4 x 8 Plasma Table Plans

[smilewizard]

Starting a new thread to show the plasma table I have began building. Look forward to any suggestions you may have. This site has been the inspiration for building a table and not buying a prefab. I have already learned more from this site then I could if I had just purchased a complete table. Would like to thank mlaws1172 for all his help as his design has lead to mine. His info can be seen at Hotrodwillys thread "Plasma Table Plans".

In the next few days I will post some starter pictures. I have attatched a cad drawing of the table frame that I am building.


Andrew

[mlaws1172]

Smilewizard
This is great! The more changes and options the better. I have had a blast designing and playing with with stuff. I just finished with the electrical design for mine and will be posting it soon.
Can't wait for more pictures.
mike

[Weldtutor]

Hi Smilewizard
Great to see your first post! (And #100 for you Mike)
CNC Zone is a wealth of information and sharing.
Mlaws1172 plans have also inspired me to undertake construction of a CNC plasma table.
I look forward to seeing photos of your build.
WT

[smilewizard]

Here are some photos of the beginning stages of the control cabinet. I used a variable transformer for my power supply. I am in the process of machining the adaptor plate for the motor and gearbox. The other photo is the linear rods I am using.

[mlaws1172]

Going to be a great machine. Looks like it is coming together fast now.
Mike

[smilewizard]

Wanted to get a Idea on what people are using. What plasma cutter have you had the best luck with? Are you using a standard head or cnc type head. What are the life of your consumables?

Thanks,

Andrew

[Weldtutor]

There are many good pieces of plasma cutting equipment to choose from.
In my opinion, based upon manual experience, Thermal Dynamics & Hypertherm are both excellent choices.
Machine sizing would depend primarily upon the material thickness range being cut.

Consumable life varies a lot with the method of, as well as number of "starts" & dryness of the plasma gas (air).

Manual torches allow the versatillity of removal & making cuts by hand. Machine types do not allow for this.
The manual torch for CNC use is normally activated or fired by a relay in the circuit.

For the CNC machine I am building it will use a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 51, with a manual torch.
My application is for cutting mild steel, mostly from light gauge to 1/4" thickness.

[smilewizard]

Completed the motor to gearbox adaptors. This combination will give me a max speed of 360 IPM, I can adjust this fairly easy with a pulley change. I am designing this with a belt drive system for the X axis and the Y axis. THe Z axis will be a ball screw. The pictures included are just some more pictures of some of the parts. I am having the table frame built and I should see it the first week in February.

[smilewizard]

Here is a cad drawing of the table that I am having built. Minor details were updated on this drawing.

[utahnorton]

Can I ask where you got the transmissions, what the reduction is, and the cost? Im just about to get my servos. I bought a Miller 2050 machine torch
that is supposed to have some Hypertherm technology in it. My friends are Miller dealers and I had been happy with their smaller plasma cutter and MIG.
Also just found a source for 24DP-20PA 1" X 1" gear rack counterbored every
12" in 10 ft lengths for $286.29 ea. delivered. I'm running two servos on the gantry so would be ordering 2.

Thanks,

Tom

[smilewizard]

I was very lucky and was able to purchase these at a surplus dealer, I gave $150 for the pair. I purchased some similar to these new and they were I think around $1000.00 each, but I could be mistaken. I used a company called Fluid Power in Memphis TN. If you are interested I can locate a number and email it to you.

Control panel is 75% complete, wired drives and breakout board last night.

Andrew

[utahnorton]

Andrew,

That would be great-do you have a part number? Please e-mail the info to me as soon as you can. My THC-1000 arrived today, so like you my parts pile
is starting to grow.

Thanks,

Tom
utahnorton@sisna.com