Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Newbi needs advise on torch table.

Thanks for the advice, I a appreciate all of it. Though it is kind of a catch 22 for you guys the better your answers the more dumb questions I am going to ask. The the Torchmate kite that I was looking at uses a rack system. The reason that I was considering lead screws was so that I did not have to mount the y axis motor on the gantry and carry all the extra weight around. They recommended that there gantry be powered by two motors anyway. That or I would need to build a drive shaft to power the other side, which seems overly complicated. Though if I can get the components for a rack system cheaper I am all ears. You mentioned a belt system, how would that work? My guess is that would be the cheapest and simplest system to build. Though I would worry about a belt biting the dust in the middle of a cut ruining a sheet of metal, which would not be to cool. In response to Calument's (sorry if I spelled that wrong) mention of using the mach2 software for thc. I have no
problem with any O.S that does the job. Although my latest version of Windows is 98se, and the machine that I use for day to day work is probably not worth upgrading to XP or 2000. By the time I figure in a new PC I am way over budget for this project. Thus I would like to stick with Linux if possible. That and I hate the thought of paying good money for an OS that is going to catch every little bug that goes around. (Sorry about the little MS flame there) And one last thing that I should have mentioned the first time around. How will the gantry know when it is at the 0,0 position. Will I need limit switch's or can I just position it by hand and then tell the pc that it is a 0,0?Thanks again and I look forward to your reply.Will--- turbulatordude wrote:> > > * I would like to build a table that can> > handle a 4x8' sheet at a time so I think I would> > probably need to build the system slightly larger> then> > this some where around 4 1/3 x 8 1/3'.> > > Figure one
axis or the other for full clearance so> you can drop a > sheet onto the table without having to slide it> under any components.> > Preferrabley, have the gantry move so there is a> full 8 feet of > clearance for the parts.> > also, once you determine your gantry size, then> figure your *real* > table size.> > > > > > > > > * I plan on powering the system with two> > stepper motors on the y axis one on each side> driven> > with two lead screws. From what I have seen most> > people are using motors in the 175-200 oz/in> range. > > On the x axis I would like to use a single motor> and> > screw of about the same size.> > > We go over this every couple months.> > leadscrews are great when power transmission is> required like for > routers or such, but not required when non-contact> things are used.> > a rack or even a single belt will offer lots of> benefits. not the > least of which is that a pair of 10 foot screws and> anti-backlash > nuts of 1.5 inches in dia or so
will cost the better> part of the > whole project. you can only spin a long shaft so> fast before it > wobbles, and you need to compensate by larger> diameters and then you > compensate by being lots lighter in the wallet.> > with a gantry, considder a shaft link with gears on> both sides and > one motor. again simple and strong.> > > > > > > * For the z axis I would like 4-6" of> travel,> > so that I could put a small router or die grinder> type> > tool for wood routing and engraving, though this> is> > not terribly important. I was planing on using a> > smaller motor to drive this probably via a linear> > gear. > > > Check out the 'instant Z' axis most of your problems> of design go > away when you can buy a ready to run part. ( for> lots less than you > can make, even if you are a great scavenger)> > > > > * For the z axis I would like to> eventually> > hook up a programmable > > micro controller to keep the torch at the correct> > height but for the time
being I would like to put> just> > a up down switch to manually control> > the torch height. Can I hook up a three way> > controller in this manner and have the computer> > control the x,y and me or a second circuit handle> the> > z axis?> > > Torch height for sheet metal is a function of X and> Y with an > independant Z.> > you can have a totally seperate Z for independant> height control.> > makes life simpler, but you do need that seperate> axis control.> > > > > * How does the on off on the torch work? I> > understand that I will need a machine torch head> for> > either plasma or oxy/acetylene is the switch > > build into the torch?> > > I think the simplest on/off is a stepper with an> eccentric cam > instead of a pulley. rotate 180 degrees and it> presses the torch > lever. very simple. could be a gear motor and a> couple end > switches, or even a solenoid.> > > > > > > * How much would one expect to spend on a> > system like this?> > > figure 2-3 times more
than you expect.> > Dave> > > > > Addresses: > FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html > FILES:> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/> Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com > > Subscribe: > CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: > CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, > wanliker@..., timg@...> Moderator: pentam@... indigo_red@... > [Moderators] > URL to this group:> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO> > OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining> If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto: > aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru> Google.com to reach it if you have trouble.> http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I> consider this to be a sister site to the CCED group,> as many of the same members are there, for OT> subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.>

> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC> DOMAIN BY POSTING THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT> ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........> bill> List Mom> List Owner> > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

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