Re: CNC PLASMA

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "caudlet" <info@t...> wrote:

> >
> > DeskCNC does this for him automatically. No extra cost CAM

needed.

>
> The problem lies in the fact that you end up with hundreds if not
> thousands of little closed vectors in a lot of busy bitmaps. The
> vectors are not always what you want. After many attempts at using
> various bitmap to vector conversion files I now import all bitmaps

in

> on a separate layer and hand trace what I want.

That's why RasterFratz and DeskCNC are both effective at what they
do. You CAN control the results without having to result to tedious
hand tracing.

> In doing plasma you
> have to stop and think about what you want to cut out and what you
> want to leave. Making detail cuts in the middle of a waste piece
> that falls out from a wider contour cut is a waste of time. You

have

> to fix all of those things before you cut.

Easily done with DeskCNC CAM section.

>Then there is the issue
> of the centers of letters falling out if you cut the
> font "negative". You have to manually go in and place "stems" in

the

> a's e's o's p's l's and other looping letters. A powerful weld
> command in the vector edit section is a must.
> >

You got me there, I don't think that is included in $300 price of
DeskCNC, It is in the $50 price of Vector Cad though.

> > > 5. Your controller software needs to support continuous
> contouring
> > > (Constant Velocity = CV) so the moves are smooth and constant.
> > Jerky
> > > moves cause the floppy flame to "color outside the lines" The
> > > controller software is one of the pieces you need in the CNC
> > > equation. It takes g-code and puts out signals to the motor
> > control
> > > modules. Hobby versions of controller software are available
> that
> > > support CV.
> >
> > DeskCNC handles this better than most because of the smooth pulse
> > rates available even when using dumpster class Windows computers
> > running Windows 98.
>
> It does require a special external card and that locks you in on

the

> controller software and hardware combination.

Yea, it works better than most of the parallel port options so it's
not that big of a deal. Most people won't struggle past the
different pin outs on all the different par port programs anyway.
Remember serial port of any old Windows computer, no special hardware.

> The bigger factor is that plasma really needs a THC to control the
> piercing cycle, material warpage and other nasty occurances. While
> external stand alone THC's are available, you will find they are
> rather expensive. For the guy that wants to do some hobby cutting
> for himself and friends and can afford to ruin some metal, tips,

and

> waste time a THC is not needed, but if you expect your machine to

run

> hours each day and you would like for the machine to pay for

itself,

> then a THC is mandatory.

That kind of takes it out of the hobby situation, wouldn't you say?
Sounds like the user that wants to use a machine that much would be
much better off with a professional THC, to match his more commercial
orientation and use of the machine. Rutex seems to have a quality
product from what I have heard.

>There are a lot of
> good features in DeskCNC and for control of a mill it looks to be a
> contender.

Several are also using it for routing, plasma, flame, and laser too.
I don't know of any water jet, but as soon as I make a statement like
that somebody usually pops up.

Fred Smith - IMService