New plasma table build

[schmaus]

Plasma gantry

plasma gantry.jpg

controller

completed controller .jpg

THC board and voltage divider

voltage divider and THC board.jpg

First off I have to give a big THANK YOU to AdrianH on this board for all the help with figuring out the homemade THC. It works very well as a simple THC.

I finally got to a point that I start a thread about my new table. I have been running my electronics on a borrowed table for about 6 months. so I have all the bugs worked out for that part. I just finished the gantry and am ready to start the table fabrication.

The specs.
4' x 4' with enough over travel to cut a full 48" and add plate marker later
currently running UCCNC and UC100 ( would like to try Linuxcnc after table is complete)
Gecko G540
381oz steppers
3 to 1 gear reduction
shs 15 rails for X and Z axis
SBI 20 rails for dual drive Y axis
20 pitch rack and 1" diametrical pitch pinion
gantry is 62# without wiring and torch ( a little heavier then I wanted. was shooting for 50#)

[schmaus]

Also I am running a Hypertherm 1000
Still trying to decide on a water table or down draft. I had a down draft on my Torchmate 2x2 table and really liked it. I had it set up with an M code to turn it on at start of cut and off at end of the program. But I used a Harbor freight dust collector blower and I don't think that will cut it for a 4x4 table. the table I am using now has a water table and I hate the mess and constant evaporation. If I do a water table it will have to have an auto fill of some sort. I think I can easily come up with a way to control it with an M code.

[gamble]

Looks great. Where did you get the motor brackets?
I want to build my own but not a clue where to start

[schmaus]

I machined all the parts myself. I can give you all the drawing files I have drawn. I plan on sharing all the drawing anyway. I just wanted to clean them up alittle first as I only drew what I needed to machine them. the gear reduction units are from cncrouterparts.com. I drew the motor mounts from there basic design. you could just buy theirs.

[schmaus]

I finally was able to make a little head way on my table. I just need to mount the cable track and start wiring it so I can cut the slat holders with it. The slide cylinder on the left of the torch mount is for a plate marker I will be adding. The little 1/8" rod sticking up out of the torch mount is where the floating head switch is going to mount.

[acourtjester]

Keep on truckin you have a good start, don't forget to make a pen holder for your beginning test motions and calibrations checks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tet2rRsqBts just be sure to use a ball point pen for finer detail.
http://www.plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.p ... er#p126013

[Old Iron]

Great looking gantry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[schmaus]

I got the machine all wired and plumbed up and moving! I dialed in the calibration and so far I have max acceleration at 400ipm and it is very smooth in X and Y. Z is set at 40ipm and has a little binding that I need to work out. I cant wait to try cutting.

[schmaus]

I cut a few parts today on the makeshift slates. parts look pretty good. I need to dial in the DIY torch height controller. the cut voltage vs. the preset voltage value are off slightly. I think I need to make the voltage divider adjustable with a potentiometer in place of one of the resisters.

I have a video of it in action but I don't know how to post videos.

[acourtjester]

put it on youtube and post the link address here

[SeanP]

Oh nice job, I like your gantry, looks nice and light in ally, wish I had gone for a double rail like that rather than single.

[schmaus]

Sean, your table build is one of the few I used for inspiration when building mine. I was going to use 1 size 20 rail also but decided to use 2 so I can mount a router on it. I don't normally work with wood but want to try building a wooden clock very soon.

I hope this link works it is the first time I have tried to post a video to youtube .

The holes are cut at 50% feedrate using the small hole cutting rules I made in sheetcam. It is 1/4" steel. Hypertherm 1000 with 40amp consumables.

https://youtu.be/yjFnr0e-EFk

[SeanP]

Works perfect as does your table and setup,,,you don't look far off the mark there, well done!

[schmaus]

I mounted my router to the table to play with some v carving. I was so excited to try it I forgot to offset y axis 0 before I started.
I used a free v carve program called "F engrave". it works very good for simple programs.