Re: DIY plasma cnc
on 2014-06-18 11:01:14 UTC
There are some more focused forum for just plasma but here are some gneral answers:
MACH controls motion and gives operator feedback. It will dop what every you can write the G-code to do up to 6 axis
The CAM program is the key to doing a specific operation.
One of the best 2D and 2.5D cutting programs (and one of the lowest cost) is SheetCAM TNG
Plasma has a lot of special operations that make it more challenging. You need to understand things like:
Arc Volts, Pierce Height, Cut height, Torch height control, Initial Height Sensing (touch-off) Arc gap, Consumables and a myriad set of other terms not used in milling and routing.
Consider that plasma cutting is done at realtively high speeds (up to 350 IPM) ABOVE the metal skimming along at about .063 on material that can warp up or down by 5 times that amount. The thinner the material the faster you have to cut and harder it is to not get a tip crash. Anybody can build a plasma table that cuts thick flat metal.
The dynamics of plasma cutting call for high speed and good acceleration. It is always a dance between speed versus acceleration (torque) Resolution is tied to to the torque side
The PCAM table uses proprietary electronics and servo motors . The Z on most is not a fully functional third axis so it rules out using it with most of the conventional (i.e. lower cost) torch height controllers.
You are going to have to do some pretty extensive modifications to retro another controller, motors and use MACH. several guys I know started it and gave up. They ended up just buying a gantry kit from a vendor like Precision Plasma that is engineered to work with modern steppers and has the correct Z setup and the Floating Holder for IHS.
Check the plasma section on CNCZone.com Check the PlasmaSpider forum. You are welcome to join our forum http://www.candCNC.net/supportforum
Tom Csudle
www.candcnc.com
.
MACH controls motion and gives operator feedback. It will dop what every you can write the G-code to do up to 6 axis
The CAM program is the key to doing a specific operation.
One of the best 2D and 2.5D cutting programs (and one of the lowest cost) is SheetCAM TNG
Plasma has a lot of special operations that make it more challenging. You need to understand things like:
Arc Volts, Pierce Height, Cut height, Torch height control, Initial Height Sensing (touch-off) Arc gap, Consumables and a myriad set of other terms not used in milling and routing.
Consider that plasma cutting is done at realtively high speeds (up to 350 IPM) ABOVE the metal skimming along at about .063 on material that can warp up or down by 5 times that amount. The thinner the material the faster you have to cut and harder it is to not get a tip crash. Anybody can build a plasma table that cuts thick flat metal.
The dynamics of plasma cutting call for high speed and good acceleration. It is always a dance between speed versus acceleration (torque) Resolution is tied to to the torque side
The PCAM table uses proprietary electronics and servo motors . The Z on most is not a fully functional third axis so it rules out using it with most of the conventional (i.e. lower cost) torch height controllers.
You are going to have to do some pretty extensive modifications to retro another controller, motors and use MACH. several guys I know started it and gave up. They ended up just buying a gantry kit from a vendor like Precision Plasma that is engineered to work with modern steppers and has the correct Z setup and the Floating Holder for IHS.
Check the plasma section on CNCZone.com Check the PlasmaSpider forum. You are welcome to join our forum http://www.candCNC.net/supportforum
Tom Csudle
www.candcnc.com
.
Discussion Thread
2014-06-16 08:59:36 UTC
DIY plasma cnc
2014-06-18 11:01:14 UTC
Re: DIY plasma cnc
Taslim Hyatali
2014-06-18 15:50:35 UTC
Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] DIY plasma cnc