want to make a small plasma table
1. do I want a cut40 plasma cutter = cheapo, as I think the vertical heads are thesame pt-31
have bought one of these as a start as the comsumables are cheap - is that correct?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251467483245? ... 1439.l2649
?
do they use an internal compressor
3. can I run a hydrovane silent compressor?
rack and pinion?
rubber belt?
bike chain
side mount screws?
want the sacrificial grid to be a steel foot scraper grate
what would you do if you were building a small 500mm2 machine
if for argumants sake I simply want to cut 5mm mild steel all the time, will I need a z axis??
does the torch need to go up and down on lead ins and all that jazz??
can i not simply fix it as the correct height?
best plasma machine
Dont know about your plasma cutter, so i"ll pass (I,m Hypertherm fan)
Rack and pinion, yes
good quality tooth rubber belt, yes
Your bike chain will wear, you'll end with slack
side screws are too slow for thin stuff.
YES, you need a Z axis, yes it will go up and down on every pierce.
No, you dont absolutely need torch height control during cut (THC) since your table is small.
Rack and pinion, yes
good quality tooth rubber belt, yes
Your bike chain will wear, you'll end with slack
side screws are too slow for thin stuff.
YES, you need a Z axis, yes it will go up and down on every pierce.
No, you dont absolutely need torch height control during cut (THC) since your table is small.
hello again
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SECOND-HAND-F ... 3cd608b14d
using it almost as a structural element?
is that a stupid idea as it needs changing often?
was thinking of something like this as the bed surface
bolting some 45mm square t-slot to the sides 'I have this'
bolting t-slot thk rails to the top and bottom
15mm alloy plate as the gantry ends
twin flat 45mm t slot as y axis with torch up the middle
keeping it low
using it almost as a structural element?
is that a stupid idea as it needs changing often?
was thinking of something like this as the bed surface
bolting some 45mm square t-slot to the sides 'I have this'
bolting t-slot thk rails to the top and bottom
15mm alloy plate as the gantry ends
twin flat 45mm t slot as y axis with torch up the middle
keeping it low
Oh boy, have you got the plasma yet?
See my story here http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/thread ... CNC-plasma
I have just built a small table and suffered many headaches for weeks because I was trying to use a cheap pilot arc plasma system on it. It just would not work and fried electronics, never made a cut with it.
In the end I stumped up a lot of cash for the smallest hypertherm unit, a 30xp hand system. Since fitting it, I have not had a single hiccup it's been running outstandingly.
As for compressors, any unit which can output the required CFM will work.
You can save yourself a lot of grief by getting the right plasma unit, I wish I did earlier!
That grating will work but it would better to have a spike bed as the flame gets upset when it crosses a slat underneath causing rough cuts etc.
See my story here http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/thread ... CNC-plasma
I have just built a small table and suffered many headaches for weeks because I was trying to use a cheap pilot arc plasma system on it. It just would not work and fried electronics, never made a cut with it.
In the end I stumped up a lot of cash for the smallest hypertherm unit, a 30xp hand system. Since fitting it, I have not had a single hiccup it's been running outstandingly.
As for compressors, any unit which can output the required CFM will work.
You can save yourself a lot of grief by getting the right plasma unit, I wish I did earlier!
That grating will work but it would better to have a spike bed as the flame gets upset when it crosses a slat underneath causing rough cuts etc.