No room in the shop for a cnc plasma table, ideas?

[Duratrac85]

I'm going to be ordering a 4x8 torchmate. I do not have room in the shop for it. I'm thinking of a carport or lean-to for it, but not sure how to handle the cold weather here in Colorado. It will be a down draft table so no water to freeze, but concerned with the electronics. Anyone else have their machine outside the shop?

[beefy]

Condensation is the killer. It's amazing how things are sometimes drenched with a coating of water in the morning even when it hasn't been raining. I'd put ALL electronics in a wooden cabinet and seal where the wires go through. Foam may suffice. My table is squashed inside a tin shed and I'm not happy with that. I certainly wouldn't want it open to the elements with just a carport. Could you at least add some of those plastic roller screens if all you had was a carport.

[Duratrac85]

Putting the electronics in a sealed and temperature controlled case is not problem. So really it would just be the motors being subjected to the cold. Not sure if I'm going with stepper or servo motors.

[beefy]

Can't see cold hurting the motors, maybe it will make them last longer if they are kept cool

My main concern would be rain / moisture. I've heard of people using car wax (or other types of wax) to give their precious linear guides some corrosion protection, instead of using grease which just shouts out to dust, "Hey come and stick on me".

[cindy carlisle]

How about renting a storage unit? We have a friend who rents 2, and has a whole shop that he works out of.

[abmagrum]

why rent ? you can buy them cheap.
it would work but be kinda tight.
you can lock it up
but would keep everything out of weather.
and you can lock it up

[CNCCAJUN]

Most storage units in our area only offers a light receptacle with switch.

Max 15amp.

They say it is due to insurance.
Steve

[_Ogre]

buy one of these 20 foot storage containers.
bolt the table down, when you move call a roll back

[icmplasma85]

Is it that a 4x8 wont fit or any size wont fit? If you could fit a 4x4, Plasmacam has a way you can index sheets thru the machine. Many people think its tacky, but it works great, saves on space, and it is most likely a cheaper package than torchmate. Even if I was going to buy a bigger table I would still go with the 5x10 from Plasmacam.

[cindy carlisle]

We also have a customer who has his in a trailer outside, for yrs now, here in TN. He has a 4x8 table.

[tnbndr]

Problem I see is in cold climate even in the storage container you are going to get condensation unless you heat the unit.

[timberfab]

Burntables makes wall mounted plasma table. Looks cool. Doesn't take much space. I am in no waybassociated with the. Never bought abtable from them. Just think it a neat way to fit a large table in a small space.

[Duratrac85]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

I've seen the burntable that stand on end, wont work for me. Mainly will be cutting full 4x8x1/2 sheets.

I may build a carport with the intention to inclose it and insulated it later on. Just keep the electronics in a heated for for now.

[timberfab]

Not to be nosey, but what is in your shop? Can any of it be made mobile, stack-able, or moved to a small lean to? how about putting things that you only use every once in a while on dollies and roll them away.

I personally would rather have my brand new, plasma table indoors with me and leave my bolt bins, scrap bin, shopvac, etc outside in a locked up job box or storage container.

you could get some cheap used pallet racking and put a roof over it or something along those lines

[Metriccar]

I personally would not leave a table or anything just sitting outside. I would want to have it in an area it could withstand an extreme rainstorm and leaving things outside does not allow for that.

An enlosred trailer like someone else suggested is another idea, and probably better suited for a neighborhood. I would just want it locked very good, that would be a horrible thing to have stolen.

Those storage containers are actually sealed pretty good. You could get one for a few thousand less than a comparable sized enclosed trailer, but it would be harder to move around.

I actually just bought a used Accu-Kut that was operated out of one of these big containers and they put big barn doors on the side to put the table in and out, and it obviously is easier to load material that way. It would be hard to load 8' long material from the back door of one of these things but i guess it could be done if you had a way to slide it in.

You're also not giving yourself much room to work on the table itself in a container. At least that's the issue with mine. It's a 6'6" wide table plus the gantry,, etc, there's absolutely no room to replace anything on the table. A 4' wide table will be easier but it would be nice to have like 2' on each side or so. Heck even getting the table in there can be an issue unless you cut doors on the side.
I would look into one of those storage sheds that they can build and maybe put it in your back yard.

[Stout]

I wouldn't have an expensive CNC machine in the elements at all. I sometimes get condensation inside my shop during dramatic weather changes and I get worried. I purchased a dehumidifier to help with that issue. Much too expensive of a tool to take chances.

If the drive gears and ways are mild steel, there will be corrosion issues.

[kbenz]

I'd put my table inside and put the other stuff out first.........