Re: plasma cutting table

The current plan is a grantry style machine with a stationary table.
Since a stock sheet is 4 ft x 8 ft, this would require little more
than a foot on either side. a moving part would require a table
twice the width or lenght.

one nice thing about a moving table, even if only in one direction is
that the water capture or fume capture would be stationary and therby
very effective.

I think it would be easier to move the gantry than to move the part
strictly because the gantry can be all overhead whereas if the table
moved, some parts would have to be closer to the business end of the
cutter and may run into fouling from the cutting byproducts.

Since the maximum part is 1/8 thick aluminum the cutter does not need
to be too high amperage.

Dave

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Raymond Heckert" <jnr@a...> wrote:
> My advice would be to move the torch, not the table. It's much more
> efficient on smaller machines. I'd worry about cutting into the
table.
> Also, if moving the table, you need machine clearance of twice the
sheet
> size to cut anywhere on the sheet. But, free advice is only worth
what it
> costs ya.
>
> I ran a W.A.Whitney 647C Plasma/Punch for a few years, and it moved
the
> (ball-transfer) table in the +/- Y direction, and slid the stock
(across
> the balls) in the +/- X direction. The torch was stationary, but
dropped
> down on the stock for cutting, and back up in-between cuts. The
torch ass'y
> itself rolled over the stock, via mini-transfer balls. Rated at
1/2" x 4ft
> x 8ft hot rolled steel, but we cut up to 183" of 3/16" x 60" with
it. It
> was a BIG machine, 350 Amp supply (at 80% duty cycle), water-cooled
torch &
> slag funnel.
>
> How big is your torch, ampere-wise? How big are the sheets you want
to use?
>
> RayHex
>
> ----------
> > From: dave_ace_me <davemucha@j...>
> >
> > My current desire is to make a plasma cutting table.
> >
> > I know that these are similar in design to router tables and I
assume
> > that there are a few in this group that have made these tables.
> >
> > If you have any pointers, I would greatly appreciate your input.
> >
> > My intention is to cut 1/8 and 0.08 aluminum sheets
> >
> > Some of the concerns I have are:
> > how fast to I need to move the table,
> > how messy the process is, does it create splatter like torch
cutting.
> > does it reak havoc on the slides ?
> > How large of steppers should I plan on using ?
> > and how you move the table, single center lead screw ? twin
screws on
> > the outside linked by a timing belt ?
> >
> > Also, if you do have one, do you make parts for people ?
> >
> > Dave