auto locate

[Lbase]

Is anyone doing auto location of a center point on their plasma cutter? We have a home made plasma cutter that uses a Baldor ESB cntroller and a touch screen to let the user pick a part. I already have a simple digital joystick control for this machine. It occurs to me that I could let the operator pick a center point in a piece and then a size and we could cut circles and squares on any sized part. A laser pointer mounted on the side of the z axis could be used to pick the center point, then account for the offset in the controller.

[WSS]

Originally Posted by Lbase Is anyone doing auto location of a center point on their plasma cutter? We have a home made plasma cutter that uses a Baldor ESB cntroller and a touch screen to let the user pick a part. I already have a simple digital joystick control for this machine. It occurs to me that I could let the operator pick a center point in a piece and then a size and we could cut circles and squares on any sized part. A laser pointer mounted on the side of the z axis could be used to pick the center point, then account for the offset in the controller.

Lasers are made to fit right over a 1.375" torch for locating, I have seen them for larger barrels as well. Actually, As I was looking at a site I see it for 2" as well.

Dynatorch Laser Locator

WSS

[Lbase]

Originally Posted by WSS Lasers are made to fit right over a 1.375" torch for locating. WSS

Hey that's slick! Thanks for the link

[plain ol Bill]

I put a Dynatorch laser on my table, love it and use it every day.

[scrambled]

WSS-

How does the laser hold up to the heat of the flame cutter?

Will it fit a standard machine torch for oxy/fuel?


Thanks


Steve

[WSS]

Originally Posted by scrambled WSS- How does the laser hold up to the heat of the flame cutter? Will it fit a standard machine torch for oxy/fuel? Thanks Steve

They fit great on the torch body but they do not work too well with oxy/fuel. I have two of them, one fits a plug wired into the harness and is controlled by the software and the other has a small toggle switch. If I have a real tight nest or a remnant that I repositioned, I will put it on without tightening it down to re-zero and pull it off. you could probably leave it on with finecut parts or maybe for cutting w/plasma under .25". They are cool though, if I have someone I want to impress I will put it on. It comes on automaticaly when you jog for about 10secs. Pretty neat to see the cross hairs zip across a sheet.

When I first started cutting, I left it on and noticed the laser getting dimmer. The laser on my HK 40 does the same thing, after a couple hundred rounds the glass is all fouled up. It makes it hard to hit the stuffed animals (plushy toys if you want to be politically correct). Plasma dust is similar. a q-tip soaked in nitro solvent cleaned it up right away.

WSS