Made a leap of faith

[aji549]

Just ordered powermax 1250 w/ hand torch, THC300A, Sheetcam and Steppers from Camtronics.

Now I only have to build a 4X4 Table.

I already have Camtornic contoller and Mach3 I have retrofit a rongfu RF31 mill and a 12 X 36 lathe for CNC. Both have already paid for themselves.

I work for a company that builds aircraft tooling. We are a Boeing licencee.
www.aerosupply.org

I run 5 machine shops that have varrying capabilities.

What they all have in common is they wast alot of man hours cutting flat stock on a vetical band saw. We are talking non critical dimension stuff like gussets, casster mounting plates and other basic shapes that are required for their weldments.

I also do all our electrical pannel engraving on a Gravograph IS6000 machine.

Panels are always .060 to .125 thk aluminum. Some of them with large gage holes and switch holes.

All the shops have expressed that they could benefit from having all the flat stock details plasma cut.

So now I can make extra money helping out our shops with a sevice that gets me extra cash and helps them with their delivery times.

Win, Win.

Just have to get it running.

So my question is what should I avoid. What mistakes have you made that I should I look out for.

What compressor should I use.

I work at home on the weekens. my other machines are in my shed so I was thinking of a simple potabe/storable table.

I think rack gear with a jack shaft so I can remove the gantry ad store it in the shed. Table would fold up against the shed.

I also want to buld a water tabe.

Any links to reading would be appreaciated. I have already learned alot from reading your post in silence.

thanks

[millman52]

There are lots of build logs here & also check out the router build logs Lots of ideas there also to help you design your own table.

As for the compressor, around a 5 HP twin cylinder single stage will work at least for a few years. Keep in mind the farther away from your table With multiple water traps will help to "dry" your air prior to final drying & filtration.

My opinion is if you have much work at all for the table you will eventually get tired of folding it out of the way & assembling the gantry to it every time you want to use it.
I'd opt to dedicate the shed to the plasma table. & build an additional shed for storage from the profits.