Anyone in the UK building DIY plasma tables?

[adscnc]

I'm looking for links and info on CNC table building in the UK. Is it happening here or is just the guys in the US that are haveing all the fun ?
Curently looking for reasonably priced linear v rails and v groove bearings.
Any info from the UK on plasma table gear and control systems would be useful.
Thanks Al

[ASTRO_AL]

Hi Al, I'm also Al in the UK. I'm planning to start a table in about 3 months or so. I'll be putting my Hypertherm 1650 into it and building a table for sheet / plate up to 3 x 1.5 m.

I haven't started sourcing bits here yet, so post up if you find any sources.

Cheers, Al.

[adscnc]

Great to know that the Uk has some interested parties.
Do you know what you are going to base it on ?
I am favouring:
Low-cost 4x4 plasma table, finished.

Your location says you are in France ?

Regards

Al

[ASTRO_AL]

Hi, sorry for the delay, yes I was in France - too many forums to update my details on I guess (too lazy). back in Hampshire now, where are you?

I'm still cruising through other builds picking out things I like. I know a guy in Minneapolis running a 1650 on a CNC, so I'll probably be pestering him for info until he starts ignoring my emails.

I haven't started sourcing parts yet, but these guys could be useful if you don't know about them: http://www.hpcgears.com/

I'm still mid way through about 5 other projects, including a powerhammer for my forge, so I won't be starting for a few months.

Cheers, Al.

[adscnc]

Hi

I'm near Lichfield up in the midlands.

Have included a pic (drawing) of the start of my table approx 4 x 4. Running on V rails with timing belts and steppers.

any thoughts on the control gear, mach 3 etc?

i would really like to add a forth axis so I can cut tube, wonder if thats possible?

Just for info :

I have a small manufacturing company making steering wheels for race karts.
www.calibaperformance.co.uk and also parts for HGV's www.truckbars.co.uk.

We have some cnc equipment such as a lathe and a big mandrell tube bender which does 2 1/2" stainless. Manual Bridgeport knee mill, and some other bits and pieces. We also do some polyurethane moulding. Quite capable for a small outfit.

Cheers Al

[iannotts]

Hi,
I am in Nottingham and sill in the research stage, I have decided on Mach3 software but stuck between two designs for the table, thinking 4ft x 4ft or 4ft x 8ft. Also looking at using leadscrew rarther than rack and pinion (Costs). I have purchsed my plasma cutter (eBay) and hopeing to finish my home build compressor by mid august

Cheers Ian

[matttargett4]

hi all,

im currently out of the uk but i built a machine there last winter, here are a few of my experiences and where i got my parts from:

Motors and drives:

Motion Control Products, very good service, very cheap good quality stuff, got some 12Nm steppers for cheaper than any where i could find in the usa even before shipping. Drives are same headline price as geckos but no shipping / vat to pay so work out cheaper and have very similar specs

V groove;

I was quoted some outrageous prices by hepco motion for the genuine bishop wisecarver stuff, like 70 pounds / meter so i bought the imitation stuff from the usa, was cheaper, but had to be cut into 34 inch lengths, the shipping was expensive and then i got clobbered with vat and an additional handling charge by the courier. Shortly after the hepco rep calls me up and says could he sell me anything and i said no, after some discussion i found he could slash the prices quoted to me making it comparable to the usa stuff, so if i did it again i would call him first.

Linear rails:

I got some short lengths used from ebay in taiwan or somewhere for pennies but anything longer than 2 feet or so is really expensive to ship so not worthwhile

Software:

Mach 3 and sheetcam of course

Aluminium profiles:

I got them from a company in the midlands, i dont recall the name and they were excellent also just as cheap as any of the usa stuff i found

Drivetrain:

I got belts and pulleys and bearings from an online company called the bearing boys, i think the stuff could have been cheaper if i got it from a bearing house but they had a good site and a great selection of stuff so it worked for me.

Hope ive helped!

[adscnc]

Matt, thanks for info. Really useful, just need to find a friendly Hepco rep.

[georgetheforge]

Hi-

I'm taking steps in my build of a 10 x 5 plasma/ router-

looking for suppliers of linear bearings, rack, cable chain, cnc control/ steppers- but tempted by the candcnc kit- unless anyone has experience of anything uk based?

any handy suppliers gratefully received-!!

George

[ASTRO_AL]

Hi George - fancy seeing you here!

Me too - just about to start mine.

there were issues with shipping the CandCNC kit to the UK - something about lead in the components I think, I never did understand it exactly. I have emailed Tom at CandCNC to check if this is still a problem. No response so far, but I'll post back here if I hear anything.

Other than that:
Welcome to World of CNC | Marchant Dice Ltd
DIY CNC electronic kit & mechanical products
Home Page

I found a couple of UK based forums (fora?) but there is no real content in them.

Cheers, Al.

[georgetheforge]

I'm pretty sure they do ship to the uk- i was e-mailing him a while ago, looking to get a dragon cut kit-

thinking about it, i know he does coz I'm fairly sure swift cut uses his kit-! then charge you 15k.....

thanks for the links

hows it all going in Hampshire- nice and busy?

it does all seem to be dominated by the USA based companies-

as far as i can tell, you could obviously buy the bits and build you own, but its things like the DTHC card and ease that's swaying me toward the Candcnc stuff-!

wonder if theres any mileage in him sending over a bunch of kits and dispatching them from me-! might see if he's keen.

G

[ASTRO_AL]

I think one issue is that the smaller kits kind of slide in under the radar, but the larger stuff tends to get scrutinised. I guess a whole shipment would be doomed to a thick coat of looking-at.

But I'm all for it in principle.

Not news yet - not sure if he is busy or away or something - he's always seemed very on-the-ball before.

I agree - it'd be good to get something with a critical mass of users, that doesn't require too much electronicky farting around.

Yeah, all good here thanks - crazy busy at the moment, hope its going well for you up there.

Cheers, Al.