plasma pantograph begins

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I'm surprised how well it's going so far, I have a ways to go, probably a lot more done tomorrow.Still have to move the fixed pivot (needs to be moved to the left about 12"), add glides to support the structure on a flat plane, build the receiver for the plasma torch, add a stylus, grease and jam nut every thing tight and build the cutting table 24" x 24". But believe it or not, it already move around pretty smooth, I got washers that I will grease betweeen all the pivot points.Can't wait to get this going.HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:Looked into this a while ago. Just not had time to build one yet. (Subscribed)
Reply:Any slop in the pivots will multiply errors as you trace objects.  It's going to be a balance between smooth non binding movement and very close tolerances on the pins and holes.As many pivots as you have, they might collectively take up any play due to minor binding at each pin.It's a good idea, and I hope it works.During the Second WW pantograph milling machines were used to make large runs of identical parts.  They were the forerunners of today's CNC machines."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:What's the plan? Trace drawings while cutting at actual size?
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammAny slop in the pivots will multiply errors as you trace objects.  It's going to be a balance between smooth non binding movement and very close tolerances on the pins and holes.As many pivots as you have, they might collectively take up any play due to minor binding at each pin.It's a good idea, and I hope it works.During the Second WW pantograph milling machines were used to make large runs of identical parts.  They were the forerunners of today's CNC machines.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepWhat's the plan? Trace drawings while cutting at actual size?
Reply:plasma torch carriageHH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:Originally Posted by kenklingermanTracing easy to cut templates from 1/10" to 1/8" plastic with a fine tipped stylus. It will require very smooth edges and a very polished stylus. I'd like to avoid "offsetting" the template to make up for the difference between the Cerf and the stylus radius.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepCool! I like the plastic pattern idea. I often wondered about a way to get a powered tracer head to follow a pattern made of wood or plastic. The pattern usually has to be be heavy metal so that a magnetic tracer will follow it; so on a one-off cut, it can be as much work to build a pattern as the part itself. FWIW, and something to consider with this build - Heath, was  probably the foremost cutting pantograph builder. Heath linkage arms were built with a system of tubes, with each joint being supported with two precision bearings that were separated by at least several inches. The links were a very rigid design and followed with extreme accuracy, even when carrying a heavy torch and hoses.It wouldn't be too difficuly or expensive to incorporate precision bearings in a link design.As you know, stand-off is critical with psma. What's going to help support the weight of the torch and hose to keep it from sagging the linkage towards the work? Or will the torch somehow "ride" the work? Anxious to see more.Good Luck
Reply:I love this idea.  Might try making one myself!  Thanks!(Retired) Professional firefighter, amateur everything else I try to do...Oh yeah:  Go Big Red!   (You know: one of the 12 members of the Big 10 cuz we left the 10 members of the Big 12...)
Reply:Keep us posted on how it turns out. I've been wanting to make one.
Reply:I to would like updates on this,as I  have been looking at the 2x2 plasma table out, but can't seem to bring my self to dive into it......This would be a great alternative to the $$$$. Red.Lincoln Percision tig 225 (Water cooled)Lincoln 350MP Power mig (with spool gun )Lincoln GXT 250 With Tig  ModuleLincoln Ln-25 Pro Dual PowerCentury 50 plasma cutter.now Lincoln .
Reply:Originally Posted by Big Red One.I to would like updates on this,as I  have been looking at the 2x2 plasma table out, but can't seem to bring my self to dive into it......This would be a great alternative to the $$$$. Red.
Reply:Originally Posted by kenklingerman it may look like an erector set when done, I'm not sure. Might be cool.
Reply:If practical, it's better if a torch doesn't "ride" the work, less friction means smoother torch control. Also, if the torch doesn't ride the work, it allows for cuts closer to edges and previous cuts, and also around obstacles and imperfections; all that saves material and leaves less wasted metal in scrap.Good Luck
Reply:Originally Posted by kenklingermanThere will be updates but I've been busy at work, cleaning the shop and making steel baby gates for my brother. And one of my brother in law's wants me to fix his deck and install some soffet and fascia on his new porch. Also my jeep just blew the radiator and the drivers side power window just fell down on it's own this morning.  I also have got to get the burn table built. which might mean buying more steel. I can't wait to get this done and try it out, it's frustrating, every body wants something for me lately and I just don't have time for me. Especially with all these new toys I just bought (Finally got a chop saw this weekend).  I'm tired.I promise as I progress and learn from my mistakes i will post it all, I feel this is a great project to share. Hopefully I'll get some serious work done on it this weekend. My first advice is use aluminum, I feel the overall weight is going to be an issue, I was just using what I had, so I may drill lightening holes throughout, it may look like an erector set when done, I'm not sure. Might be cool.
Reply:Just in case you are wondering how I drilled all those lightening holessupport rollers installed these are closet door rollers from lowestrial assembly after weight reduced and rollers installedshown carrying plasma torch, it moves way smoother than I predicted, I bought some delrin washers for the bushings and they are working great, not much play and no bolts tacked into place yet.HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:I have some bicycle cable for triggering the torch, I'll be rigging that soonHH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:Wow! You drilled all those?At first glance I had thought that you switched the design to perforated angle.Where's all the shavings? How 'bout triggering the torch with a pendant wired to connect at the machine's panel?Anxiously waiting for the test run. Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 05-05-2010 at 11:12 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepWow! You drilled all those?At first glance I had thought that you switched the design to perforated angle.Where's all the shavings? How 'bout triggering the torch with a pendant wired to connect at the machine's panel?Anxiously waiting for the test run. Good Luck
Reply:Stoked to see this thing progress! That's a hella lot of holes!How 'bout a bicycle caliper brake to go with your bike cable to actuate the trigger? Or is that where you're headed? Keep the pic's coming!!200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderStoked to see this thing progress! That's a hella lot of holes!How 'bout a bicycle caliper brake to go with your bike cable to actuate the trigger? Or is that where you're headed? Keep the pic's coming!!
Reply:machining a stylus on the drill press using it as a poor man's lath, making the stylus out of 3/8" threaded rodthis particular stylus is 3/32" in diameter, ground to near size and polished with my dremelI can make any size and style of stylus I will ever need like thisHH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:and by the way, I'm really starting to hate my camera! damn thing won't focus in a well lit room. WTF too out of date I guess.HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:GREAT WORK keep pic's comeing when you can.Originally Posted by kenklingermanand by the way, I'm really starting to hate my camera! damn thing won't focus in a well lit room. WTF too out of date I guess.
Reply:This is an excellent project Ken, you are attacking the problems and sorting thru it, and we all like the pics, they are ok no problem... make a poor turn on design, just back out and redo till you are satisfied.   So you might be sorting thru fonts for ones U like etc... if you want to write sumthin' besides Ken~Font  My wife has a ton of them somewhere on a disc... if I can find them I'll pm ya. enjoy, BretLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderDoes it have a manual focus? I like using it for small stuff. Auto can't tell what you want in focus when things are small.
Reply:Originally Posted by PapaLionThis is an excellent project Ken, you are attacking the problems and sorting thru it, and we all like the pics, they are ok no problem... make a poor turn on design, just back out and redo till you are satisfied.   So you might be sorting thru fonts for ones U like etc... if you want to write sumthin' besides Ken~Font  My wife has a ton of them somewhere on a disc... if I can find them I'll pm ya. enjoy, Bret
Reply:painted it and everythingHH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:and a trial run[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1NGaZZkTn8[/ame]HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:You don't look anything like your avatar.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardYou don't look anything like your avatar.
Reply:That looks great.....how much for plans with speks of it?  I want one now...........Red.Lincoln Percision tig 225 (Water cooled)Lincoln 350MP Power mig (with spool gun )Lincoln GXT 250 With Tig  ModuleLincoln Ln-25 Pro Dual PowerCentury 50 plasma cutter.now Lincoln .
Reply:Holly-molly.... I drilled about 24   1"  holes in a 4x4 channel,  1/8" wall..... And i thought that was a LOT of holly work.......
Reply:It's absolutely great to see someone's work pan out.  That is BIG"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:That little invention of yours opens up whole new worlds for us plasmaniacs without CNC!Thanks!(Retired) Professional firefighter, amateur everything else I try to do...Oh yeah:  Go Big Red!   (You know: one of the 12 members of the Big 10 cuz we left the 10 members of the Big 12...)
Reply:That is SWEET!!! Congrat's!! Looks like the torch moved without getting caught up at all! How was the edge of the cut? Was it cleaner than if hand holding the torch?That just got added to the must make list!Thanks for the great thread 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:WOW, thank's guy's I appreciate all the positive feedback, I really hope to see others build there own soon. Just remember, use aluminum, steel is just too heavy to whip around a bunch of details.But, I have to say I'm pleased considering I cut a crappy template out of the side of an icecream bucket and used masking tape to stick it to the table which meant I had to be gentle.I keep not fully getting just how fast I need to cut to keep the dross to a minimum, Hereare close ups:Not too badbut the other side I was too slowLast edited by kenklingerman; 05-08-2010 at 09:05 AM.HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:I also looped off the sharp outside corner and came back to it to avoid melting it off, but you plasma guys should already know this:HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749That is really cool Ken. The precision trigger hold was the bomb!
Reply:Originally Posted by kenklingermanI'm also thinking about a motorized stylus that will roll itself around at a constant speed while all I do is hold it against the template.
Reply:OK trying a new pattern, here is a new project plotted out and spray glued to part of a plastic for rent signand fully cut outbonded to the rest of the plastic sign for stability (used Xylene to bond, worked great)and the end resultjust cause the end result looked great doesn't mean it was easy, the stylus slipped over the pattern a couple of times so I had to fill it with weld and grind it down. and keeping a steady speed is very difficult. I'll figure it out though! long ways of tweaking to go.I also really need to build a cutting table!HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:wired inside the machine, can easily be unplugged connectors are insulated for safetyused a simple door bell button screwed to a piece of wood simple and effectiveHH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:good work! I want to build one now ha.
Reply:Awesome Ken, and it appears rock solid & smooth as silk!Matt
Reply:This is one of the sweetest, simplest, practical ideas I have ever seen hats off to you. Two things that might help you get smoother cuts would be a tiny needle bearing for the stylus and replace the wheel you used with one if those bearings that they use on some outfeed tables. They are a captive ball bearing that rolls in all directions.  Kind of an eye shaped frame with a hole on each end and the bearing in the center.Amish CNC
Reply:This is the type of bearing I was talking about, rolls in all directions
Reply:Just stumbled on this, what a great project, hats off to your ingenuity.Clive
Reply:Charley,We have roller balls like that on our guillotine, makes handling a sheet of plate up to 12mm a breeze.Clive