Peter in AU / Plasma table.
Posted by
skullworks
on 2005-11-27 11:55:27 UTC
A few tips after looking at the pics you posted.
The good news is your compressor is 3 phase, bad news is it is a 2
stage piston type. What this means is that when your plasma cutter is
running full speed cutting a sheet of nested parts your compressor
may be running beyond its rated duty cycle. Like on 3 minutes out of
every 5.
It WILL be very noisy as shown - but there are some simple mods you
can do to cut that down.
1) Make a free flow baffled air filter box. Much of the noise comes
from the air intake.
2) Vibration Isolation foot pads - this will damp the tank so it
doesn't ring and also the vibration thru the floor.
3) Build a drywall/sheetrock enclosure with double doors. Use the
sheet metal framing instead of wood so as to be nearly fireproof.
Another thing that might help for doing small lots - 1pc etc would be
to add a few extra storage tanks to increase your volume. Good point
is that you may be able to run a cycle without the air kicking in -
bad side is that the compressor will take longer to bring total
volume back to cutoff pressure.
Also - a piston type compressor running often like that will collect
alot of water in the tank - at times I was getting about a half
gallon a day. ( I drain it first thing in the morning so water has
condensed.) I would plumb a tank drain and valve for easy access.
I would keep an eye out for a constant duty worm type compressor like
a Sullair - plumb it into your shop air supply but only run it when
using lots of air - the piston compressor will handle intermitant air
use more economically.
Good luck with your project.
The good news is your compressor is 3 phase, bad news is it is a 2
stage piston type. What this means is that when your plasma cutter is
running full speed cutting a sheet of nested parts your compressor
may be running beyond its rated duty cycle. Like on 3 minutes out of
every 5.
It WILL be very noisy as shown - but there are some simple mods you
can do to cut that down.
1) Make a free flow baffled air filter box. Much of the noise comes
from the air intake.
2) Vibration Isolation foot pads - this will damp the tank so it
doesn't ring and also the vibration thru the floor.
3) Build a drywall/sheetrock enclosure with double doors. Use the
sheet metal framing instead of wood so as to be nearly fireproof.
Another thing that might help for doing small lots - 1pc etc would be
to add a few extra storage tanks to increase your volume. Good point
is that you may be able to run a cycle without the air kicking in -
bad side is that the compressor will take longer to bring total
volume back to cutoff pressure.
Also - a piston type compressor running often like that will collect
alot of water in the tank - at times I was getting about a half
gallon a day. ( I drain it first thing in the morning so water has
condensed.) I would plumb a tank drain and valve for easy access.
I would keep an eye out for a constant duty worm type compressor like
a Sullair - plumb it into your shop air supply but only run it when
using lots of air - the piston compressor will handle intermitant air
use more economically.
Good luck with your project.