Next project CNC Plasma table!

[turboglenn]

Well, i'm starting this post to document my next big project of a 4 x 4 CNC plasma cutting table to start production runing some parts like turbo, and moanifold flanges, along with some decorative artsy stuff i can sell at a local nursery.

So far all i have is the knowledge I've gained while googleing and reading on CNC forums.

If anyone here has built one (even for a router - same thing but different cutting method) I would love to hear from you, see pics, etc....

I'm also going to start looking for large servos or stepper motors and a driver/control box for them, I'll need at least 3 and would prefer 4 in total. If anyone even has some used stuff i'd love to at least know what you might be asking for it..... ( and yes i know to search ebay, but i can't stand buying from there after a few bad deals where i ordered NICE stuff adn got crap! )

Here's a picture of one a guy built on a welding forum i'm a part of except his is for a router....the good thing about plasma is that there will be no load palced on the motors and drive screws like a router does ... I've spoke to the guy who built this about ideas, function etc.... Now it's time to put it into action if i can afford it.

 

[ali]

that is nice

 

[SpeedAddict62]

Camcutcnc, CNC Plasma Cutter in economical kit form - automated shape cutting, automation, cnc cutting table, metal art, ornamental iron, fabrication, wrought iron, waterjets

There is a site you might want to check out, don't know if it will be of any help. This is definitely a cool project though, and I look forward to the results, I've been very impressed with some of the stuff you've made before. Good luck, and definitely keep us posted on your progress.

 

[turboglenn]

Camcutcnc, CNC Plasma Cutter in economical kit form - automated shape cutting, automation, cnc cutting table, metal art, ornamental iron, fabrication, wrought iron, waterjets

There is a site you might want to check out, don't know if it will be of any help. This is definitely a cool project though, and I look forward to the results, I've been very impressed with some of the stuff you've made before. Good luck, and definitely keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks! After today I think this is going to take quite a bt longer than i orginally thought. The base metal is cheap and on key with that site at about 200 bucks mx ( at least with my company discounts) i should even be able to get lead screws and a few of the heavier parts machined by a tooling company i know, and it's the same place I buy the metal, so that works out kinda nice. But everything within my means i will have to do myself because these things are have to be exact and some of the parts like the slide rails and stuff can add up fast because they have to be machined on something big enough and accurate enough to make the perfect cut for the entire length of the table. I priced out most of the stuff today and each set of tracks will set me back about 250- 400 dollars (estimated by their hourly guestimate + material cost of good steel)

I have found people that have built them cheaper by making their own axis end guides (the parts where the pieces touch and move, the same ones that cost a grip to make), But they are using just plain box steel channel and although it looks straight unless you get solid tool bar or 4140 moly, will ahve a "waveyness" to it< i was checking metal today with a 4 foot straight edge and the best pieces i found in normal size affordable steel still only had about 30 inches where they wouldn't run out by more than .030 (except polished and ground and tooling steel which cost and arm, leg and a liver ) That coupled with the axi having to have stops and their width would cut my table down to roughly24 inches or (which still isn't bad for what i'm going to do)

All that being said, The cheapest way to have a good machine in the end is to buy a kit starting at about 6k (complete except you still build the baseor "table" that the actual sns x and y axi just get bolted down to as an assembly but run on their own guides. The table needed would cost me around 70 - 100 bucks at wholesale prices)

So, this leaves me with 2 things...calling the place in your link and getting some accuracy specs from them, or just choosing for this project to be more for decorative creation and parts that don't have engine like tolerances I was dreaming and hoping to be capable of.

But honestly i would still love to have it either way just because it's that damn cool no matter what, I mean i could still do RC car parts and all kinds of cool little stuff to make money off of. And i will still build it but I want to have the main parts before I make a table that sits for 6 months taking up space, So i'm going to save for the cheapest "accurate" full kit i can get which PlasmaCAM seems nice, torch master and others get too rich for my blood. I hope that kit in your link is as good as they claim, but i want to investigate before i spend moeny on something no more accurate than what i could build, I'm not saying they are junk, but it's about half of the price of the cheapest popular kit i've found, and the website is jank and scares me too

 

[Calan]

We have a $150k plasma at work, and based on what I've seen with it, I wouldn't even think about building one (and I've designed a racing sim, lots of custom parts, etc). The precision, control, and software aren't trivial. The biggest problem is positioning repeatability; and that costs $$$.

But knowing you (through your threads), I have no doubt it would be something you could pull off if you wanted to. More power to ya man! Let us know how it turns out if you tackle it.

 

[Hal]

Repeatable positioning isn't hard to accomplish.

Ball screws, servo motors, stepper motors, etc. can all be sourced either on ebay or from suppliers.

cnczone.com is an excellent resource for this type of stuff.

I have a mill (4 axis) and a lathe (2 axis) that I have done cnc conversions on.

 

[turboglenn]

We have a $150k plasma at work, and based on what I've seen with it, I wouldn't even think about building one (and I've designed a racing sim, lots of custom parts, etc). The precision, control, and software aren't trivial. The biggest problem is positioning repeatability; and that costs $$$.

But knowing you (through your threads), I have no doubt it would be something you could pull off if you wanted to. More power to ya man! Let us know how it turns out if you tackle it.

That's why i said it's going to be a longer project than i orginally thought, and a bit more expensive, the positioning isn't what really bothers me, it's the run-out factor from cheaper parts that some people have used. I want to be able to gut precision parts for small applications when i have to. The one in the pic above is made using some simpler less accurate parts, but he is turning out nice products with it, and has since upgraded a few parts to make it more accurate

Repeatable positioning isn't hard to accomplish.

Ball screws, servo motors, stepper motors, etc. can all be sourced either on ebay or from suppliers.

cnczone.com is an excellent resource for this type of stuff.

I have a mill (4 axis) and a lathe (2 axis) that I have done cnc conversions on.

I would like to be able to find the motors and controller used from some local machine or tool & die companies ( i see lots of old mills with motors on them that are just sitting in the backs of thse places all the time) But so far the main one i go to says he's keeping them all for spare parts Since I'm now single again and have tons more expenses than when i was splitting things with a wifey, but the way work has been picking up, it still might be reasonable to buy new... HOnestly, if that one kit for 2400 is worth a lick in it's tolerance dept. I think i might just buy that one and build the table. I would still love to CNC convert my mill and lathe but they are in need of some servicing themselves before i dump that kind of cash into them. RIght now i'd rather use those two manually where i can measure cut by cut to ensure everything is dead on. (just need some new gibs and bearings in them for total accuracy) MY lathe is within .002 at 10 inches andthe milling table is a little worse due to backlash, but when operating by hand i can compensate.

having never owned or operated a CNC myself i'm unsure of what it can compensate for in the machines end of tolerances

cnczone.com has seen me around quite a bit lately to say the least