CNC Plasma Table project..

[zipzit]

Originally Posted by brucer

I would possibly like to be able to cut aluminum if the bearings will allow it.. I'll probably try some routing like it is just to see how it does.

One feature I've seen on CNC plasma cutters is a pin stamp, or even an old school vibrating type engraver. Mounted next to the plasma cutter, it creates a handy way to add labels, logos or other info to your cut metal product. It doesn't have to be super high resolution, just enough dots to allow you to add text, simple logos. Not sure what software exists to drive it, but there's got to be a way. I can see that as VERY useful.

[brucer]

I got the computer console made up this week.. made the frame out of 1/2"square tubing, painted it safety blue, skinned it with aluminum on the top, back and bottom, the sides are painted black.

I mounted a surge protector inside the cabinet, it plugs into the outlet on the machine.. I will add a 1tb hard drive later on.

I still need to add the hinged access door on the side, and find a handle and mount it on the access door. I'm also going to mount a retractable mouse table under the keyboard using a drawer slide, thought that would be pretty cool.. I might also add one that extends to the left for a print hanger and small table for notes and whatever else..

The monitor is mounted on a piece of sheet aluminum and a couple pieces of angle aluminum and can be removed from the front... I programmed a guys 94camaro this week, charged him $100 so I splurged and bought a nice Asus 19" widescreen LED monitor with a 2yr warranty.. I also might add a small exhaust fan and transformer..

The edging around the front of the cabinet is the protective edging that comes on lennox saw blades, it was free so I went with it...

[boatbuoy]

nice place to use a touch-screen. just saw one on sale at either tiger-direct or geek.

[brucer]

Originally Posted by boatbuoy

nice place to use a touch-screen. just saw one on sale at either tiger-direct or geek.

The computer I used was actually an Allen Bradley touch screen unit and the the monitor went out.. I ran a couple of touch screen high speed machines and I dont care for them..

[brucer]

installed an exhaust fan and toggle switch to turn the fan on/off... I also mounted the door and the door catch.. turned out decent.

[MikeGyver]

What did you do for tuning on the guys camaro? I also do LT1 tuning lol

[brucer]

Originally Posted by MikeGyver

What did you do for tuning on the guys camaro? I also do LT1 tuning lol

hotcam tune.. advanced timing about 10degs everywhere, 15deg on the bottom end, adjusted idle, added fuel on the topend, raised stall wall, deleted egr, deleted cats, deleted vats, raised transmission pressure, modified trans so he could shift manually, adjusted fans..

I was pretty surprised, guy bought the car for $500 and an engine for $700, he paid a guy $900 for pulling old one and put in new hotcam and installing engine. It was very clean, rust free, no clear peeling, very nice 94, the air even worked good and cold. I found it odd that it had a trans am computer in it though..

I use tunerpro rt, and winflash

[MikeGyver]

I've never used either of those programs. What are you using for data logging? I use Datamasters and tune with Tunercats. Sorry to pull your thread off topic lol. You should check out my turbo camaro build thread, it sounds like it's up your alley http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/forc...-build-768907/

[brucer]

I use tunerpro rt for data logging also.

[brucer]

small update,

finished up the gantry rail and got it mounted tonight..

[brucer]

got some done on the cnc this weekend, did some design work and and done some machining and assembly on the x axis..

I still need to make the adjuster plates, but so far so good, the carriage runs smooth and pretty quick, I drilled and tapped a couple holes in the back plate in case i need to add a counterweight when i use a router or spindle..

[brucer]

more random pics

[brucer]

few more

[brucer]

Tonight i finished up the adjustment plates and installed them.
I'll start on the gear reduction assembly and motor plate tomorrow. I should have this axis all together and running by the weekend if nothing comes up..

[brucer]

update..

got the gear reduction/motor mount made this evening, I already had the stock sawed and squared, and actually had it designed yesterday.. It doesnt take long to machine the plates, the bottom plate took like and hour to drill it and bore it for the press fit bearing, the upper plate takes a bit longer because of the slots for the adjustable motor mount, but it only took a couple of hours,I was also watching a movie while I was doing it..

Its getting there..

[Mick120]

Originally Posted by MikeGyver

I've never used either of those programs. What are you using for data logging? I use Datamasters and tune with Tunercats. Sorry to pull your thread off topic lol. You should check out my turbo camaro build thread, it sounds like it's up your alley http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/forc...-build-768907/

Not to hijack the thread but, Damn, times have certainly changed from when I was doing turbo installations in Sydney, back in 1980....

[brucer]

Heres a shot of some free linear slides and trucks a friend donated for my z axis assembly.

[brucer]

Heres a couple more pictures of the x axis assembled with the spring loaded adjustment mounted on it..

going to do some thinking on the z axis and pick up some aluminum tomorrow to get started on it by the weekend..

[Ron Padilla]

just a small note, might want to install an exit fan in the computer box so heat dosnt build up, or a bigger heat sinc on the main board so it wont over heat. I have ran water cooled on a few that were in extream hot conditions..... By the way nice build.

[brucer]

Originally Posted by Ron Padilla

just a small note, might want to install an exit fan in the computer box so heat dosnt build up, or a bigger heat sinc on the main board so it wont over heat. I have ran water cooled on a few that were in extream hot conditions..... By the way nice build.

I have a cabinet exhaust fan mounted on the left side of the cabinet..

I have a surge protector mounted inside the cabinet and a wall wart transformer with the switch wired to a 12vdc fan so I can turn the fan on and off... I have the monitor, computer and wall wart all on the surge protector..

The computer case itself has a couple of exhaust fans on it also..

[Ron Padilla]

Kool and cool so you wont burn it up.

[Phil1]

This thread is so cool and so hot at the same time. How many hours do you have in this project?

I think that i want to build one too.

[brucer]

Originally Posted by Phil1

This thread is so cool and so hot at the same time. How many hours do you have in this project?

I think that i want to build one too.

I havent kept count, I would guess around 60hrs...

[brucer]

I havent updated my build thread in a while, so here it goes.....

As the project sits right now, I'm just about finished with it..
Well, if your ever actually done with a cnc plasma project, a can make router mounts, pin punch and such, but I'm waiting for a place local to me to have an upcoming auction, they are going to have a nice custom 2hp spindle in it and I'm going to try to get it, before i make mounts and such, should be able to get it dirt cheap I'm hoping..

I still need to make the water table, and I'm going to make some aluminum rail covers.. but that stuff is fairly easy.. I have the aluminum for the covers and still need to get some sheetmetal and get the pan bent up.. priced the 16ga sheetmetal, just need to go pick it up..

I also upgraded the electronics to a more robust system. I used the same 24vdc ps, but I swapped to Gecko 251 drives, same drives that are in the gecko540, and they seem to be about perfect for my machine size.. I'm really liking the Gecko drives..

The table is operational , I dont care to do any cutting without the water table.. I've ran a couple programs and ran the torch in the air and works as well as woulkd be expected.. I'm not getting any noise issues or lockups, runs very good actually... rapid velocity is 515ipm, acceleration is set at 50 at the moment..

I had a small issue with noise jitter tripping limit switches but I fixed that with a capacitor and put my debounce at 2000, and it worked out well.

I have also made a floating torch using a 12volt inductive proximity sensor and a miniature relay. It works much better than I thought it would, I plan on adding a lcthc (low cost torch height control) from candcnc later on, just trying to keep costs down for now.

Table is sitting .003 square, and I spent about 10minutes adjusting it.. My plans are to write a program to cycle the table to its limits and run it for a break in period, then bring it in as tight and as close as I can get it, I think that will work out pretty good... I havent checked repeatability yet, but I dont see that being a problem with the rack gears and the Gecko drives micro stepping... Table resolution is like .0005....

I built this table from the ground up.. I didnt buy it and bolt it together with a banner in every picture.. The only promoting I will do is for my friend Kayle that has supplied me with a bunch of free materials and his electronics knowledge (I was pretty much electronics dumb before this project).. I will also give props to Hubbard CNC which I bought my gecko drives and power supply from. He actually called me on a couple occasions to check my progress on the electronics, his after sales service impressed me very much, you dont see this often from a company...

Price after water table and rail covers will be right at $1500, all mechanical parts are available locally but sourced from all over the country and also from ebay, pricing being the factor and buying American when feasible, the only thing that stands out as not being American made on my table are the bearings, which are 608rs skate bearings bought from vxb bearings off ebay, the power supply, computer was a freebie so it doesnt count .. Also shipping was free on pretty much all items, figured into the pricing so shipping Isnt an added cost on my figure..

It is a lot of work, much more design time involved than actual machining and fabrication time.. I think its well worth it and a very fun and interesting project. Its fairly easy work,but time consuming. The most labor intensive part was fabricating the frame and then machining the gantry side plates and belt drive gear reductions, and also the computer cabinet and sheeting it..

No tricks, just basic machining skills, and owning my own mill and horizontal bandsaw helped alot.. I kept things square and parallel as I went and tried to keep the design as simple and sturdy as I could.. I also designed it for easy parts replacement using inexpensive bearings and gears and such, and also designed the skates so I can use thicker rails later if premature wear becomes an issue.... No proprietary parts crap on my machine...

I can and do recommend building a table yourself, "ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE TIME"...

some more pics..

[brucer]

more pics