Shopbot for Plasma & 4-axis Wood Routing?

[fjcruiser]

I'm curious if anyone on here uses a Shopbot for plasma cutting as well as 4-axis Wood Routing? Pics of your table? I'm thinking just throw a piece of MDF ontop of the slats when you do wood? Not sure if the A (lathe) axis will be a problem or in the way for plasma?? Pics of your plasma cutter mount?

[keebler303]

here are the best pics I have of my dads shopbot. It is only 3 axis but it may help you get a better idea of what it will take. I think you could dedicate one side of the machine to the wood turnings and the other end to plasma. If the parts are small most of the time it would work well. The only thing you would need to do to switch between the two is to swap the router for the plasma torch. Check out the plasma build logs for an idea of how guys are mounting their plasma torches. One thing to cosider with the shopbot, I am not sure if the control is capable of THC (torch height control). It maintains the torch offset from the workpiece as it warps, etc. It is not vital but is really nice to have.

good luck
Matt

[Torchhead]

The Shopbot uses it's own control software/hardware combo. Short of a full controller retro-fit with something that will run MACH3, your choices for a THC start at $2400 and go up. As stated you can run without one but be prepared to have a lot of tip crashes and burned out consummables on material thinner than 1/4". For about half that amount you can buy a complete electronics retro fit including THC, control software, power controller (less motors) or for close to just the stand alone THC you can replace all of the electronics including the smallish motors they used on older tables.

On of the issues I have seen on older shop bots is their poor performance on curves and circles leaving a scalloped edge. This is a lot harder to sand out in steel (:-0. Part of the problem is their motor driver/controller and part their software. Quality microstepping drives from Gecko can solve problem one but problem #2 needs a Constant velocity control software like MACH3 that does a look ahead and smoothes out the segments on arcs and circles.

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com
"There is no substitute for experience"