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Thread: CNC Plasma State of Play
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13th Jan 2021, 05:15 PM #16Member
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OK a few photos. The computer in the mobile control cabinet is shared between three machines. The bottom electrical cabinet is only for the plasma
As far as cost, I do not record how much it all ads up to. The boss might find out! And I was still working at the time. Now retired.
When I build a machine, purchases are spread over time. Always running out for some item or another. Or Ebay.
I have built a number of CNC machines over the last fifteen years. Tend to have a lot of bits and pieces laying around.
My guess would be about $2000 including the plasma. Got it for $275.
Would I do things differently? Can't think of anything. Maybe a coat of paint.
It really has performed pretty well for a home built machine.
.
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13th Jan 2021, 06:43 PM #17Most Valued Member
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Thanks Greolt. I'm hearing you about adding up the costs
That looks like a really practical build and mechanically simple with the v-rollers etc. Most builds I've seen online use linear bearings of some type and people seem to have a poor opinion of the v-rollers. I suspect a lot of that opinion is regurgitated - so good to know that the v-rollers work OK in the real world (or at least good enough for hobby use).
Couple of questions if I may...
- are you also using gear rack on your Y axis, or some other form of drive?
- are the X and Y just direct driven by the stepper motors or is there some gearing there?
I'm keen for a CNC project but at the moment the only CNC machine I've had anything to do with is my 3D printer and that just printed pretty much straight out of the box. I'm pretty comfortable with computers and electrickery so happy to do a scratch build.
I'm toying with the idea of making a small (maybe 600x600) plasma table to get my feet wet but still end up with something more useful to me than going down the road of a router build.The 1200x1200 size would be nice but its an order of magnitude bigger in space usage and just generally on the construction side (heavier materials etc).
I'd use something scalable in the control side - maybe LinuxCNC since I'm pretty familiar with Linux in general - and decent steppers and drivers. My thought being that down the track I could then build a 1200x1200 using any lessons learned and essentially just swap over the control side - fully realising that the effort on the drive/control side is the same as what it would be on the larger table.
Having seen the construction of yours I'm now pretty confident I've got enough "stuff" around here to make rails/frame/gantry for a smaller machine at very little cost
Steve
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13th Jan 2021, 06:54 PM #18Senior Member
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- Sep 2009
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- Newcastle
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Re V rollers:
Needs of plasma (no cutting force) and routers are quite different. V rollers are a poor choice for a router but might be fine for plasma.
Cost of linear bearings has come down a lot in the last few years. V rollers were popular when they were a cheap but viable option.
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13th Jan 2021, 09:08 PM #19Member
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I would never go past proper linear rails for a router or laser.
A lot of work to build these machines and you don't want to compromise the result by skimping on such an important component.
Having said that, a plasma cutter is a different beast. Operating in an extremely dirty environment.
If I built a big industrial machine to operate eight hours a day, five days a week, I might consider linear rails. But I doubt it.
Yes X and Y axis are gear rack, steppers running direct drive. V bearings on the Y axis. Cam follower bearings on the X axis.
Z axis has a Linear Stepper. It has a small linear rail for simplicity.
Like this. https://www.omc-stepperonline.com/li...684n-200g.html
I am not linux person but there is a big contingent that use it for plasma together with some inexpensive Mesa components.
https://forum.linuxcnc.org/plasma-la...hat-is-plasmac
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