Anything Manufacturing - Small to Medium Scale Metal Work (CAD/CAM included!)

Got a few things to cut tomorrow - some more internal stiffener sets, a stool kit, and even some filler plates for some sliders.

Best part? I drew everything up within minutes and I'm done.

Seeing as how all my CAM is done right at the computer, not to mention how fast the actual process is, I'm spending less time dealing with save files on Fusion, skipping creating my cut paths, then waiting to post process everything on my laptop when I'm ready to cut.

This whole Optimum setup has made me much more efficient now that I just have to create the DXF.

 

Very nice accuracy.

 

Consistent accuracy, that's where I'm seeing the big difference here. I can cut anywhere on the table and it is both accurate and consistent from one part to another.

But I think the biggest take away going from my old Langmuir table to my STV table is that I can walk away knowing all my parts will cut without issue.

The curved slats are preventing specific items like my internal stiffeners (the smaller L shaped one) from falling in and causing a tip up. The magnetic break-away handles that anyway but the slats are preventing it from happening to begin with.

The floating head setup uses a different type of switch; I've had IHS set itself off prematurely causing Firecontrol to "think" it touched off the metal already and proceed firing above the surface of my metal. This is because the IHS contacts are thin copper tabs that are exposed to gunk and anything else that kicks up onto the Z axis assembly.

The rack and pinion setup means no possibility of a leadnut failure (had one strip before), or couplers that suddenly get loose causing an axis to slip.

This isn't a knock on the Langmuir table of course, I ran them for a good minute but with continued use of the STV, I feel more at ease just letting the table do its thing.

 

Quiet in here

All I can say is I've been cutting stuff here and there, and the statement I made earlier holds true - I can just walk away knowing everything will be alright.

Aside from maybe brand loyalty, location, software, or a few other nit picks, I can't see why anyone would want to spend say $12k vs $8k on a similarly sized table. Not to say there's anything wrong with offerings from Spark Robotics, Arclight Dynamics, and a few others that are constructed similarly, I'd love to hear from others that do run some of the tables I just mentioned.

I think one or a few others have upgrade options for adding tube notching, so that could be one reason.

 

Really think there is no limit to depth of the rabbit hole. We have so many options. Im just happy with 2 dimensional work (3 if your work with the sheetmetal tab).

We already are a pretty elite group, not many peeps will invest the time to educate themselves on CNC.

I do enjoy knowing that we can add another dimension with little investment, but I have so many other hobbies, I can't afford to go balls deep on CNC.

 

Hopefully soon there will be more updates on my table.

Sign the lease on the new shop space. Pretty excited on that one.

Two days later end up in the ICU with diabetic ketoacidosis and had a mild heart attack as a result. So right now recovering from that. Up until this had no idea I was diabetic...

After I got out an went to the new shop to try an get an idea on layout. I found it full of construction debris. So you can imagine I was not real happy about that.

Perhaps tomorrow i will feel up to driving back out an doing that premove in layout

 

Oh fuck, crossing my fingers and hoping for the better for ya

 

Looking forward to thoughts and pics on the layout of the new shop.

Heal up, brother. You got this.

 

I've been using unshielded consumables for my fine cut, and as great as the quality is, I'm sure I should've gone shielded for longer life.

Finally got myself the shielded deflector and some more nozzles.

 

I kinda dropped off here, still using the table alot though.

Building a bedcage for a local and used the table to make some small gussets thatll double as extra tie downs.

Going to be the working mans bedcage

 

Tab and slot is the best

 

Easy day

 

Knocked out two orders today when I suddenly got a message from a TW member asking if they can stop by today - sure!

Made some brackets in order to mount the OEM front skid from a 1st Gen.

 

What an awesome thread. I'm a welder/fabricator by trade and there's some talented folks in here!

 

Aluminum is messy.

Thick aluminum, is really messy.

 

This is a post that I can relate to.

When I got my table running ( not dialed in), I had no sheet iron on hand. I did have 1/8th" aluminum sheets handy. My cuts looked like ass, but I was super excited that the table worked!

I did make a YT vid and may have dropped the F-bomb in excitement!

 

I've cut the tiniest bit of 1/8" aluminum and that's it.

Never cut 3/8" aluminum before and you can see I had little to spare so no test cuts for me

Fuck yeah I was happy for a non-dialed in cut result. But I feel like it could be better (if dialed of course).

 

You wanna talk about messy... how about cutting a dovetail grid in some 3/4 MDF!! Seriously a half of a 5 gallon bucket from the shop vac set up on this one!

 

I'm pretty sure I can taste this picture.