Hello people.
I was surfing on the Ebay.com, looking for some plasma cutters, when I found these machine from Torchmate:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TORCHMATE-CNC-PLASMA-CUTTER-TUBE-PIPE-CUTTING-FIXTURE_W0QQitemZ160122388291QQihZ006QQcategoryZ113743QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This machine is used to cut steel pipes in different sizes. Have anyone of you people builded a machine like this? The mechanical part of the machine looks very simpel. But what about the electronics? Since it`s cutting pipes I guess Mach 2/3 or similar software can`t be used?

Anyone here who know more than me how to build a machine like this?:wave:

It would be fairly simple, as a tube cope would look like a curvy line if "unrolled". You would have to have a Y axis, for the torch to move forward/backward, but the side-side movement of the torch would be the pipe being turned.
Look at this tube coping calculator and see if this helps you get a better visual idea of it.
http://metalgeek.com/static/cope.pcgi

Thats a cool calculator!

Lets you download the g-code! :)

.

It will also allow for print outs, so you can wrap them around the tube, mark and cut.
I have posted links to this before, but I guess no one noticed.

It is a fairly simple design that works well. Imagine rolling out a tube to a flat 2d object, drawing your cut lines, and then sending it to the machine to cut. On screen it shows it cutting out a 2d object, but that second axis is rolling instead of moving the torch across the gantry.

End result is the same thing as if you were to take a flat piece of plate, cut on it, and then roll it into tube. It's the simplest explanation I can think of.

-Mike

It will also allow for print outs, so you can wrap them around the tube, mark and cut.
I have posted links to this before, but I guess no one noticed.



hi

massajamesb , very nice program


cheers

Glad it is a helpful link! Although I should say, don't think that I am saying it is my program, it is not.
There is another program available through a link there that can be downloaded and runs under DOS that does the same thing, so you can take that to your shop computer and use it in conjunction withyour Cam programs.