Plasma Table Build - Plasma Bot 4.0

[SeanMurphy265]

My 4 axis kit arrived today from Probotix. Here are some pics, I really have nothing to compare, but the motors seem larger than I expected. This is their 4 Axis monster kit, pre wired, 40 volt upgrade, and has 400oz motors.

[SeanMurphy265]

The cables are 20' and also came with the kit. I priced the tubing for the table, and needless to say it has went up since I priced tubing last summer! The metal for the table will cost a little shy of $500.00. It's going to be a couple of weeks before I can purchase the tubing, gear rack, and bearings so I can start building the table.

I'm still think I will into my table for $2000.00 plus or minus $100.00. I think I'm going with a touch and go set up instead of torch height control. If I go that route I will have $2,500.00 in my table. I'm decided to build a 4x8 because it only adds cost to the table and gear rack which is around $350.00 more than I could build a 4x4.

I still have a long way to go!

[Jason]

I will have to take some pics of my CNC motors and controller. I have 5 motors, Controller, and power supply which I paid only ~$600 for. My plan is a 5 axis mill.

[SeanMurphy265]

I DE
I paid extra to have the kit pre-wired. I figured by the time I purchased the cables and some type of enclosure I was not going to save much money. All that I should have to wire is the plasma torch.

[cpierce18]

Wiring the plasma torch should be a snap. I did it with my PP-50 hooked to my cnc table. If you look at the picture of the PP-50, the front of the machine at the bottom there are a couple hookups for air, torch, pilot arc and ground clamp. The connector is a 2 prong screw on type connector. With the connector unscrewed you will see the 2 male prongs inside the terminal. If you connect these 2 prongs together, it completes the circuit and activates the torch.

Now lets back up to your breakout-board… or the outputs on your control box. I’m not sure what they look like as I’ve never worked with the Probotix setup. I’ll explain how it works on my system. I currently have a 48”x96” self-designed CNC plasma table with the Low Cost Torch Height Controller, but prior I did not have the THC installed.

Without a THC I needed to hookup a relay to one of the outputs on my breakout-board. I think the one I purchased was a DC relay for around 8-10 bucks. The relay was hooked up to an output on my breakout-board, and from the 2 terminals on the relay are wired to the 2 terminals in the torch terminal I mentioned above.

The way it works is this. When Mach3 runs your code and it sees to fire the torch, it will activate one of your outputs, which in turn will close the circuit on your relay, which in turn will close the circuit on your torch terminal on your plasma cutting machine which will activate the torch.


Wiring my system up with the Low Cost Torch Height Control wasn’t much more difficult. Although it did entail me opening up the PP-50 and wiring into existing terminals. Mainly the raw voltage flowing between the torch and the work piece (ground), and wiring internally to the torch on screw on terminal. It was just a little time consuming. Currently it works like a charm. It cuts through ¼” plate at 45 amps 40 inches per minute and leave virtually no bevel. You will just need to fine-tune your settings.

[SeanMurphy265]

I ordered my tubing today from Shapiro Metals in their Ebay store. They let me combine my order so shipping cost will be $100.00. The total came out to $389.60. I saved around $100.00, and the tubing is already to cut (will see how that goes). Hopefully the tubing will arrive on Friday so I can spend the weekend building the table.

[sw2x]

Subscribed!!!! If I could build a table for $2500 I'd be ecstatic especially a 4X8 I have tons of things I would build on a daily basis!

[SeanMurphy265]

My tubing arrived, and I started doing some cutting Friday. It should have arrived cut to length, but each piece was long; so I am having to do some cutting. I have the initial rectangle tacked together. The table will be 5'x8'4" when it's finished. I should have little waste on my width, and I'm still working on my length configuration to eliminate waste.

[geezer]

Hi Sean,,,I think 8'4'' might be short for an 8 foot table the gantry takes up a lot of room to run with,,,gotta like the color of your bandsaw,,,I have one like it and they are a time saver...Looks like your table build is coming along nicely,,,look forward to seeing more of it.

[SeanMurphy265]

Hi Sean,,,I think 8'4'' might be short for an 8 foot table the gantry takes up a lot of room to run with,,,gotta like the color of your bandsaw,,,I have one like it and they are a time saver...Looks like your table build is coming along nicely,,,look forward to seeing more of it.

I believe you are correct! I'm going mount my rails on the outside of the table, instead of on top of the table. I'm sure I will have some waste on the X axis, I'm trying to keep it down to a minimum. I might purchase 5x10 sheets of metal, and save the left over 2 feet for one off parts.

[SeanMurphy265]

Had a chance to do some work this morning.

[geezer]

Nice welds from the Imig 200,,,the pictures give a scale to the size of the build,,,,no small undertaking to build that size of table,,, a 4 x 8 table build requires a lot of space ....nice work Sean.

[cpierce18]

Nice welds. Next on my wish list is a new quality welder. The one I have now just isn’t cutting it. Short circuit spatter everywhere & too much grinding involved.

I made my frame out of 2” X 4” X ¼” Aluminum tubing. I don’t have the capability to weld aluminum so I have a buddy of mine at a machine shop stick it in a squaring jig and weld it up.

[CGCINC]

I can't wait to get my I-Mig 200!!!

Table's looking good!

[SeanMurphy265]

Did a little more work this morning. I'm trying to get the rest of the table tacked together, and re-squaring the legs they pulled a little.

[acourtjester]

HI All
Here is a video of where I am at with my plasma table build. Mounted the X & Y motors and tested their operation they ran smooth still need to tune the motors up for speed and acceleration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKR9z...1&feature=plcp

Have fun
Tom

[SeanMurphy265]

This thing has been a PTA keeping square! If I do this again I would go with 3 linear actuators! They are expensive, but much easier!!!!

[zoama]

Is there a shop in the works ?

[geezer]

This thing has been a PTA keeping square! If I do this again I would go with 3 linear actuators! They are expensive, but much easier!!!!

Hi Sean,,I don't understand your comment about keeping it square,,, are we talking about the table base or the rails that sit on top the base and have the toothed track on them.??

[SeanMurphy265]

The table is square, but one of the middle legs is out of line.