Hello,
I am currently designing my first plasma table with a 2x1m cut area.
The thing that questions me the most is the problem of dust on rails, and more generally how to protect rails.
I plan to use Hiwin HG20 or 25 rails, but I worry that dust and cut projections can wear rails or carriages. I think about put rails on sides, or under sides (suspended gantry) but this only partially resolve the issue.
My workshop is very dusty (because of a lot of different activities).
What could be your advices / hints for this point and on frame shape / rail position ?
Precision : this table will not be used intensively. Only a few times a month. And I have already made an investment on a Powermax 45xp with CPC port, a hand torch and a mechanic torch.
Thanks in advance,
Have a good day.
Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
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- SeanP
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Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
Good question!
Not really a lot of options on the gantry, dust seems to go everywhere anyway, pierce mostly.
I went with a single 30mm rail on the gantry and only used cheaper alternative, I've run it hard for 9yrs now, I put 2 replacement sets of bearing blocks on but just replaced the rail and blocks with hwin this time, the have double dust wipers on, but I'm not sure it keeps all the dust out even now.
The y axis are still using the original rail and bearing blocks and still feel good.
Here you can do a bit more to protect them, the protruding flat as in the pic really does help a lot, for dust and water splashes, good for sliding sheets over as well.
Not really a lot of options on the gantry, dust seems to go everywhere anyway, pierce mostly.
I went with a single 30mm rail on the gantry and only used cheaper alternative, I've run it hard for 9yrs now, I put 2 replacement sets of bearing blocks on but just replaced the rail and blocks with hwin this time, the have double dust wipers on, but I'm not sure it keeps all the dust out even now.
The y axis are still using the original rail and bearing blocks and still feel good.
Here you can do a bit more to protect them, the protruding flat as in the pic really does help a lot, for dust and water splashes, good for sliding sheets over as well.
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Powermax XP45
Home built table, Candcnc DTHC 2, Dragoncut 620-4
R-Tech 210 Tig, Jasic 250 mig
Sheetcam, Scanything, Coreldraw
Table build gallery
Home built table, Candcnc DTHC 2, Dragoncut 620-4
R-Tech 210 Tig, Jasic 250 mig
Sheetcam, Scanything, Coreldraw
Table build gallery
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Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
I would say that Sean's setup above is about as good as it gets. Looks great and rail position protects them from flying molten metal and makes for easy material loading. As Sean said dust is always going to be an issue no matter what you do but good rule of thumb is to wipe the rails down with a Scotchbrite pad after every use and then blow off with compressed air.
- SegoMan DeSigns
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Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
Rail position is also dictated by the thickness of metal and how it will be loaded unload from the cutting area. Low mounts allow forklifts and slide offs of the material but are subject to splashing from the water table. Hi mounts keep the rails above the mess, but are a "bugger" to get heavy metals out unless you have an overhead crane. Some companies will put a bellows style shield over the rails for protection, the rest of us do weekly cleaning / wiping down with WD-40.
https://www.automation4less.com/bellows.htm
https://www.automation4less.com/bellows.htm
- SeanP
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Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
You know I aways wonder why more small tables don't have higher sides like I have done, they seem just the right height to me.SegoMan DeSigns wrote: βMon Jul 25, 2022 12:10 pm Rail position is also dictated by the thickness of metal and how it will be loaded unload from the cutting area. Low mounts allow forklifts and slide offs of the material but are subject to splashing from the water table. Hi mounts keep the rails above the mess, but are a "bugger" to get heavy metals out unless you have an overhead crane.
The way I load is to have a 3' length of 3" tube running across the slats and a foot away from the nearest side, I have 2 stops on the opposite side, just some flats, then load sheets with forklift, must admit I was lucky the forks tip to a good angle, lower down and reverse off leaving sheet sat on the bar.
Then just have a piece of inch box and pry up the sheet off the raised sides, have another hook tool to poke under sheet and pull out to sides, lower the sheet down to the slats, its very easy I've done that with a 8x4 of 15mm.
Not easy to describe or probably understand how it works, I'll maybe do a video one day, works great.
Powermax XP45
Home built table, Candcnc DTHC 2, Dragoncut 620-4
R-Tech 210 Tig, Jasic 250 mig
Sheetcam, Scanything, Coreldraw
Table build gallery
Home built table, Candcnc DTHC 2, Dragoncut 620-4
R-Tech 210 Tig, Jasic 250 mig
Sheetcam, Scanything, Coreldraw
Table build gallery
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- 1/2 Star Member
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Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
Thanks for those replies and information.
Maybe there is a way to do the best of both worlds (rail under and above water level). What do you think about attached schematic (I have edited your picture SeanP, hope it is not an issue).
Rail are protected against dust and water splash. The bent sheet can serve as fairing too, to protect the rail against fall of objects or bad sheets manipulation. Dust could always go on rail, but it should be in lower quantity than with opened side.
Metal sheets can still be loaded by sides with hand or elevator.
The schematic is not at scale, but I think a space could be let around the rails to easily clean them with hand.
Maybe there is a way to do the best of both worlds (rail under and above water level). What do you think about attached schematic (I have edited your picture SeanP, hope it is not an issue).
Rail are protected against dust and water splash. The bent sheet can serve as fairing too, to protect the rail against fall of objects or bad sheets manipulation. Dust could always go on rail, but it should be in lower quantity than with opened side.
Metal sheets can still be loaded by sides with hand or elevator.
The schematic is not at scale, but I think a space could be let around the rails to easily clean them with hand.
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- SeanP
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Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
I'm sure that would work fine as well.
I've been using mine most days for the last 8yrs and to be honest I wouldn't go back my original design it really works well, the cover on the side rails seems to be enough in my shop and I've plenty dust around.
Perhaps the gantry if I was doing it again the double rail design would be more stable and a better bet, but for ease I just went with a replacement this time.
I've been using mine most days for the last 8yrs and to be honest I wouldn't go back my original design it really works well, the cover on the side rails seems to be enough in my shop and I've plenty dust around.
Perhaps the gantry if I was doing it again the double rail design would be more stable and a better bet, but for ease I just went with a replacement this time.
Powermax XP45
Home built table, Candcnc DTHC 2, Dragoncut 620-4
R-Tech 210 Tig, Jasic 250 mig
Sheetcam, Scanything, Coreldraw
Table build gallery
Home built table, Candcnc DTHC 2, Dragoncut 620-4
R-Tech 210 Tig, Jasic 250 mig
Sheetcam, Scanything, Coreldraw
Table build gallery
- SegoMan DeSigns
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- Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:45 pm
Re: Best rails position on frame in a dusty workspace
I got a pretty good idea of what your talking about.my 2x2 Torchmate has elevated side rails and F/R braces that makes getting a full piece of heavy plate in & out of. The 6x12 has low mount rails and has some room to allow for different heights of slats. I have seen some tables with these type of bearings on top of the bed to facilitate sliding material on / off :SeanP wrote: βMon Jul 25, 2022 1:14 pmYou know I aways wonder why more small tables don't have higher sides like I have done, they seem just the right height to me.SegoMan DeSigns wrote: βMon Jul 25, 2022 12:10 pm Rail position is also dictated by the thickness of metal and how it will be loaded unload from the cutting area. Low mounts allow forklifts and slide offs of the material but are subject to splashing from the water table. Hi mounts keep the rails above the mess, but are a "bugger" to get heavy metals out unless you have an overhead crane.
The way I load is to have a 3' length of 3" tube running across the slats and a foot away from the nearest side, I have 2 stops on the opposite side, just some flats, then load sheets with forklift, must admit I was lucky the forks tip to a good angle, lower down and reverse off leaving sheet sat on the bar.
Then just have a piece of inch box and pry up the sheet off the raised sides, have another hook tool to poke under sheet and pull out to sides, lower the sheet down to the slats, its very easy I've done that with a 8x4 of 15mm.
Not easy to describe or probably understand how it works, I'll maybe do a video one day, works great.
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=Flush+ ... &ia=images
I'm a few years behind on making videos myself. I never did a completed / working video on the 7 y/o T M or the 2 year old 6x12 add a recently completed Press Brake to the list