CNC Plasma Table Build

The 6mm and 12mm drill bits came in along with the springs.

Even after running the 12mm bit through for the bearings, everything was still a fairly tight fit. And the 6mm for the rod is also a nice tight fit.

Just have to be really careful to not melt the plastic when drilling the holes out.

Thanks to the supply chain issues the limit switch is out of stock with a 34 week lead time from the factory. So I ended up ordering from a different supplier and had to order more than I need to meet minumen order size.

I still need to trim the 6mm rods, but I will do that right before final assembly to make taking everything apart easier.

 

I did something similar when I started putting my table together.

Not knowing the bearing blocks would slide off the rails if you tipped the rail down, the block slides right off the end, resulting of a rain storm of bearing BBs.

I didn't even try to find those fuckers. Just walked over to the PC and hit "buy again".

Educations are painful, embarrassing or expensive.

I get to check 2 of those boxes.

 

I just got done loading the driver for my new manual pulse generator. It's a remote control for Mach3.

I haven't tested it yet. I took the PC into the house to load the drivers, but it looks to be working fine.

I'm amazed at the number functions you can assign to each keys. It's gonna be a while before I start getting wild changing things up. This grasshopper moves pretty slow.

 

You must be psychic... when I went to start installing the limit switch, the bearings fell outta the linear bearing..

So .. a new set is on order along with some super tiny 2mm flat head screws( and the tap set to go with it) to mount the switch to the back plate.

Lotta time going into this floating head attachment, and like you said

ordered some more parts for the control box, mainly parts needed to finish up the AC side of the wiring, Still have not cut a single stick of steel. the holidays and the wife's car breaking down slowed me down this week, and with the return to mandatory overtime 10 days on 4 days off... Time is going to be a commodity

 

No need to hurry. It took me 2 years. I enjoyed it, and am still enjoying my build.

I lost a week with a nasty sinus infection. Finally feeling normal.

PS: I didn't really miss having to run around visiting the fam last week.

 

When I built my frame, I started it upside down laying it on the floor. I shimmed with carpenter shims until the frame was perfectly level

I used a Lazer level to make sure my water pan/gantry base was perfectly level. (Upside down).

I added legs and checked as I went with the Lazer .

I'm pretty proud that it turned out great. The water in the pan will tell you if you are dialed in or if leveling jacks are needed.

I said before, sometimes it's better be lucky than good. I'm pretty sure I'm lucky most of the time.

Keep the updates coming. Random thoughts should be included.

 

Today some more of the parts for the control panel arrived.



The rotary disconnect, Estop, and the on-off switch along with the stackable connections.

Also 3 of the 4 fuse holders to protect the power supplies came in as well.

One of my goals with the control panel is easy to make repairs or changes, in the future. In a previous life I was introduced to finger duct, and it was no question it was going to be used in my control panel for wire management.



The contactor should be here early next week that should be the last of the major parts for the safety circuit on the AC side.

I still need a circuit breaker and EMI filter for the main feed I will probably add a din rail mounted 120v outlet For future use

 

Very nice! This will be awesome!

 

Since I had half a day off at work, I decided to finish the floating Z attachment.

I used a 2mm tap, that was part of a

$10 Yakamoz 10pcs Micro Taps Bits Mini Machine Screw Drill Tap Set Metric Thread Screws Plug Bit Small Tapping Bits Tool

micro tap set I picked up on Amazon to tap the threads for the Micro switch, The switch itself was secured with two

CO-RODE 450pcs M2 M2.5 M3 Laptop Computer Screws Kit Set for SSD IBM HP Dell Lenovo Sony Toshiba Gateway Acer Hard Drive SATA, (15-Size)

2x10mm screws

The 6mm Guide rods where trimmed to 85mm and cleaned up on the grinder.

The wire is a bit overkill at 16g but it was what I had on hand for small stranded wire. I cut the wire long and then twisted the wires together using a vice and a hand drill. The switch is wired " Normally Closed" this way if something happens and the wire breaks or gets cut, it will stop the machine. This acts as a second layer of protection that a Normally open configuration can not do.








I still need to bolt on the torch holder itself, something I am waiting on just in case I need to rework that part for the my machine.

Here is a short video, of the first test

 

The rest of the parts for the control panel have been ordered.

I also put the switch bodies together and made sure they are working as I expect.

Started cutting steel today, and again the shitty chop saw strikes. Not sure why I can not find one that works worth a dam.

The old Ryobi 14" saw I bought back in the early 90s still works extremely well and when I was at dads used it to cut some 2" flat bar that was 1/2" thick and it cut like butter no bogging at all.

Trying to cut 3/16" wall 2" tube and the POS saw i have now trip the breaker times before I even made it into the side walls.

I finished the cut with the porta band, and then promptly went out and picked up this.



Spent the afternoon putting it together. It still needs the blade squared up the vise, but so far it works far better than what I have been using.

 

I've used those. I still like my porta band. I can fallow a mark just fine with the Porta band. Those base model bandsaws always drift when the blade starts to wear.

 

Good to know, an another reason to keep a few spare blades on hand.

 

spent today working on the Bandsaw, I have it pretty well dialed in and I am pleased with the results.

The cabinet and the rest of the components came in for the control panel came in. the din rail 120v duplex outlet and EMI filter show to be arriving via the Amazon truck later this evening.



I have been using Factorymation.com for a lot of components for the control cabinet. Free UPS ground and orders have shipped the next day.

 

Rough layout of the control panel

 

That is sweet!

 

We where told yesterday that our mandatory overtime is done. So... that gives me.two more days to work on the machine.

Also means that usong the extra cash from the overtime to buy parts right way paid off.

The plasma cutter has been ordered and will be here Thursday. I ended up getting the

$699 PRIMEWELD CUT60 60Amp Non-Touch Pilot Arc PT60 Torch Plasma Cutter 110V/220V Dual Voltage 3 Year Warranty

primeweld cut60 I have there tig225x and been pleased with it, so that played a major role in my selection of the cut60.

 

Today I was able to cut down the tube to the lengths needed. I went from a 6 10foot sticks to this.



I forgot to.take the leveling feet in to account for the legs so I will need to go back and trim them a bit

This is more of a design as I build project, unlike my bed rack which I created the entire thing in CAD before I ever started.



I had to raise.the bandsaw so I could use the roller stands to support the tube.

So.... another roundtuit project, new stand for the band saw that is a bit taller, and might as well do the down feed mod to get rid of the spring version.

 

Updates?

I know it can be slow going. Shit! I'm stuck on trying to figure out a design for my Z axis limit switches. No matter what, it seems to look like shit, so I rip them out.

 

Nothing major yet, just been picking up small parts, sensors hardware , and wire for the control panel, and been working on a schematic for it as well.

Having to teach myself a new industrial wiring software and been cleaning the shop to make some room.

Depending on the weather here in Texas and if I get sent out on storm or not... My goal is to have the either the frame tacked up or the control panel done. Maybe both if things go really snooth.

 

Understood.

I have to be under no deadlines or stress to be able enjoy the build process.

Please don't think I'm rushing you. We all learn from others build threads.

KO.
Out.