I am going to build a plasma cutting table and have the design of the rack and cross slide but I need help on the motors and drivers ect. I have been looking but cant seem to find much except kits. I think I will be building a 5'X10" or longer table for cutting aluminum boat parts. I have the gecko G201 drivers in mind and am looking on ebay for some motors will these do with the gecko?

Stepper 300-oz in. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26227&item=3810058294)

I pland on using this one for the long drive since it has more torque

stepper 405-oz in. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26227&item=3810059071)

would this be ok or should I get the G210 drive instead? What breakout board should I use?

Yeah i want to build a plasma table as well. looking at building it to have a cut area of 8ft by 4ft ( a full sheet size). I was told that i should be looking at a making it move at around 350-400ipm. What do you think? Also was thinking of using stainless steel pipe as rails then making up a truck with plain normal old bearings set out at 120 degrees apart, ie a triangle. Whould this be accurate enough for plasma cutting. Was also told that rack and pinion would be the best way to gain 350-400ipm speeds. Any thoughts, lets us know. We could work together to make life easier maybe.

I plan on trying to make a business on the side, offering a cutting service to engineering and fabrication shops around town. how do u think i would go.

Cheers Apples, Australia

I think what i have found out so far is most plan on making money selling you the secreats of building a plasma table. I have found that i need bipolar steppers in the 300+in oz range those will work with the gecko 201. you can get smaller motors and use gear or pully reduction of about 3-1 or 4-1. I got a bunch of exstruded aluminum erector stock for cheap and will use that and steel tubing to build my table. for me that is the easy part, the motors and controller stuff is what I need to be learning. I still am unclear whether i need a controller board or if i can use the computer port and just software with the gecko drivers? for me acuracy is 1/8" since i can weld any slop. but I will build it as strong as I can and as "tight" as possable. most tables use a rail of some kind and them drive the 2 rail cross slide on both sides of table so it is acurate. I plan on using a rack and gear for the long X drive and all thread for the slide or Y travel.

HurtBack,

I see you are in my part of town. If you need any help with your project just let me know.

http://www.jitterjunction.com/metalworking.htm
this is what i plan on building for a table but I will use the aluminum for the cross slide and I will rack both sides instead of one. the 350 ipm range soulds OK. A lot of tables use tohe 4to1 reduction so it gives the right speed range or direct drive could be ok if the motors use 200 steps per rev. I think???

Originally posted by HomeCNC
HurtBack,

I see you are in my part of town. If you need any help with your project just let me know. Thanks, i am in the thinking stage right now and once my shop gets built I will be full out on this prodject. It would be great having some help as I am really in my baby steps with this, but I am learning fast, if i say something incorect please let me know. And of corse any input is welcome.

I bought this power supply off e-bay for $75 so the plasma table has begun. I think it will run a hefty stepper or two. I also am considering this servo setup. I would think a closed loop servo would be better for a plasma table but maybe not? Do the plasma radio frequency interfere with the encoder feed back system? I can see the encoder closed loop being able to correct for lost steps and so on. Is this a big problem with regular steppers?

Astec ACDC Electronics 750 Watt Power Supply.

MODEL: JF751 A-9000-9066
INPUT: 230 VAC 7A 50/60 Hz
OUTPUT: 48 VDC 17A
WATTS: 750

Here is the servo system i was thinking about would this be better than the gecko 201 and 400in oz steppers?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42895&item=3811913277

Helo, I need urgent information about rack&pinion pitch for plasma cutter table.
Please use this email: peja@nis-ekspres.co.yu
Beast regards