London Ontario, Mentor needed.

[Weldtutor]

Interested in building CNC plasma table. Mentor or fellow builders needed to share interest/questions with. All help appreciated.

[b1kmpn95]

Hey,

How are ya doing?

I actually live pretty close to London, (About 35 minutes - Close to Strathroy), although I am in London about 3 times a week. What's your email address? I would love to keep in contact -- There are not many people in my circle of friends/relatives that don't either make fun of me and my 'computer thing' :-) or understand what it even is :-)

I'm currently building a wood router based around the HobbyCNC board and 1" linear rods/thomson ball bearing bushings.

Where abouts in London do you live?

-- Greg Thomson

[beegner]

Hey Guys
I am not to far from London.
Cambridge area.

I just started a small router rable also.
Dave

[Weldtutor]

Hi Dave
It's starting to look as if CNC is alive in Southwestern Ontario. I'm in Dorchester, just East of London, & grew up in Brantford.
What point are you at with your router table construction?
Have you chosen & purchased your electronics yet?
I'm still at the planning stage.
Weldtutor

[beegner]

Hey Weldtutor
Most of my mechanics are complete.
Just received my ball screws.
I purchased some of those Surplus center Servo drives.
I hope to have those mounted up in coming weeks. Possibly looking at the Rutex drives for these.
What are you thinking of Stepper or servo?
How big of table are you looking at?
Have you met any other people in the area?
Later
Beegner

[Weldtutor]

Hi Dave

Seems you are well under way with your router table. Did you source your parts locally, or import through customs?

I had one other response from Greg, see earlier in the thread.

My thoughts for a plasma table would be a 4' X 5' work area, chain drive, & stepper motors. Light gauge steel requires rather fast travel speeds (200 IPM) to plasma cut properly.
I haven't yet decided on motor size, driver boards, or power source yet.

WT

[beegner]

Hey WT
I did a bit of both. bought some local stuff. I had to buy the ball screws local.
I bought the motors from US, (Surplus Center). They shipped UPS, so when the arrive, you pay the ups guy for any additional brokerage fees, taxes, etc.
I have purchased some on Ebay, this helps also. I found that to help abit.
The power supply I think I will be making my own.

Do you have anything planned out yet? Or just starting to look?
Beegner

[Weldtutor]

Beegner
Thanks for the reply!
Somehow I got 2 threads from you. I replied to the other one before receiving this one. Thanks for the info above.
WT

[Nivec]

Hey there Weldtutor! I live just down the road from you in Summerside.

I am currently in the planning stages (designing in CAD) of a CNC router myself. Although I have recently decided to postpone the actual build for a year so I can build sufficient funds and learn to build it right. I want to build one that is versatile and strong so I don't mind taking my time. I am pretty new to this hobby so I do have some learning to do. Especially on the electronics end of things.

[Weldtutor]

Hi Nivec
On a clear day we could probably shout to each other!
I plan to start my CNC plasma table build early in the new year.
This is a fantastic site to learn from.
Perhaps you have checked the free JGRO plans posted here, & there are also many helpful photos.
There are various forums listed that should help with your search for electronics knowledge.
Weldtutor (not backwards)

[Nivec]

Yep, thats why I'm here. To read and learn. Its a nice one stop source for all the info I am after.

[cnc_fred]

Originally Posted by beegner I had to buy the ball screws local.

Hi.

Where in Southwestern Ontario did you buy ballscrews?

I work in Waterloo.

Thanks,
Fred