Plasma Tables

[mgoncalves]

I'm leaning towards investing in a 4x10 plasma table for my shop. I would mainly be using it to burn out duct fittings, but would like to have the ability to do decorative signs to help pay for the machine.



I need opinions or first hand knowledge about what brands to look at and which ones to avoid.



Thanks

Matt

 

[GHarman]

I have used water tables, both above the surface and submerged. A real smoke eater. Also a diamond point table. If you cut unsubmerged, make sure you have adequate fume removal or wear a respirator. You can build your own much cheaper if you have the time. GregH

 

[mgoncalves]

I have already planned a exhaust system, being that 90% of our work will be galvanized metal.

 

[GHarman]

Are you are using a computer controlled X-Y axis machine or a linear track torch? Or mostly hand work? GregH

 

[mgoncalves]

Not 100% sure what x and y axis mean, but I believe that's what I want. I am talking about the setup where you enter into a computer what you need cut, and the machine cuts it out for you. No hand cutting at all for this machine.

 

[GHarman]

X-Y axis is left-right, forward-backward. (Z axis is up-down). A commercial computer controlled unit is pretty expensive. You would have to make alot of signs and other cutouts to pay for it. Not impossible, just something to plan for. I have no recommendations for a particular setup. You must do some research. There may be someone on this board that has up to date experience with new equipment. My plasma cutting dates back a few years. The Community College in Greeley, Colorado has one in their welding program. Their table was shop made. The CNC equipment, however, was commercial. It has a bridge with the torch mounted vertically. The bridge has a track that the torch mount can follow, driven by electric servo motors and a chain drive, left and right and the bridge has a chain drive on each leg that is also controlled by computer controlled servo motors that drive the bridge forward and reverse on tracks on each side of the cutting table. The torch height is adjusted manually. This Z axis can be also controlled by a Computer controlled servo motor with a lead screw that senses the arc voltage. A fellow instructor at the Warren Center built one (20 years ago) for his home shop using ball lead screws for the X-Y drives. He was cutting out some pretty complicated designs like cocopelli's and wildlife sillouettes.

The material does not lay flat on a grate. It is suspended several inches above the grate by sacrificial points that can be replaced as they ge burned off. The grate would be ruined if the workpiece sat directly on the grating for more than a few cuts. A flat presentation to the torch tip is what you are looking for. Hope this is useful info. GregH

 

[JCoffey]

Check out Plasmacam.com. They have a fairly inexpensive system. I sell welding equipment and several schools that I call on have this system and are quite happy with it. It is windows based on the software and does all the conversions for you so you do not have to learn G-Code etc. It is priced somewhere around $9 -10,000 for the system without the plasma machine or computer. You add the plasma machine of your choice based on the thicknesses you want to cut along with a basic computer.



I also have a high school ag mechanics program that has built several tables including one with a water table if you are more interested in that route. If so I can give you the instructor's name and number to contact.



James

 

[mgoncalves]

The plasma cam setup was around 13,000 with a plasma cutter and software, computer, etc. The problem is they only have a 4 x 4 table. If I am going to get one I have to have a 4 x 10. I'd like to stay under 20,000 if possible.

 

[Mundgyver]

I have a 4x4 Plasma Cam. Wonderfull tool, BUT if I had to do it over again, I would buy a Water Jet Cutting System.



Reason, HEAT, is the enemy for fine cutting. With a water jet you are not limited to just metal, you can cut glass, wood, plastic, metal, just about anything you can emagin. No fumes to worry about either.



Experience is a wonderfull thing.

 

[CWebster]

I've got a Torchmate 3 ( Torchmate CNC plasma cutter in economical kit form - Hypertherm plasma cutters, robotics, motion control systems, automated shape cutting, automation, cnc cutting table, metal art, ornamental iron, wrought iron, automated welding, automated cutting ) that works great. Capacity is 6' x 12', 1" thick mild steel. With the kit, computer, sealed computer cabinet, side rails (that the gantry rides on), table (I fab'd one up extra heavy to take the abuse of 6' x 12' x 1" mild steel material), hypertherm 1650 plasma unit, and the necessary electrical circuits and wiring I was right under $17,000. It works fantastic for me and really opened some productivity in not only our planned usage, but in new uses and processes that we became aware of after purchase. Waterjet is a great consideration if you are doing thin metal all of the time, but it has a higher cost of operation and is much slower when you get into a material with any thickness. Another tip is that with these kit systems, you can usually buy the smallest kit and upgrade them to a larger size yourself. Cables will have to get longer, but they are purchase items, readily available. The actual "gantry" that the machine travels with (and is your size limiting factor) can be modified very easily ( with the kits that use the commercially available aluminum extrusions for the frame. ) 8020.com --- 80% to 20% concept model is the products used in my system, and if i want to go bigger, I can just purchase longer components that can be swapped out. Add the additional gear rack (same deal, readily availble) and lengths and widths are only restricted by flexing issues and your own personal acceptance of funtionality. Hope this helps.



Chris

 

[GHarman]

Mgoncalves, Just one point that I would like to share with you that still has relevance to Plasma Cutting. Be sure you invest in air drying equipment. Moisture in your air supply for the plasma torch is a GREAT ENEMY of Plasma electrodes and orifices. If you are cutting HIGH PRECISION parts on your proposed X-Y CNC machine, a blowout means scrapped parts and down time. Why? Example; One cubic millimeter of water becomes 1600 cubic milimeters of steam when the transformation takes place in the torch tip @ 30,000-60,000 degrees F. That steam provides a pressure burst and is highly erosive, destroying tips and orifices and skewing or blowing out your cut! Add the cost of this equipment to the overall cost of your setup. It is well worth the investment. GregH

 

[CWebster]

Mgoncalves, Just one point that I would like to share with you that still has relevance to Plasma Cutting. Be sure you invest in air drying equipment. Moisture in your air supply for the plasma torch is a GREAT ENEMY of Plasma electrodes and orifices. If you are cutting HIGH PRECISION parts on your proposed X-Y CNC machine, a blowout means scrapped parts and down time. Why? Example; One cubic millimeter of water becomes 1600 cubic milimeters of steam when the transformation takes place in the torch tip @ 30,000-60,000 degrees F. That steam provides a pressure burst and is highly erosive, destroying tips and orifices and skewing or blowing out your cut! Add the cost of this equipment to the overall cost of your setup. It is well worth the investment. GregH

That's great advise right there. Also go for the automatic height control ( in whatever form the manufacturer that you purchase from has). If you go with plasma cutting your material will heat up and dance... and when the torch touches the material during cutting, you drastically reduce consumable life.

Also wanted to add that you could cut from bottled oxygen. It will actually produce a better cut and allow you to bypass an air dryer. Downside is/could be cost. Whoever you choose to purchase a system from should be able to nail down some operating costs and options. Good luck.



Chris

 

[GiesJ]

GHarman -

I am continually impressed with your knowledge and experience. Thanks for sharing!

jason



Matt - will be back to WYO this summer. Sheridan or Laramie...

 

[GHarman]

GHarman -

I am continually impressed with your knowledge and experience. Thanks for sharing!

jason



Matt - will be back to WYO this summer. Sheridan or Laramie...

Thanks Bud Oo. !!! I had and have excellent Instruction and one of a kind practical experience. Glad to share. GregH

 

[GHarman]

The plasma cam setup was around 13,000 with a plasma cutter and software, computer, etc. The problem is they only have a 4 x 4 table. If I am going to get one I have to have a 4 x 10. I'd like to stay under 20,000 if possible.

Hey Bud, Just got an advertisement flier in the mail. Torchmate CNC cutting systems, TM-1, TM-2, TM-3 & TM-4. <www.torchmate.com> 1-866-571-1074. I personally prefer Thermal Dynamics power supplies leads and torches. I dont know if the setup includes the everything. Worth a look! Greg