DirtBound Offroad's PlasmaBot table build

[DirtBound]

I have been wanting to get or build a CNC plasma table for the last 6 months or so.

My business DirtBound Offroad designs and builds custom offroading parts, Bumpers, Storage, etc... As of right now I am a one man shop and time is everything, most of the products I manufacture are already in CAD but I have been cutting them by hand using a strait edge and plasma cutter and it is very time consuming.

Last week I got the chance to use a PlasmaCam and after that day I went back to the shop and ordered the Plasma Bot kit with floating head Z axis.

Today I placed my McMaster Carr oder for all the small parts and ordered the V bearings (sealed) from VXB on Amazon.

Tomorrow I plan to order the aluminum rails, as I hear they have a lead time of up to 2 months (I hope not!).


I was planning on making a 4x4 table but now wondering if I should make a 4x6 table. This would allow me to be able to cut roof rack parts up to 6 ft long. From what I can tell the cost to make it 2 ft longer is only about $50 additional on the side rails.

Any thoughts on a 4x6 vs 4x4 table?

I plan to make a water table as I hate cleaning up the plasma pixy dust!

This also wont be my first machine, I have built a rockcliff wood machine back in 2006-2007.




I will update this post with parts list.

PlasmaBot

Products
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1 x DIY CNC PlasmaBot Gantry Kit (P-DIY_PGL) = $142.99
Shipping Insurance Insure this order
Finish Bare metal
Download BOM PDF
Carriage Dust Shields No Plasma Dust Shields
1 x Z Drive Floating Torch Plate Kit (P-SD_TNG) = $31.99
Shipping Insurance Insure this order
Finish Bare metal
Download PDF Instructions
1 x DIY CNC Z Axis Drive Kit (P-SD_ZKIT) = $109.78
Shipping Insurance Insure this order
Gear Rack Add Gear Rack Assembly
Finish Bare metal
Download BOM PDF
Spring Mount Add spring mount
------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total: $284.76
Flat Rate - United Parcel Service (UPS) or United States Postal Service (USPS) (Ground): $43.00
Total: $327.76



16 Kit8405: RM2-2RS 3/8" V Groove Guide Bearing:Sealed $8.88
Sold by : VXB Bearings
-------
Total for this order: $158.50



Total so far: $781.03



Put the order in for the rails today

62.5" Gantry for $141.16
80" for side rails $196.68 each
23" for Z $27.59

Total: $562.11
Shipping will be billed to my UPS account so ill know once that is done.

They said the prices have been going up on it.

And a 20 business day lead time so 1 month...


Ordered the motors, driver, and power supply for $365 from the same person Winegar has. 425oz steppers

Total so far: $1,708.14

Left to buy is the v bearing bushings and steel for table.

[Shefron]

[QUOTE=DirtBound;969930]



Tomorrow I plan to order the aluminum rails, as I hear they have a lead time of up to 2 months (I hope not!).
Which AL rails are you refering to? If its stuff from 80/20 then mine took a week and half to get to my door.

I was planning on making a 4x4 table but now wondering if I should make a 4x6 table. This would allow me to be able to cut roof rack parts up to 6 ft long. From what I can tell the cost to make it 2 ft longer is only about $50 additional on the side rails.

Any thoughts on a 4x6 vs 4x4 table?
If you have the room for a bigger table then I would step up to a table that can handle 4x8 sheets of metal or 5x10 depending on what your local metal supplier has. Being a offroad shop I would think a bigger table would benfit you more.
QUOTE]

Are all your parts common things that you cut out the same everytime or have a base model then modify for the application?

[DirtBound]

[quote=Shefron;969973][QUOTE=DirtBound;969930]



Tomorrow I plan to order the aluminum rails, as I hear they have a lead time of up to 2 months (I hope not!).
Which AL rails are you refering to? If its stuff from 80/20 then mine took a week and half to get to my door.

I was planning on making a 4x4 table but now wondering if I should make a 4x6 table. This would allow me to be able to cut roof rack parts up to 6 ft long. From what I can tell the cost to make it 2 ft longer is only about $50 additional on the side rails.

Any thoughts on a 4x6 vs 4x4 table?
If you have the room for a bigger table then I would step up to a table that can handle 4x8 sheets of metal or 5x10 depending on what your local metal supplier has. Being a offroad shop I would think a bigger table would benfit you more.
[QUOTE]

Are all your parts common things that you cut out the same everytime or have a base model then modify for the application?

Most the designs will be the same for each product, so it will be a load the cut file, load the steel and let it go to work.

I am trying to get into custom work that this machine will enable.

The rails are the PBC linear rails for the Plasma Bot kit.

Right now I am working out of a 1.75 car garage about 16 x 24 floor space, so I am very limited right now on working space. I hope to be in a commercial space very soon but this table has to be done before so I can increase sales volume.

As it is right now I do bumpers out of 3/16 steel, we have been cutting them by hand with a Hypertherm 30. Other products I have in mind will be 1/8 or thinner.

The problem I see with a 4x8 right now is I have no way to move a sheet that large without moving equipment (forklift, etc..) as I work alone. Storing the steel would be another issue.

The bumpers we cut on the PlasmaCam last week we did on 2x4' sheets and it was very manageable.

[rodder]

You'll probably have and extra $50 tacked on for the longer gear racks also.

Definately get the rails ordered NOW. I ended up making rails out of 2x2 tubing, angle iron and strap for about $40 while I waited for the PBC rails. It worked great in giving me the full functionality of the table and time to learn the software and configurations. Winegars build thread was a super, economical process for me.

Jerry
Boise

[DirtBound]

You'll probably have and extra $50 tacked on for the longer gear racks also.

Definately get the rails ordered NOW. I ended up making rails out of 2x2 tubing, angle iron and strap for about $40 while I waited for the PBC rails. It worked great in giving me the full functionality of the table and time to learn the software and configurations. Winegars build thread was a super, economical process for me.

Jerry
Boise

The gear racks only come in 6ft length so do I just make them longer with another piece? I can get another 4 ft for $34. I can TIG them together if needed.

I do plan to order the rails today once I figure how long the table will be.

The gantry is 62.5" from talking with plasmabot. Do you remember how long your side rails are?

[I Lean]

The gear racks only come in 6ft length so do I just make them longer with another piece? I can get another 4 ft for $34. I can TIG them together if needed.

I do plan to order the rails today once I figure how long the table will be.

The gantry is 62.5" from talking with plasmabot. Do you remember how long your side rails are?

Side rails need to be about 7" longer than your intended travel. (6' travel distance, equals 79" PBC rails. (2006mm)

[DirtBound]

Side rails need to be about 7" longer than your intended travel. (6' travel distance, equals 79" PBC rails. (2006mm)

From what I figure I need a 86" side rail.

[I Lean]

Just measured mine, my side rails are 74 3/4" long (actually 1900mm if I remember right), and I have 67 1/2" usable travel.

[DirtBound]

Ok so I would be looking 79.5" for exactly 72" usable travel. I think I might just make it to 86 if the cost is not to bad and have the extra travel. I never know what I will be cutting with the machine.

The extra 6" might come in handy.

[DirtBound]

I need to measure the spot I plan to put the machine, 6.5' of cutting length might be a tad to much.

Was looking though my electrical supply box and found 10 micro switches that will be perfect for limits.



Got the rest of the hardware, I have decided to keep all the parts in the house until I get the shop/ garage cleaned up more.

[DirtBound]

Put the order in for the rails today for a 4 x 6 table should give me exactly 72" length.

62.5" Gantry for $141.16
80" for side rails $131.93 each
23" for Z $27.59

Total: $432.61
Shipping will be billed to my UPS account so ill know once that is done.

They said the prices have been going up on it.

And a 20 business day lead time so 1 month...


Ordered the motors, driver, and power supply for $365 from the same person Winegar has. 425oz steppers

Total so far: $1,588.64

[DirtBound]

look what arrived today:




Not bad progress since I only started ordering things over the weekend. Also got news the PlasmaBot kits shipped today.