new plasma build 4X10

[dnelso]

I have studied alot of nice plasma tables on the site and decided to build my own. I wanted a water table to cut down on smoke and warping. I also wanted to be able to empty the table for cleaning. I made an aluminum box that holds about 90 gallons of water and have a 110 gallon storage tank.Ther is a 3000gph pump in the storage tank. Takes about 2.5 min to fill table. Plasma cutter is hypertherm 1250. Used a g540 geckodrive and 50volt ps. rack and pinion drive with 3.75:1 reduction.
Have any questions just ask.
Dave

[CNCCajun]

Very nice, clean . . . appears to be well thought out . . . I do have a question. On your gear reduction units, I see the motor, large cog wheel & ???? . . . What is the square looking unit on the same axis as the large cog wheel?

Steve

[Weldtutor]

A great looking project!
Thanks for posting the pictures.

What motors were used?

[millman52]

. . . What is the square looking unit on the same axis as the large cog wheel?

Steve

I'm betting on the square housing up 2 bearings to support the large notched pulley & shaft.

Just a guess.


Looks really good. From what of it I see should be a tight table that will hold close tolerance. & be repairable down the road if necessary....

[dnelso]

Millman52,
You are correct.The shaft is 1/2 and it has tapered bearings on each side of the block and then the small gear. I will take some pics of the first design. It was a pivot design, bushing on one end and spring pulling gear to the rack on the other end. I had some problems with accuracy and teeth skipping on the rack with high rapids. I had to run such a stout spring to keep from skipping I worried about premature rack failure. I also had bending of the pivot shaft that was also causing me grief. This design was alot less parts and machine work and works better. The motors are Keling kl23h284-35-4b.
Dave

[Dustin407]

dnelso,

I must say it is a beautiful build. Everything looks first class, and looks well thought. Did you cut any parts yet? I would like to know what your tolerances are? Thanks for the post/pics.... Dustin

[dnelso]

Dustin407,
The repeatability of the table is very good within a couple of thou. I have about .003 backlash in the x and y axis. I think unless you get hardend and ground rail thats the best you can get. I have cut lots of small parts and a few large pieces. After you get the torch height control and settings worked out you can cut parts that are very close to your drawings. Here are the pics of my first design belt drive.
Dave

[Mongkol]

Dave,
It's a very nice machine.I am thinking to build CNC plasma machine with water table same as you.
I am little puzzled and have some questions.
1) It sounds like you use 2 motors on X-axis( left and right).yes or no?
Hybrid stepping motor? What torque is used for both X and Y axis?
2) I don't know what raw material is filled in the water to protect rust on steel.
Could you share this detail?
3)Do you use THC for your plasma table?

Hope your help
Mongkol

[Torchhead]

Dustin407,
The repeatability of the table is very good within a couple of thou. I have about .003 backlash in the x and y axis. I think unless you get hardend and ground rail thats the best you can get. I have cut lots of small parts and a few large pieces. After you get the torch height control and settings worked out you can cut parts that are very close to your drawings. Here are the pics of my first design belt drive.
Dave

It's ashamed to waste that beautiful piece of work running with an old analog THC

Contact me off-line and I will give you a VERY generous trade-in on that THC300 and Port 1 Breakout (whoever it came from) for a new Digital THC and Single Port control (MP3000-DTHC) It will give you the precision and features to match a really nice build!

The MP3000-DTHC displays and is controlled 100% from the MACH console (screens) so you can simplify and clean up your Operator Controller and UI

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com
www.CandCNC.com/MP3000-DTHC.htm

[dnelso]

Mongkol,
1. The x axis left to right has one motor and the y front to back has two motors .The other motor in the pic is the z axis. The motors are from keling 387 oz-in KL23H284-35-4B.
www.kelinginc.net/SMotorstock.html
2.The table has an .100 thick aluminum tray that holds the water so it cant rust.
3. Yes i do run torch height control.
Dave

[Mongkol]

Dave,
Thanks for the information. Here's the first machine of your or not.

Mongkol

[dnelso]

Mongkol.
This is my first plasma table.I have converted a mill to cnc using mach and servos and built an engraving machine using stepper motors. I try to build machines that i need and study other machines before i build them. I enjoy building them and saving a few dollars.
Dave