CNC plasma's that were probably 8 x 30, so I guess its all relative. I'm thinking at least 4 wide to get a sheet into it, but 2 or 3 feet long would probably cut 99% of the parts I need.
Have another set of cabinets to build (funding for the table) then we should be starting a poor mans cnc build log.
(10-08-2012, 05:46 PM)f350ca Wrote: [ -> ]We're back thinking we can't possibly live without a cnc plasma table. Been thinking about building one for a few years now, procrastination has payed off by the look of things. The electronics are a LOT cheaper than when I started looking.
Your right Ed 4 x 8 isn't small in my world, mind you the place that made my boiler had CNC plasma's that were probably 8 x 30, so I guess its all relative. I'm thinking at least 4 wide to get a sheet into it, but 2 or 3 feet long would probably cut 99% of the parts I need.
Have another set of cabinets to build (funding for the table) then we should be starting a poor mans cnc build log.
I've been digging into it a bit and stepper motors are the way to go unless you need high speeds and very fine control. Then servo motors are better, but a lot more expensive.
Ed
I'm no expert but my plasma cutter power (if I had one) would not be of the power level to accomodate rapid X-Y movement so steppers it would be.
I was dreaming of a 4' X 8' frame of angle iron with the required longitudinal racks built in and an expanded metal lath type surface that would hinge down from the wall, you could put the 4' carriage with the steppers and the plasma , plug in the electronics etc. and cut neat parts out of plate. I was thinking of 3/8" max. thickness and then , once done, put it away and fold the 4 x 8 frame back up on the wall????
Yup, I'm not in the need for speed when it comes to a plasma table. I've got a couple of fairly large stepper motors that I've been wondering what to do with. Now I know.
Ed
You've got two? lucky guy, I've got one and I'm afraid a second would exceed my non existant budget.
I got them from work. They were going to throw them out so I grabbed them knowing I could use them on a CNC project of some sort in the future.
Ed
Ya, me too, but only one!
I just went looking for them in the basement but a quick peruse resulted in failure. I'll have to dig deep and find those puppies. I also grabbed a very stout power supply that I'm hoping to use with the stepper motors. This stuff was all new, unused stuff they were going to throw out.
Ed
I was just on the
Surplus Center website looking for a hydraulic pump and they had some nice steppers. They might be bigger than needed for a plasma table though.
Tom
(10-08-2012, 07:02 PM)TomG Wrote: [ -> ]I was just on the Surplus Center website looking for a hydraulic pump and they had some nice steppers. They might be bigger than needed for a plasma table though.
Tom
That's what I'm concerned about the steppers I have. They might be too big for the job.
Ed