$5500 for the components listed above or total including everything (PC, plasma cutter, etc)?
Bigtoy,
Saw this build over on Pirate also, seems like this one is more detailed.
Couple questions.
-What powersource are you using?
-Maybe i missed this but how are you keeping your floating head from "falling" out of the rail (thought i saw a set screw somewhere but i wasnt sure)?
-Is your 15mm rail on your X axis stout enough to keep your head from "rotating" and causing the X axis to bind?
-Are all your wires for your switches and drives shielded or does that not really matter?
Your project is awesome and it is inspiring me to do some work.
EDIT: Are you using a home switch on both your Y and slave A axes?
I am using a toroidal transformer from Antek and a cap and bridge from Digikey.
There is a piece weld to the bottom of the Z to catch the rail. If you look closely you can see it in the pics.-Maybe i missed this but how are you keeping your floating head from "falling" out of the rail (thought i saw a set screw somewhere but i wasnt sure)?
The x rail is a 25mm with two block so no flexing or binding.-Is your 15mm rail on your X axis stout enough to keep your head from "rotating" and causing the X axis to bind?
All the wires are unshielded. everything works fine that way.-Are all your wires for your switches and drives shielded or does that not really matter?
I have not got around to actually mounting the switches. All the wires are there but I have too lazy to hook them up.EDIT: Are you using a home switch on both your Y and slave A axes?
I really appreciate your posting the details of your build.
I have a question, if you don't mind. What are the dimensions
(inside of the rails) for the length and width of your table?
Thanks,
Mike Allen
Awesome build. You made it look so easy, and professional.
Thanks for taking time to show us the details.
One question for the group; why the fluid in the bed? Just for better electrical connection?
Hi Bigtoy,
I am building plasma table by rack-pinion concept. I am interested in your method. Pls take a look from picture. I am puzzled with motor-plate which is held with one screw and one spring. I have some question.
1) This concept, Is it enough to support the weigth of motor and aluminium plate set?
Hope your help
Mongkol
Mongkol this looks very close to the design I used for my table. The bolt I used was a 1/2" diameter and I can not imagine that not being strong enough. Looks good to me.
The 1/2" bolt is plenty strong enough to hold the drives. They weight less then 10lbs. The spring is on the light side. If I put all of my weight (180lbs) on the gantry at 450ipm I can get the drives to skip on the rack. But during normal cutting the machine dose not see any cutting forces.
Bigtoy,
Thanks for your reply. I also found the floating head on Z-axis. I have another question.
1)I see it has limit switch on Z-axis for the floating head.How to hook up limit switch on it ? I have not ever seen the circuit of the limit switch of the floating head. ( Link to Z++ or Z,home) Pls advise.
2)If I have the torch heigh control system,is it necessary to have the floating head on Z-axis?
Happy new year
Mongkol
Using a floating head design you can swap different thickness of sheets you lay on the table and the machine still finds and compensates for the different thickness. Example: you are cutting 14 ga. material and need to cut 3/8 next. Just change plates and the floating head will find the top of the material by lowering the tip until a limit switch is tripped. The torch then will rise just enough to clear the switch. This height is Z home. Just another way of making life simpler for operators.
I was really having a hard time getting this floating head design driven into my little brain until I talked w/ Torchead about it one day. Made perfect sense to me then.
Hi Plain of bill and Big toy,
If I use THC and the floating head,I have three questions.
1)It looks like the circuit of micro-switch don't complicate. Is it correct?
2)If I cut steel plate at thickness 6 mm, how to set pierce height ,pierce delay,cut height and so on? Could you guide me?
3) The torch should touch on the top of material before operation or not.
Sorry if I disturb you
Mongkol
The floating head circuit is not complicated. It is just a z home switch. Pierce height, delay, and cut height are set by your cam program. I use sheetcam and you set all the parameters in there. In your post it will tell it to find the top of the metal before every pierce of not.
where could i buy some plans for a table like this?