Plasma table construction in progress

**canadamaxxer** · 05-13-2007, 11:15 AM

I got a message from the site this morning stating that I have been away for a long time, and encouraged me to stop by for a visit. I have actually been very busy building, so haven't had much time to do pretty much anything.

I'm in the process of building a 5X9' plasma table. Why 5X9? Mostly because pretty much all the steel we get here is 4X8'. That is not to say that 5X10 is not possible, just my work's suppliers seem to have only 4X8.....but I suppose when you're working with 1" plate 4X8' is enough....

The extra width allows me some flexibility with sheet placement, and the extra length allows me to have a "home" position for the gantry (that's the theory anyways). This should mean that I can load the table using a plate clamp and an overhead of some sort (still to be figured out....probably an A-frame on wheels with a chain block to lift) without hitting the gantry.

I am using the aluminium rails as runners for the x-axis (shimmed so that they are straight and parallel within .005" or so). On them will go a carriage using skate bearings and all this will attach to the gantry. The Y axis will run on the gantry tubing.

After trying twice to order rack and pinion from Mcmaster Carr (the first time they canceled the order without contacting me, and the second time they finally got back to me and told me that they can't ship to Canada....B*st*rds!!), I decided to run the x and y axes with roller chain (good old Princess Auto). The z axis will be run off acme threaded rod, and shielded from plasma dust.

I bought a complete CNC servo/stepper package from C and CNC (torchhead), and am eagerly awaiting the time when I can play with it. On a side note: Tom and his wife are absolutely fantastic to deal with....I wish all customer service could be like that.

Once I get this working, I will post the Solidworks assembly file (right now I'm a bit behind on the required changes), but I will post pics as I go.....

**energyforce** · 08-06-2007, 07:18 PM

Where in canada are you?

My buddy and I rebuilt an old CNC table installing new equipment.

We also build a pretty bad-*** cnc table that is 90% finished (buddy went off to build a house and I went off travelling and got married so we never finished it). Its a 6'x12' table with a cutting capacity of 5'x10', has a plasma and oxy-torch combo (sitting beside eachother), runs on open pillow block bearings on precision shafts, servos turning belt drives all around (except z axis is a lead screw thing which we bought on ebay). It has thc, a water bath, etc. It weights about 2000lbs.

You can search my thread i started in here for my table from like 1 year ago. Its called "A new table buildup thread" or something like that. or check out www.ubcustom.com/cnc

If you are nearby we should hook up and share knowledge!

Im living in Edmonton right now but my hometown is the lower mainland in bc.

Erik

**samakthachai** · 08-07-2007, 12:53 PM

Hi Canadamaxxer,

How long will you finish your table? I am curious when it complete.

Hi Erik,
It's so cool on your project. Do you have any photos after cutting?

Cheers,
Samak

**canadamaxxer** · 08-07-2007, 09:18 PM

energyforce: I am also in Edmonton..... I would appreciate getting together and sharing info....although I don't know how much I can contribute.....LOL....

I have not had that much time to work on the project....it is moving forwards, but slowly. I am hoping that I can get some time freed up for it in the next couple of days. The x axis gantry is installed and rolling, and I'm just getting into the y axis and other bits and pieces. My next big project is to cut keyways for my jackshafts, cut the shafts to length and then start installing the roller chain.

I will post some pics when it looks appreciably different

....

**energyforce** · 08-08-2007, 10:22 PM

Hey man, give me a shout at erik@ubcustom.com and give me your number etc and we can hook up? I will be off work and in Edmonton Aug 17 for 4 days. I live close to 97st and 137 ave, about 5 kms north of there....

I dont know what skills you have, but I am a mechanical engineer and I can probably help you with the torgue, power, inertia ratios, etc if u need it.

**vcooney** · 09-09-2007, 05:10 AM

Hey Canadamaxxer,
Great looking table and nice welding too.
Do you plan to have a water tray?
Also...how are your slats held in place?

Vince

**Switcher** · 09-09-2007, 05:50 AM

Very nice table!

At first I thought you had weld the slats to the table, I downloaded one of your pics & zoomed in, from what I see you have two small bits of metal to form a slot that the slat just sits inside (no weld on the slat)?

.

**canadamaxxer** · 09-09-2007, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by vcooney

Hey Canadamaxxer,
Great looking table and nice welding too.
Do you plan to have a water tray?
Also...how are your slats held in place?

Vince

Hi there,

Thank you for the compliments. I do try to make the welds as nice a I can....I've had some great teachers. I am planning on building a water tray for the table, but will be cutting the pieces for that once I have the table running. To support the slats, I put a 2X3 angle iron shelf all the way around the table. The water tray will sit on top of the ledge created by using the 2X3 angle. Inside of that, I put a 2X2 angle frame. To actually hold the slats up, I cut about 100 small pieces of 1/4 X 2 flat bar, and welded them on each side of the vertical slats.....so that they are supported, but so that the slats can be removed once they are cut up too badly. I should take some recent pics of the table....I have actually got a fair bit more completed on the project.....I'm building the x and y axis drive systems.

**canadamaxxer** · 09-09-2007, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Switcher

Very nice table!

At first I thought you had weld the slats to the table, I downloaded one of your pics & zoomed in, from what I see you have two small bits of metal to form a slot that the slat just sits inside (no weld on the slat)?

.

Yup....you got it bang on....no welding on the slats at all. I built the whole table in such a way that I can disassemble it and only need 2 people to move it. The removable slats were a huge part of that feature....

**vcooney** · 09-29-2007, 07:18 AM

canadamaxxer,
How about some updates on your plasma table...it's to nice to stop now.

**millman52** · 09-29-2007, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by vcooney

canadamaxxer,
How about some updates on your plasma table...it's to nice to stop now.

I too would like to see some updated photos.

I also went to great lengths to be able to take my table apart, or expand it's size. I also made my bearing rails easily replacable so I can bring it's accuracy back up once wear develops. I bolted all my gear rack on too in case of wear or accident.

Looks good, Keep up the good work.

**canadamaxxer** · 09-29-2007, 03:46 PM

Here are some update pics. I have not abandoned this project by any means.....I just ran into a bit of a problem with time to complete the project.....and parts to get stuff finished. Hopefully I have all the parts I need AND the time to get this thing running.....

Please forgive all the crap in the background of these pics.....I'm working with limited space and only 1/2 the garage/shop is finished...so the other half gets all the leftover crap and clutter...