Some pics of the machine and some parts. It went together well, I very pleased with it.

Alan


Plasma 1



plasma 2



plasma 3



plasma 4

Looks very tech that does! Just a shame you live on the wrong side of the pond!

I guess it depends on the cost of shipping really....it may be non-viable but I'm happy to quote stuff....

Alan

Once I sell the Indy and start crafting something silly, I may have a few bits for you! Just need to persuade her in doors first.

you built all that to make your brackets.

I would have just used an angle grinder

very impressed alan, that opens whole new areas for you

My design will use a LOT of brackets....trust me...LOL

Seriously, the need to make brackets much quicker than by hand WAS the motivation....the ability to use for other stuff was the justification for the investment.

Time wise it took about 40 hours to build and within 1 day I've probably saved 20 hours work on the parts I've made so far.

how did you automate the trigger? was it hard to make it time correctly?

looks good altough "lowost"

only thing i would make was like a schock absorber idea for the plasma head (Z axis) in that way it basculates when needed and keeps be pressed to the sheet. in this situ it will try to lift your Y axis

anyway looks the dogs ....

if you can make more pics! i'm def interested since i'm into this kind of things to.

wich software do you use? Mach 2 /3 ??
Drives? motors?? Servo or stepper??

Tks

Congratulations. I assume its based on an XY plotter type design. Good job.

Superb! I'd have been envious if you'd just shown a pic of a plasma cutter, but your CNC Plasma Cutter is an awesome bit of kit!

How many people opened this thread expecting to find a widescreen TV then?

[Edited on 11/1/07 by MikeRJ]

Wow, that's quite the tool. Mechanical things I usually have no problem understanding, electrical and computer bits are my weak point.

If you can cut one one way up and the next upside down and get them closer together you will save a lot of material, does the program allow for this?

Thanks guys good feedback..

Joel:

No timing issues, the CNC code gives a start signal I just had to interface it with the torch trigger...not too hard.

Tks:

It really should not touch the metal ideally. The object is to keep it around 1 to 1.5 mm away. It is possible to use current feedback to move a Z slide and maintain the gap....for me it will be mainy smaller parts in thicker material hence not much surface variation. The kit was from torchmate who use the flashcut software...doing it again I'd know what bits to use and buy them seperately....this time round I was trying to save time and money..next time I'd save even more.

ayoungman:

I guess it must be a lot like a plotter....

Middy Tim:

Same here, that's why all the electrics came as a package...there was a bit of head scratching but it was mostly plug and play.

Peteff:

There is an extra program that will do the optimised nesting, but you can do it yourself....in fact I was experimenting with that earlier.

[Edited on 12/1/07 by Alan B]

Kudos Alan. I run a small to mid-sized sheet metal shop and am trying to figure whether the the best route for our entry into CNC Plasma is a Torchmate or one of the "higher end" systems.

What software are you running? Do you have any feedback on Torchmate quality, support and such?

quote:

---

Originally posted by kreb
Kudos Alan. I run a small to mid-sized sheet metal shop and am trying to figure whether the the best route for our entry into CNC Plasma is a Torchmate or one of the "higher end" systems.

What software are you running? Do you have any feedback on Torchmate quality, support and such?

---

FWIW I used to be part owner of a fab shom where we had a CNC plasma. We went to bottled compressed air for cutting it was cleaner, faster, more precise, and required less deburing.

Bottled compressed air? How's that different from compressor air? Unless you're talking about pure oxygen. Can you clarify? And how quickly did you go through it?

I'm also curious about when the bevel became a problem. I'd like to be able to cut thicker materials - 1/2" to 1" plate on occasion, but if the edge becomes significantly off of perpendicular to the face that isn't good - particularly on holes. Alain's holes look fine, but it's relatively light gauge material.

Oh and Jim - who's Willys kit is that? Is that S-10 based? Looks like my dream company vehicle!

[Edited on 12/1/07 by kreb]

I used to use a 4m x 3m CNC plasma in the prototype shop where I used to work.

You sent the dxf files to its pc, picked the cut lines in order (clockwise put kerf one side, anticlock put kerf the other iirc ) and then sent the path file to the cutterhead box.

You cut with the work just submerged in water, which gave a MUCH cleaner cut, and stops most of the dust and metal smell.

Bevel became a problem at about 6mm, and was quite bad at 8mm.

This all ran on triple filtered shop air supply. We used nitrogen occasionally for cutting the odd bit of ally.

[Edited on 12/1/07 by NS Dev]

We've just installed a commercial plasma cutter which comes with an extremely powerful extraction bed.

The installation engineers wouldn't even consider running the machine without the extraction on because the fumes are potentially carcinogenic.

I would have thought that without really good extraction some sort of mask would be very important.

For reference I have attached a report on this prepared by the plasma cutter manufacturer.

The difference is the compressed air was much cleaner. We used a LARGE tank, 6'(?) x 4'(?) (close) and changed it out about once a week with the table very active. We could program for kerf and had no real problem, if I remember correctly (15 years ago) we also did 2" with a torch head.

The Willys is an Antique & Collectable 6" stretch cab 40/41 intended for a S10 but the frame you see is a Jeep TJ stretched. With the blower I wanted AWD to keep it going kinda straight. If interested You could be the proud new owner.


[Edited on 12/1/07 by locostv8]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't considered the zinc fume issue, so that'll warrant additional research.

Jim, I wish that I could afford your Willys, but unless you offer really generous financing, or will consider a funky Miata, a rusty Locost frame, a couple old bicycles and some tin cans in trade, I don't think that I can swing it!o

Oh my sweet lord. That is cool. I am trying to determine which of my body parts could bring me enough money to buy one of those.

Bad eyes, bad back, bad hair, bad liver, snipped 'nads, shit! Out of luck.

I would love to have one of those. I would be able to just make whatever I wanted for the car/house/garden..... mmmm I think that I have just conviced myself..... shame I can't fit a 4'x8' table in the shed.......