New guy with a couple of questions

[blackhollowmfg]

Hello everyone. My name is Bob, and I am from northern Colorado. I have been looking to buy a CNC plasma table and have narrowed it down to a 4'x8' Torchmate 2. I'm sure I will have more questions in the future as I get it set up and ready to run, but here are the frist few that come to mind:

1] Learning the software. I am fairly computer savy, and I work with AutoSketch here at work. How hard is it for someone who is basically green like me to learn the software and, overall, use the machine?

2] AVTHC. Is this absolutely necessary to have from the beginning? The cost of the TM2 and the plasma cutter alone will be high enough for now , so if I can get by without it for a few months, that would be great!

3] Quoting jobs. I am not quite sure how to quote odd jobs. How do you all do this, since there is time involved in creating a CAD drawing, setup, cut time, cleanup, etc. What method do you all use?

4] Kit or Bolt-together? The kit would definately save me some money that could be put towards an AVTHC. Just trying to figure out how to get the best bang for my buck!

A majority of my jobs will be cut from 1/8" to 1/4" A36 mild steel plate, as well as some 16ga mild steel. Occasionally, I will be cutting automotive brackets from 3/8" mild steel plate.

My appologies if this is in the !!!!!!!

Thanks in advance for any replys!

Bob

[massajamesb]

Hey, Bob, Welcome to CncZone, great to have you here.

Torchmate uses Flashcutcnc's software and drivers, so if you want a little more information on them, that would be what you need to look up.

I tried the Flashcut demo (1.6, I think) at one time,in an effort to generate Gcode (just to see how it worked),but have not used the newer software but I have hear that it is fairly easy to use. It works very much like most other CNC machines, in that a CAD program is used to create part or drawing, and then a CAM program generates Gcode that the machine understands.
It will probably have the same amount of learning curve as any other CNC plasma setup, you have to tinker with it to really learn it. As much as any company would love to have you believe, there is very rarely a "click,click, cut" software out there. That is not to say it will be hard, at least depending on how computer savvy you are.
Again, I don't use Flashcuts' latest and greatest, so it would be better for someone who uses it a lot to give you a more in-depth explanantion.

As far as ATHC, I would recommend them, especially when it comes to 16 gauge. I don't know much about their ATHC, but for reference I suggest you look at www.candcnc.com for a good comparison chart of a few ATHC's. Now, most on that list are not compatible with Flashcut, but it is good research.

For cutting jobs, everyone has a different method.
If it is a friend or relative, I will only charge for metal and consumable cost (and if the metal is a small piece I can get "left over" from another job, then
it's free). Custom or repetitive parts are generally figured up based on the amount of cut time, cost of material, cost of consumables.
I go by a 40 dollar an hour rate for designing parts. I hate staring at a screen and cleaning up someones hand drawn work to make a cut file, so sometimes, I charge more for more intricate work.

The kits look nice, but which is going to be the better deal for YOU?

If you get a kit, you are paying the markup on the 80/20 extrusion, the cost of shipping, etc. BUT, you will have something you can snap together in a matter of a couple hours.
If you build the table, you pay no shipping, no high aluminum costs, no markup, etc. BUT, you will then have to buy 300-500 bucks worth of metal, and design, cut, weld, grind, bolt, etc for a couple or three days until you have your table.
How much is your time worth? If this is a thing you can put off till the weekend, then build one. If you need to ship this thing in and snap it together, and be up and cutting in a day or two, buy the table.
If you can weld, fabricate, and have a good work area, then you can probably build a table, just take your time and get it right the first time.
The extruded aluminum they use is typically strong enough, and it looks really nice and professional. The downside is, as you have noticed, the cost.
Shipping alone for such a bulky item will be a costly item, plus aluminum is VERY expensive.

I hope this helps, sorry for the long post.

[blackhollowmfg]

massajamesb - Thanks for the reply. I do not need to have it up and running anytime soon, so time to build a table is plentiful. That fact has even lead me to look into the TM1. The company I work for manufacturers fabricated steel products for coal fired power plants, so we go through a LOT of steel. So, we get a very good price on all of our steel, be it plate, flat bar, tubing, whatever.

This will not necessarily be for business or production use. At least not initially. That's not to mean that it might not turn into a part time business. But if it does, I would probably look at upgrading or replacing whatever I buy now, or keep it and add another one. I do a lot of odd jobs on the side, mostly automotive related. Brackets and such, nothing thicker than 3/8" A36. But mostly 16ga - 20ga.

I don't have an issue with building my own table, or gantry so long as I am supplied with decent drawings/specs/instructions. I have a decent shop set-up at home. Welders, cutters, mill, lathe, etc.

I'm not CNC literate by any means, never been around it or done it before. But I do want to find a cleaner, easier way of doing what I am doing now by hand. So ease of use and learning is a must!

Thanks again for you response!!
Bob

[Weldtutor]

I don't have an issue with building my own table, or gantry so long as I am supplied with decent drawings/specs/instructions.

Hi Bob
I'll add my welcome to CNCzone.

Click HERE to see a set of plans that can be downloaded & printed, or viewed as a PDF.

There are also several build logs (in the sub section of where you are now) that show various members table projects.

Have fun & keep asking questions.

[txcowdog]

You should definately look at Weldtutor's plans and build. You will get a complete education in a plasma build there.

[blackhollowmfg]

Well, I went ahead and ordered a Torchmate 1 kit. That gives me the basics and lets me build the rest. After looking at countless photos on this site and other manufacturers sites I have some good ideas on how I want to build the table as well as a water table.

Maybe down the road when/if I am ready for another machine, I will have gained enough knowledge from this machine to be able to build one totally from scratch.

Thanks for all the help, especially massajamesb!!!