Enter The ARCDROID

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Joe Jones
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Enter The ARCDROID

Post by Joe Jones »

A friend sent me a link to this website. Apparently there is an entry level CNC plasma cutting machine called The ARCDROID. It is an interesting concept. I am not interested ENOUGH to buy one just to play with it, and to compare it to the PlasmaCam table and software, but I can see where this might be worth a serious look.

It does not seem to have any height control, and the demo videos ONLY show it cutting thicker materials, so I will assume that the warping of thin materials causes problems that the inventors did not want to draw attention to, in their promotional vids.

I could actually see buying one of these as a plotter to trace patterns and then scale them up.

It is an interesting machine, nonetheless.

Joe

http://arcdroidcnc.com/

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Re: Enter The ARCDROID

Post by Scratch »

Interesting...
I think I'm the oldest 10 year old boy on the forum...
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Re: Enter The ARCDROID

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Re: Enter The ARCDROID

Post by Joe Jones »

If this takes off, PlasmaCam will have no choice but to lower the cost of the Go Torch again. After all, a machine that can trace patterns and convert the movements into a design, and then cut that design is more appealing than an entry level Go Torch that can do almost nothing without a lot of expensive upgrades.

I will watch this one closely.

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Re: Enter The ARCDROID

Post by Joe Jones »

If a small camera with crosshairs was added to a PlasmaCam table or the smaller Go Torch machine, it could be used as a plotter. The X and Y movements would need to be slowed down considerably, but with the addition of at least BASIC DESIGN software, the carriage could be moved around a shape, with the CTRL+Q command drawing points at selected spots. Then the software could be used to draw the shape by connecting the dots.

I know that a certain type of game controller can be used to control the PlasmaCam tables, but I am wondering if one could operate the carriage and gantry using a joystick? With a joystick, and a crosshairs camera, the PlasmaCam table would probably serve well as a tracing machine / plotter.

I think I'm going to have to find a small webcam with a close focus capability, and try this, just to satisfy my own curiosity.

Joe



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Samson 510 & 4x4
6” Z Rail Lift Kit for PlasmaCam
CreatBot D600 PRO 3D Printer
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Re: Enter The ARCDROID

Post by DieselFumes »

This is actually a pretty cool idea, I like it. I have no purpose for it due to its small size but for some applications I could certainly see this being useful.
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Re: Enter The ARCDROID

Post by Joe Jones »

I think it needs to have a Z axis added. Then a plotter pen could draw shapes and designs. Right now, I don't know if it has an additional circuit that could be used to trigger a solenoid, or some other device to lower a felt tip pen down to the material. As for plasma cutting, I think it would fail with thin material, as the warping issue manifested itself. This is basically a robotic version of the old pantograph devices we used way back in the 60s, to trace things.

Joe



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Franklin, KY., USA
Samson 510 & 4x4
6” Z Rail Lift Kit for PlasmaCam
CreatBot D600 PRO 3D Printer
12 Lasers
FREE DesignEdge Training!

It is more fun when it isn't necessary!
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