Another CNC table build

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Well started my table build last night about 8:00.  I ordered the 5x10 standard duty kit from Precision plasma and received it earlier this week.  I picked up my steel yesterday afternoon and got started last night.  Here is where I'm at now, it may be a slow build but for anyone interested here it is.  I changed a couple things from his original plans but kept most of it.Heres where I am now:Getting things level with only two hands and 124" steel isn't that easy.After I got the main frame I wasn't quite square so I had to strap it and pull it square.  Everything is square and level so far.  The rails are just sitting on top and I won't be able to work on it again until tuesday.  Hopefully tuesday/wednesday I have time to get the top rails tacked on and the water bed tacked in.  Then over the weekend hopefully finish welding everything up and hopefully keep it square and true.  This is my first time building anything that needs to be precise like this so any tips of doing it with two hands and a mig would be great lol.
Reply:Just a thought, I assume just the top rails have to be dead on, true? Why not weld plates on the frame and on the bottom of the top rails so they can be bolted together thereby making them adjustable. After all the welding is done, then true up the top rails and your done. Otherwise you will be fighting that thing to the end. I may be totally wrong here, it just seems simple to me.
Reply:Good looking table.   I would like to have a cnc plasma some day if the budget ever allows.  Thanks for the post keep them coming.
Reply:Originally Posted by trapperjohnJust a thought, I assume just the top rails have to be dead on, true? Why not weld plates on the frame and on the bottom of the top rails so they can be bolted together thereby making them adjustable. After all the welding is done, then true up the top rails and your done. Otherwise you will be fighting that thing to the end. I may be totally wrong here, it just seems simple to me.
Reply:Definitely going to be following your build! And probably doing a lot of it similar! Waiting to hear back on the precision cnc parts, then ordering soon
Reply:Tacked the top bars in yesterday.  Will try to start on the bed today but I'm not sure I will have time.  Hopefully the CRS comes in for the rails today or tomorrow.
Reply:The sure looks like a tight squeeze I hope you have another place that your going to put it when its done.  Happy to see another guy building his own table here is a picture of my 4’ X 4’ and the start of a 4’ X 8’ finished now.  Nice to put a full sheet of metal on and be able to cut on it.Have funTom Attached ImagesDIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:that table looks great!
Reply:Nice table! Why did you go with the 5 by 10 instead of 4 by 8? I would think the foot on one side, and 2 on the other would just be a space waste saying that most sheets are 4 by 8 new? Any special reason? By the way, what Plasma have you got?
Reply:I appreciate you posting your build.  Will you post a bill of materials for some of us others to follow should we desire to undertake a project like this one.  Good luck n the build
Reply:Originally Posted by Canadian WeldingNice table! Why did you go with the 5 by 10 instead of 4 by 8? I would think the foot on one side, and 2 on the other would just be a space waste saying that most sheets are 4 by 8 new? Any special reason? By the way, what Plasma have you got?
Reply:Here you go.  If you have any other questions let me know but this is my first table so I'm not sure if it's going to work when I'm done lol.  For reference in my area this steel was $729 to get an idea if you're pricing things out.  This doesn't conform exactly to his plans on the table but it's the way I'm going to build it.  Also, if I did it again I'd make the legs shorter by about 8-10".  After adding casters it's going to be a little tall.3x2x1/8:8-73"  Cross members 6-20"  Top rail to bottom supports2-124" Bottom rails2-142" Top rails4-34.5" Legs3x3x3/16 angle2-124 water bed long way2-64 water bed short way1/2x3 CSR2-142" rails the gantry will ride on1/2x3 HR4-6" Feet1x1x1/8 angle3-73" Support for under the water table14 ga1 60x120 Water table bed
Reply:Ok, thanks for the reply!
Reply:Drilled and tapped the rails, all the leveling casters, and mounted the gantry today.Just gotta weld the center supports in and then weld the pads to attach the casters to it and I'll be done for awhile.  Still waiting on the electronics.
Reply:Coming along nice! Cant wait to see it finished!
Reply:Thanks for the materials list.    I  am enjoying watching your build.  What brand of electronics ,rails , motors have you decided to go with?
Reply:Nice progress, thanks for posting the materials list with total price too! Same reason i am going with a 5x10 instead of 4x8, makes more sense, and sheets arent much more as well. I am becoming more and more frustrated now with sourcing gantry and table parts, as precisionplasmallc.com doesnt ship to Canada, and tensorCNC.com hasnt got back to me yet, in fact neither has CandCNC.com either, although I figured out what I need from them for electronics now, gonna go with the 620.4 system, just the basics. But I decided I really need a gantry kit like what you have, just trouble sourcing one. Tensorcnc uses precision plasma kits, and resales them if i am correct. I have given it a thought to buying the gantry, getting it shipped to havre or something, and driving down and getting it myself if thats what it would take. Maybe I am getting more desperate.  Looking forward to seeing more on it!! great work so far
Reply:Originally Posted by richeyThanks for the materials list.    I  am enjoying watching your build.  What brand of electronics ,rails , motors have you decided to go with?
Reply:Thanks for sharing the info and pics, I gotta see this happen too, subscribed.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Thanks for posting your steel table build. Looking great and sturdy. I'd like to ask, which process of cutting sheet metal you prefer the best?PlasmaCam CNC cutterLathe and Band SawClamps
Reply:Again thank you for getting back to all of us that are interested in your build.   It sure helps to see what you are doing and I know the others appreciate your openness also.  Take care
Reply:Originally Posted by 02RedWS6TACandCNCHave you emailed Precision Plasma?  I saw him post on CNCzone that they were looking into shipping to Canada again.  Not sure if he is or not.  Might be worth emailing.
Reply:How expensive will the gantry parts be.  I don't fully understand what All is required to build the system once you get the base table constructed
Reply:Thanks for all the compliments.  I got the casters mounted today.  Went with these but found them cheaper somewhere else http://www.greatlakescaster.com/foot...0F.php?cat=262 .  Hopefully they work well with leveling. Originally Posted by richeyHow expensive will the gantry parts be.  I don't fully understand what All is required to build the system once you get the base table constructed
Reply:Thanks for the link.Looking good man.  It will feel good to cut your first parts!
Reply:Pulled the water table off of it to paint it.  Got it blasted, primed, body filler on the welds, and painted.
Reply:Well today I drilled and tapped all the tabs for the water table.  Got it in place and bolted down.  Put the rails and gantry back on and got the wire track mounted up.  Everything I can do is done until I get electronics.
Reply:Got it wired up last night and some of the calibrations done today.  Still need to wire the torch up and I ordered limit switches to set up home positions today.  Mounting of the control box is just temp until I figure out where I'm really going to put it.  Hopefully get the slat holders welded up next week and maybe actually cut something with it next weekend.Video of it in motion:
Reply:Must be a great feeling to have it to this point!If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Congratulations.  That looks great.  All your hard work is paying off.  Thanks for the video
Reply:Home switches are coming tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to cut this weekend.  I can manually fire the torch and move the machine, it will run G code but it won't lower the torch to the material.  Reading the instructions it says it needs a Z home switch to set up the THC so I'm hoping that's why it won't cut.  Even if I lower it manually down and fire the torch it will crash.  All new to this...  Trying to figure it out one step at a time...Have to clean up the wiring a little bit (Tie holders coming today) and modify my cart a little bit.  Getting closer, fingers crossed I can make some cuts this weekend.Last edited by 02RedWS6TA; 03-05-2014 at 04:03 PM.
Reply:Got the table up and running but still having some start up issues and learning Mach3.  I'll be a lot happier once I can restart if something goes wrong.  Theres times my plasma won't fire when it goes to start, it'll start but blow out then the cut stops.  And the other issue I've been having is it'll give me a drive fault and estop the table.  Once I get these figured out I'll be much happier and stop wasting steel...Some pics of a few things I cut lately:
Reply:Looks good dude.  Ghetto way of restarting is take file back to sheet cam and remove/hide the parts that were already cut and re-run the post processor.  Then it will start from where it left off.
Reply:Something you may want to do is hook your plasma units ground directly to the metal you are cutting see the clamp I used.Also you may want to put a small capacitor across you limit switches and “E” stop switch to clean off noise..01 UF disc type is all you need from Radio Shack.have funTom Attached ImagesDIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:Also if your using Mach 3 go to genreal logic configuration and set the debounce interval and index debounce to 5000 each.DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:I ground all my work directly to the sheet and the table is grounded on it's on grounding rod.  Could you explain more about the capacitor across the limit/estop switch?  I'm very new to this so not sure what you mean by that.  I'll try that in Mach, thanks.
Reply:here is what I am talking abouthttp://www.radioshack.com/product/in...uctId=12579925I have all my limit and home switches in series with normally closed configuration.the capacitor is attached in the control box on the BOB board where the limit switch circuit is connected from ground to the other side.This will short all fast noise spikes on the switch line and nothing else.have funTomWE all started new soon it will make more sense. Attached ImagesLast edited by acourtjester; 04-29-2014 at 10:40 PM.DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:What size motors did you use?  What type of bearings.You can use the .01caps, but I've also seen them used almost at the switches (across the leads). This noise comes up because of motor noise when you're not using at least 23gauge wire that is shielded (and grounded at both ends of the shield).In Mach 3 you can set the debounce to 100, 500, 1000k up to 10k.  This is a digital filter for your switches.Tim
Reply:Let me know when you get your torch blow out fixed. I'm in the process of getting mine up and running and I'm having the exact same problem.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:Originally Posted by tprothmaWhat size motors did you use?  What type of bearings.You can use the .01caps, but I've also seen them used almost at the switches (across the leads). This noise comes up because of motor noise when you're not using at least 23gauge wire that is shielded (and grounded at both ends of the shield).In Mach 3 you can set the debounce to 100, 500, 1000k up to 10k.  This is a digital filter for your switches.Tim
Reply:No. Mine only does it randomly. If cut the same file it does one time and not the other. My compressor does jot effect it. It's either running or not as I have a decent supply. It's down right now to finalize my wiring into an enclosure. Hopefully by the weekend I'll have it together again and a sheet of 14-10g on it to mess up!Not the same cutter either. Everlast pp80. I have only had the problem on 18g as that is what I'm using to mess around with to get limits and Thc and my floating head working. Mach 3 is telling the torch to fire, my relay has an indicating led on it.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:If you don't mind what do you roughly have invested. I had mine built for me as the price I was quoted was justifiably over buying the parts and my time to make it, but now I'm disappointed in the quality and fit of my table. Definitely was not what I was shown when I went to their workshop personally to pound out details.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:How big is your compressor what size tank is on it????There is a pressure switch on the compressor to turn it on and off.  set to maybe 120 psi off and 90 psi on.You should have a tank big enough so the pressure does not drop to a level and start the compressor as soon as the plasma starts.That would mean you are running on a ragged edge of air pressure to run the plasma.DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:I have about $7-7500 into it.  It's sturdy as an ox and I don't see it ever wearing out or anything.As far as the torch blowing out I think it's an air pressure issue at this point.
Reply:That a pretty good deal. I have about the same or if jot a little less into mine with the cutter but no building hours and life just does not provide me time with 3 kids under 5 and a shift working nurse wife so I'll work with what I have and adapt as time permits. Hopefully for you it's just air. I have 95gal storage, 18.5cfm at 110psi and 120/90 off/on. And like I said it does it whether the compressor is on or off and never joined while kicking in. So I'm guessing that is not my issue.Last edited by JKMotorsports; 04-30-2014 at 11:04 PM.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:I fixed the air issue by adding a 30 gallon tank to my compressor and turning it up to kick on at 110psi instead of 90.  I never had the problem again after I turned the screw up to kick on sooner.  The drive fault issue I have not solved.  It's doing it as soon as the THC takes over.  It will come down, pierce the sheet, take off, and as soon as it lowers to allow the THC to take control it faults.  I set the debounce and index debounce to 5000 and still have the problem.I posted on their support forums but I will try to add the capacitor this weekend.
Reply:Forgot to update this post.  Got everything worked out on the table long ago.  I had it set to accelerate too fast, slowed it down some and everything was good to go after that.  Seems like it was binding going up.Cut a bunch of stuff since then, still learning a ton and fine tuning it.  Cut the parts for a down draft set up last night.  Hopefully it cuts down on some smoke in the shop over the winter.Video of it running.What it cut out:
Reply:Awesome! I'm glad you got it all figured out and came back to update. I would love to have one of these just to play with.
Reply:Did you get the table plans from precision llc I looked all over their site but couldn't find any thing about table plans, thanksMiller 252 Mig w/Spool GunMiller Dynasty 350 TigMiller 225 AC-DC StickMiller Spectrum 875 PlasmaOxy/Acet.