Newbie- Plasma 4x4 Planing

[CYRAX]

Well since this is my first post, here's some background... ive been wanting a cnc plasma table for the past year or so and just cant bring myself to drop 10K+ for a plug and play setup, and being the "techy" type of guy with some decent fabrication know how i figured why not try and save some coin and build one myself which brought me to this site after several Google search's and reading threw alot of different builds on here made me want to jump in and build one even more, which brings me to this post.

I'm wanting to build a table with a 4x4 cutting area and also want to build a pipe cutting attachment to go with it, I have a basic idea on the table of what i'll need but im looking for suggestions on gantry kits ect.. of what works and what dont., as for the pipe cutter i really dont know where to start with it on things ill need to build and make it work right, software ect...

[CYRAX]

after searching for some gantry kits keeping a "budget" build in mind really ive only come across the "PlasmaBot" kits. So is there any other kits out there for around the same cost?

as of this point I will be ordering the PlasmaBot 3.0 Gantry Kit unless someone cant point me to something better?

also is there anywhere online that has any good deals for the IVTAAG @ IVTAAS Linear Guides? or do you have to go direct to one of your local pbclinear distributors?

[mr.riggnns]

im curently building a plas table and thought of a way to do the pipe notching as it would be handy i work for a nascar race team as lead fabricator

[mr.riggnns]

im using probotix monster hybrid kit with opto isolated breakout board and a rf isolated relay board to turn plasma on and off, relays just make contact with plasma torch trigger wires. i got a 3 axis kit for now but if you get a 4 axis kit use the 4th axis to drive a chuck large enough for the biggest tube you will notch to fit in. maybe a small lathe chuck put a lathe steady rest on oposite end to support tube use a 4 jaw chuck it will allow you to notch square and round tube. depending on wheater or not you use gear reduction to it the programing wouldnt be to bad. check out the tube nocher for torchmate it will be a good example. i may eventualy get a nocher built for mine and also a head that will power angle for bevel cuts

[CYRAX]

Any chance to see some pics of your setup, I'm building my table for some Offroad fab. 1.75 DOM is mostly what I use I've seen torchmates and what like something similar when I get to that point, is a water table really worth it does the water affect cut quality?

[mr.riggnns]

also check out 8020 inc. nice aluminum extrusions and linear rails they even have a surplus sale for the savy diy'er. my machine is going to be built on the super cheap once i make profit that will go to better build mine will have a cutting area of around 44 inches square i got most steel for free the motor kit 450 with shipping and upgraded hardware misc. bearing and supplys 200$. dumpster dive computers i got like 7 pcs from friends and family robbed the best parts out of all of them made one good one pentium 4 1 gig ddr memory 1 cd drive and a western digital 80 gig new hard drive for trade for a welding job opperating system will be ubunto 10.2 with emc2 not windows free download of corel draw, and free download of cam bam. probotix throws in the emc2 with purchase of motor kits but it wont run on windows. some people use mach 3 i have the free downloaded version but to buy full version its 175$ im low on cash now mach 3 is windows based pretty nice easy to figure out but im on the cheap for now. most people use ubunto becaise its free just as easy to use but the pc has to be linux ubunto. hope all this helps i would also check out you tube lots there too most people will answer q's too. when i get time i will post my you tube videos look for offroadfabricator on you tube

[CYRAX]

me and you must really be on the same page lol, as you are on the same path i am. start out as cheap as possible and upgrade as funds allow, do you know have any suggestions on where to source a "3 jaw" chuck? also is there a certain software for tube cutting?

[seanmurphy265]

I'm building a plasma bot 4.0 version 2 with the 4 Axis Probotics Monster kit, RBX 3 channel relay board, and upgraded power supply. I went ahead and paid the extrs $150.00 to have the kit pre-wired with an enclosure. Lenn was very helpful on the phone.

At some point I will add torch height control.