CNC Plasma Table

[Conrad_Turbo]

Here's some build photos of the CNC plasma table I got on Tuesday of this week. It hasn't moved under it's own power yet, but it should this weekend if I don't get too tied up with other stuff.

Two crates showed up on Tuesday.




Plate marker to allow for CNC engraving.


Z-axis with auto torch height control.


Machine torch. The funny part is that this costs twice as much as my first Lincoln MIG welder...and it's just the torch!


Frame is waiting for the gantry.


Gantry pretty much ready to go.


Water table assembled, installing all those bolts wasn't very fun.


Electronics waiting to go.


Got the water table in, the gantry on the table and begun to do some of the preliminary wiring.


Torchmate sent me the wrong plate marker but they are sending me the correct replacement, should probably see it next week I'm guessing



Spaghetti (lame spaghetti anyways...)! Still have a few things to route through the cable carriers before I clean things up.


I've got some slats for the table cut and installed, once all that is done then the table can be squared up and levelled. Then it time to put it through it's paces!

[rsilk]

Sweet!

[DigitalOSH]

Wow, that thing looks unreal!

[thesaxmachine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXaIXcMlJ7c

[Travis7s]

I've got the same bandsaw as you, where do you get your spare blades?

[Kaldonis]

We will take 2. Kthx

[Conrad_Turbo]

I've got the same bandsaw as you, where do you get your spare blades?

I hate my bandsaw and cannot wait to replace it...I bought a case load of blades from House of Tools before it went under. I haven't sourced any locally, but worst case scenario Princess Auto would have them (probably junk like what is first put on the 4"x6" bandsaw from the get go though). Busy Bee Tools would have it, although I am unsure of the quality.

A few more photos from the weekend. The table is level and the slats are done.






I got the Z axis to work last night, I noticed on Friday that the servo motor was spinning but the torch wasn't moving up or down. A set screw on the coupler wasn't tight enough, so got it tightened up and it works just fine now. I should be seeing the correct plate marker in the next few days as TM already sent it out on Friday and it's in BC right now.

Then it's playing with software and setting all my kerf widths and cut speeds for various thickness materials. Then I still have to pick up the chemicals to add to the water so I don't have to deal with a big rusty mess in the spring.

[Travis7s]

I got mine from Busybee while it was still here...I thought the blade that came with it worked great until I tried something stupid and snapped it. I ordered the 'bimetal' version as a replacement because I heard it was supposed to cut much faster but its brutal compared to the stock one I had.

[Conrad_Turbo]

I got mine from Busybee while it was still here...I thought the blade that came with it worked great until I tried something stupid and snapped it. I ordered the 'bimetal' version as a replacement because I heard it was supposed to cut much faster but its brutal compared to the stock one I had.

Haha goes to show you how much I shop at Busy Bee...they're not around anymore?

Well I finally got my correct plate marker last week and finally had time to hook it up and test it this weekend.

Sounds like a garbage bag full of angry bees next to the microphone of a megaphone. It's kind of loud! :giggle:



Tossed a scrap piece of AL on the table to test it for the first time:


4" tall on the same AL sheet. Rider pride anyone?



Still needs a bit of tweaking but not bad for the first two pieces. I'll be using the plate marker mostly for engraving PN's, bend line locations (very minor marks to avoid stress concentrations) and any misc. engraving that needs to be done. I have gigs of vector format stuff (logos or artsy fartsy stuff) that can be cut or engraved.

Now I am waiting on quotes for upgrading the service to the shop...plasma just needs more power!

Here's a video of the plate marker engraving the rider logo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_q9upp1DQk

[FingerTech]

That thing is so cool. Want to make some combat robot parts for me?
Can you cut titanium? How about carbon fiber?