My Plasma Table - DONE !!!

[zeoncomp]

Or at least almost done .... need to do the A axis (X clone) ...` ordered that .... next weekend will be done
See the pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/true4x4/PlasmaTable

Got the electronics from CandCNC and the mechanical is all what came thru .... no previous plans

[Jcar]

Sweet!!! I really like your use of the wide linear rail for your floating head. I used 4 small rails, and the alignment was a pain to get right.

[apache405]

very nice. where did you get the long rack gears from and how much did they set you back?

[zeoncomp]

The rack and pinion is from McMaster the rails and V bearings are from Precision bearings the gear box components are from sdp-si (they kind of sucks) and the electronics from canccnc.com ....ask for Tom - he's the man

[apache405]

thx.

[DennisCNC]

Are you using a THC?

[zeoncomp]

Yes - THC with floating head

[Mongkol]

Hi Zeoncomp,
How much budgets for this project? How long was this machine finished?


Good project
Mongkol

[Mongkol]

Hi Zeoncomp,
One question.
What brandname for plasma cutter? Or you use from http://www.parkermetalworking.com/

Cheers,
Mongkol

[DennisCNC]

Are you using the MP1000 thc? what is the floating head for if you have a thc?

[zeoncomp]

To be honest - don't know yet - I still have to add all the bills and figure - soon. Time - - took a while but working only couple hours in the weekend. I can say that if I stay on it I can finish one in two weeks. It takes longer when you do not have plans and you have to buy parts "on the fly".
Even now - after I made the first cut - I realized that I have to add an extra axis (clone) becasue of the inertia of the gantry. I just got what I need and I will have it completely done this weekend. Next week I will do all the adjustments to turn it into a router table.
It turn to be VERY nice and if I ever decide to sell it - or make another one - will not be less than 10k. The MAJOR points here are the floating head and the water table. As someone said previously in this forum that the water table takes care of 90% of the smoke - it was wrong .... I can say 99%. I cut in my garage with my doors closed .... Don't make a mistake not to have a water table. Floating head is not hard to build - is harder to understand how to set it up - buy once you have it running it works flawlessly. I am still very new at this - I am a computer engineer - and I will have many, many questions to come. I will describe the table more when I catch some more time.

[zeoncomp]

I use the Hypertherm Powermax 1000 G3 - SWEEEEEET.
I use the MP-1000 THC.
I use a floating head to determine exactly the thickness of the material or exactly to set the cutting height where it supposed to be- - here is a long story - short. Before starting to cut the head goes down - touches the material (here zeroes the Z axis) and goes up to the defined cutting height. After 100, 200, 300 or whatever mm cut (depend of what you program) will check again - see if you cut thin material it will warp.

I hope this will answer some questions - it took me way longer to find all about it.