My first CNC plasma

Hi guys, im introducing to this world, i have not much idea about how it works really but im trying to reading a lot. I decided to post a new build threard here . ( thread of my introdution http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/new-me...-new-here.html)

Machine i want to build is for exhaust flanges and so, not bigger parts really , maximum size should be 600X400mm, thanks to blackburn for info i will order soon linear rails to them:

linear rail SBR16-1200mm(4 rails+ 8 SBR16UU blocks),SUR | eBay

They told me i would need 690X490mm rails, i assume that will be ok, do they?

Drivers for controll the motors (i assume) will be this:

CNC Wantai Digital Control 4Axis Stepper Driver,24-80VDC/7.8A www.wantmotor.com | eBay

And the motors i will get this :

http://www.diycnc.co.uk/html/cnc_systems.html

I can't design it yet with solidworks since i have not idea about sizes and what other parts i would need really, if any has any input i will appreciate it a lot. Thanks.

Walter .

Hi there Walter, I take it you have got a plasma to start with.. For the height control you can do it manually or just get one of these units to put on to your plasma..
Proffessional Compact CNC Plasma THC Controller ( Torch Height Control ) | eBay

They are very good and save a lot of headaches if you choose to cut thinner metal it can warp and cause you problems.. this unit takes away all the pain.. there are some pictures and instructions of the setup at the bottom of the page, ive fitted a couple of these and was very impressed..

I am building a plasma/router myself at the moment. I will keep an eye on your thread and if i can help in any way let me know, ive been using the plasma at least once a month lately as im building an american hotrod (40/32 ford with hemi motor) as a side project, so you can see my need for a cnc as well for fabrication

Rick

Hi, woow!! great info!

i havent plasma yet, i really havent any parts, just reserarching info but next month i will begin to buy some parts like linear rails and motors..

what plasma machine do you use? what is the maximun thickness machine cuts?

Any info , pictures about router will be appreciate it alot.

Thanks Rick!

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They told me i would need 690X490mm rails, i assume that will be ok, do they?

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normally we would have our bearing blocks further apart than this however I’m assuming Chai understands that this is for a plasma cutter and has calculated that having the two bearing blocks tight up against each other will work fine in this application
personally i would be more comfortable with 50mm to 100mm gap between the blocks especially on your X axis (making the rails 790x590)
But I think I may be being over cautious

Your drawings don’t have to be perfect :)
it is a good idea to show some drawings before you commit to buying equipment as it is quite to easy to overlook something simple

good luck :)

I have a Cut 50 and it will cut 10mm at a push but it is rated at 8mm. and cuts that easy. Do you have a compressor for the plasma yet? Remember Dont just buy the first hardware that you get told about have a look around and see if you can get a deal or bargain, the further you can get your cash to go the better later on.. Plan it, post it, re-plan it, re-post it, and so on..

Rick

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Originally Posted by Walterronny

And the motors i will get this :

http://www.diycnc.co.uk/html/cnc_systems.html

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The same motors are cheaper here:

Nema23 3.1Nm

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Originally Posted by blackburn mark

normally we would have our bearing blocks further apart than this however I’m assuming Chai understands that this is for a plasma cutter and has calculated that having the two bearing blocks tight up against each other will work fine in this application
personally i would be more comfortable with 50mm to 100mm gap between the blocks especially on your X axis (making the rails 790x590)
But I think I may be being over cautious

Your drawings don’t have to be perfect :)
it is a good idea to show some drawings before you commit to buying equipment as it is quite to easy to overlook something simple

good luck :)

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Hi, i see, well, maybe i will order 790 X 590 for going safe!

Abot drawings, i will try doing that this week begining drawing rails :)

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Originally Posted by Ricardoco

I have a Cut 50 and it will cut 10mm at a push but it is rated at 8mm. and cuts that easy. Do you have a compressor for the plasma yet? Remember Dont just buy the first hardware that you get told about have a look around and see if you can get a deal or bargain, the further you can get your cash to go the better later on.. Plan it, post it, re-plan it, re-post it, and so on..

Rick

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Good info! do yo can shoot some pics of 8 and 10mm steel cutted by Cut50 please? i was thinking in to get that plasma too!

Thanks for comments.

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Originally Posted by D.C.

The same motors are cheaper here:

Nema23 3.1Nm

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great! thanks! i will ask for shipping cost .

Just had some times to draw motors, havent...more sizes so i got this according drawing from here Nema23 Stepper Motor 3.1Nm x 3

3 motors i will need :)

http://i48.tinypic.com/v33giq.jpg

I will make motor mounts and post here

Motor mounts (idk how they go mounted with the motors!)

http://i47.tinypic.com/28ckrqu.jpg

I think i will design the a similar frame like this:

http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/router...ed-router.html

I will post it as soon as i have it designed!

if you have drew them you have far too much time on your hands :P good luck with the build sorry i cant help with anything i'm still too new

hahaha well, both draws didnt take much time to do.

Thanks anyway! :)

Base, using 50X100 square steel , 800mm and 600mm for using 790 X 590 linear rails

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ikpem1.jpg

What do you think about sizes?

Made rails and blocks.. this week i will make more parts. any input, feel free to comment!! :)


http://i45.tinypic.com/35iqet3.jpg


http://i48.tinypic.com/2na0ftv.jpg

splendid, this is where drawings start to earn their keep...
if you are hoping to use nuts on those rails it may pay to have the long box sections open instead of the short ones like you have drawn
it will still be a pain to get nuts in but not impossible :)

run the rails all the way to the back of your frame in light of the fact that your Z axis is likely to have an overhang that will push your cutting aria forward too the inside of the aperture of your frame

you may need to extend the frame to keep the Z inside the frame at its furthest reach… easy enough to amend as the drawing develops :)

yes, holes go to the other side, it's not possible to see in the draws :)

About to run the lighs to back, ok, noted it1

Really the area i need is 600X400mm, in think i will go a bit oversize since i designid it with 800X600 and 790X590 rails..

Thanks for your help Blackburn!

Stunning drawings!
Would nutserts be of use for fastening the rails down? CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net! - View Single Post - CNC Plasma Cutter Table Build 3x2m including THC and watertable and here

Hi Walterronny, could you let me know what software you are using for these images they are superb!

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Originally Posted by Kerryfisher

Stunning drawings!
Would nutserts be of use for fastening the rails down? CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net! - View Single Post - CNC Plasma Cutter Table Build 3x2m including THC and watertable and here

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Great info!! i think i will use that way!

Treemonkey, i use solidworks w/ keyshot.

btw, i was thinking in to put some tubes for to support steel to be cutted, i dont know if plasma would cut these pieces...

Hi again, this is what i made, the other rails, i'd need 500mm instead 590mm i was thinking to order.. so it should be 790X500mm linear rails.

i made a triangle as base for the Z axis , just thinking about balance..what do you think?

http://i50.tinypic.com/29xvmgk.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/1445t29.jpg

Got it done, just i need to draw ball screws, i havent sizes yet but i will do it soon. any advice will be appreciate it a lot!

btw i had to modify the triangle because i made 50X50 but it's needed to be 60X60 because it wouldnt slider since it will touch with the base 100X50.

http://i47.tinypic.com/5bzr49.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2myyn2f.jpg

Now I thought everyone used vertical slats for the bed, sort of 1/8" x 2" up to 1/8" a 4" supported from below at either end and in the middle. That presents less of a target and the bottom is out of range. Looks really neat and stiffens it up if you put in a bit of a bend. Not saying you are wrong, but it looks a bit odd.

I don't want to rain on your parade, but why are you making it so big and heavy when all you are moving is a plastic torch and a rubber pipe? The routers you see on here need strength because of the cutting forces but plasma shouldn't even touch. Unless you plan to fit a router head, all you have to worry about is the force required to accelerate the gantry. You need at least 0.1G acceleration, 0.3G is good, more is better.

Welded iron looks good in pictures but the tolerances are low because the weld contracts as it cools. If you weld it you are going to have to fit a torch height control and that means hacking the cutter if it doesn't have a THC outlet.

Hi Robin, appreciate a lot your suggestions, this is my first plasma im build so i have not much idea about it, i was thinking in to make it light too but when i was designing it that's what i got lol! i was thinking in to make a solid support but not too heavey, if you have any suggestion of how do i can improve the actual design i will appreciate it a lot.

About welded iron you means the "yellow" parts? or what exactly do you means?

Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by Walterronny

About welded iron you means the "yellow" parts? or what exactly do you means?

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Apologies for that, I have a touch of insomnia, really should not do forums at 3am. If you are using aluminium and gusset plates, nil problemo, it is adjustable.

There's lots of good info on plasma over on cnczone but the Americans do seem to follow a formula which may or may not be optimum. If you don't use a Hypertherm they look on it as a cure for all your ills.

I'm currently tryng to make a lightweight plasma Z axis by 3D printing. The American method to get pierce and cut heights is by sensor and stepper motor, but that leaves you with a stepper interface to do THC which is an analogue thing I suspect may be better handled by a DC motor. I could be completely wrong, won't know until I try it.

Lool, i see, ive seen another plasmas cheaper than Hypertherm and after to watch some videos, should be great, i was thinking in to use cut50 but i'd like to see pictures of how cut 8 and 10mm really.

talking about router, i will ask price for aluminium material..

im thinking in to change the desing, instead steel plate i will try with square tube, i hope i can do that tonight.

Thanks Robin.

Hi guys, ive been really bussy and leave this for a while. Ok, im listing all electronic parts i will need, let me know if i will need more electronic parts:

3 Nema 3.1nm motors.
Drivers (this will be enought for controll motors?)
Match3 Software

I'd like to learn how this exactly works, i means, each driver per motor, what exactly driver does? and how works breakout board? how they will be wiring? Also i would like to know if i can convert parallel to usb just with a cable like this or i really will need something like this, why not the first simple cable and why that board?

Any input will be appreciate it a lot.

Thanks.

Walter R.

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Originally Posted by Walterronny

Motor mounts (idk how they go mounted with the motors!)

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Walter,

For your review, here is a very good way of designing/making motor mounts, they incorporate angular contact bearings so may save you some time at design and money on additional parts.

Pictured is the face the motor will attach to, on the other side there is just a simple bore to recive the anguler contact bearings, on the second picture you can see an option for supporting your leadscrew (at the other end) with just normal radial bearings.

Good luck with the build !

.Me

Hi, these looks really great!! and a bit expensive to me :D i think i even build my own mounts for motors with aluminium sheets welded.

Thanks for your reply.

Walter R.

Hi, im doing another design for router table, i have a doubt about the "ballscrews end supports" , do these are needed? ive seen some routers without these.. any advice please?

i will post some pics of the new design this days and ask for some drivers and board i found with usb controller.

Thanks.

Walter R.