I started buiding a plasma table ... no plans, just a lot of passion .... I have a question: How deep the water have to be on the water table? It seems that I can't find that answer anywhere .... Also ... where is the best place where i can buy some linear rails ? Thank you

I am stuck at this stage ... I cannot continue until I know exactly how to proceed with the water table .... can someone please help ?

My water table has about 3 to 3.5 inches of water beneath the sheet being cut. It works very well.

Here's a picture.

http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC_3566.jpg

Thank you .... I can go THE MOST 4 inches. I was just wondering if this was enough. For sure I don;t want to "cut thru" - that will not be funny.
Did you cut AL with it yet?

That is a VERY nice looking table. Where did you buy all the parts for .... did you build the Z axle support or got the whole kit ?

Zeoncomp-The table that I am building ranges from 4 to 6 inches for the height of the water. I wish I could tell you how great it works, but I can't. (I am still building it) I purchased the linear rails from Rick Hoback at Superior Bearings. He has done everything that he has said he was going to do and more.If you need a link to superior bearing let me know and I will post it once I get home.Steve

Thank you

Hi zeoncomp & welcome to CNC Zone. :wave:

Click on this LINK (http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16634&page=14) & it will take you to my build log with some pictures, information & a drawing to help you with your water table questions. See posts #161 164 166 & 176.

The depth of water is 4" maximum & I keep the water anywhere from just touching the underside of the material being cut, to 1/2" below the material.

How deep the water have to be on the water table? It seems that I can't find that answer anywhere ...

zeoncomp,

4 inches of water depth will be more than enough, assuming your not using a 200 amp plasma machine. The tops of my slat "hangers" are only 1.5 inches below the water surface and show no signs of erosion. I'm using a 60 amp Hypertherm Powermax 1000.

As for my machine, thanks. The entire machine was built from scratch. I'm planning on doing a post about it's construction sometime this week, as it is a recent build.

I have yet to cut aluminum on the water table. I'm still pondering it. Hypertherm says it's a no-no due to hydrogen gas build-up. Thermal Dynamics says it O.K. as long as there's some space between the sheet and the water's surface, and you have bubble agitators in your tank.

jcar
nice table i saw the pics in your other posts. whats the bubble agitators that thermal dynamics talked about? my table is similiar in design to yours with the compressed air to raise and lower. fill and empty are opposite corners from each other. i have yet to cut aluminum with the plasma because of the hydrogen build up. my fear was getting it in to the air chamber. hence the reason for a cross flow on the air. i've just been cutting it with a router. i can cut 3/16 single pass with it though, but would like to be able to use the plasma also on alum.
bear

Bearracecars,

After reading through the PDF files, I've apparently mixed the two companies up. The agitators were in a PDF that I found on Hypertherm's site. Here's a link. https://www.hypertherm.com/library/files/Manuals/Instruction%20Manual%20(IM)/800270r1.pdf About 2/3 of the way through the document you'll find a section titled "Aeration Manifold For Cutting Aluminum With Plasma".

I wish I had thought of installing my input and exhaust air valves on opposite ends of the tank. Smart thinking.

Ok ... so I am getting to the point where I have to choose what motors should I use. I think that PlazPak-3 from candcnc.com is very nice .... but maybe I don't need that much. Maybe steppers are just fine. I don;t plan on doing anything with the router in the near future but it can be a posibility. Now I'm thingking - If I'll buy it - might as well but the most complete system - right? Now, are there any differences in the way of building the table if using the servos vs. steppers ?
Also, is this going to work with a servo : http://www.modularcnc.com/linear_slides ?
I am still looking for linear slides (need 2x80" and 1x59") and rack and pinion combination for the 3 axis.

Any sugestion will be appreciated. Thank you

My table has a 10" deep 4x8 water table with a 200 gal overflow tank and small submersible pump so I can regulate water height.... It can be any depth really... 2" or 3'... If you have a small table 4x4 make it deeper to keep the water cooler (it will get very hot over time especially when you have to grab a small part in the tank) All it is for is to catch the vaporized metal dust( take it out of the air), and keep the material like stainless from warping... fill the water all the way up to the bottom of your cutting material so it touches... seems to work nice.. I would go 6"-8" if I was you