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In addition to what's already been said, material handling is a concern no matter where your table is located, but if there are stairs involved that would suck a LOT. You said you cut aluminum...

I made my own belt reductions also (not on the Z, since I have a K2 Z which uses a leadscrew). It wasn't terribly difficult or expensive to do...it's nice having a plasma table to make parts for my...

The top of my slats are 3" above the bottom of my water pan. I usually keep the water level between that and 2" deep, depending on how much has evaporated. It's very noticeable how much more smoke...

Your movable trough would also catch all the larger pieces of stuff, and any small drops. So your lightweight sheetmetal pan would soon weigh WAY too much for itself.

Maybe?

In sheetcam...when you're in the "nesting" mode (little arrows on the tab at the top), just type a rotation angle in the box at the bottom right. You can also choose to mirror it on the X or Y axis...

Inside shapes cut counter clockwise, outside cut clockwise. You always want your "keeper" side of the cut to be on the right-hand side of the torch, as it's moving away from you.

Maybe try Draftsight? It's free also....might be worth a try. Free CAD software * for your DWG files: DraftSight - Dassault Systèmes

I use DeltaCAD or Draftsight, no problems with the files generated by DeskEngrave.

Just in case there's something different about what I'm doing (can't see what that would be...) I'll attach some...

I use a little free program called Desk Engrave. It takes any font and generates a DXF from it, that you then can import into your existing CAD program.

Find it here: DeskNC

Yep, you're losing steps on your Z. Lower the THC rate. Try 10% first, then increase that if you feel it's too slow for what you need to do.

Just be aware, the size of the part/hole will change with the offset. No offset will cut right down the middle of the line, inside or outside offset will move the toolpath 1/2 the kerf width, so...

Then you need to change the operation type from outside offset, to inside offset.

If everything else on your part is cutting correctly besides the circles, then move them to their own layer and...

Under the operation, you choose the lead-in type...arc, tangent, perpendicular.

Sure...just make your lead-in perpendicular, and 1/2 the hole diameter.

I'm using the CandCNC 620 oz Bladerunner setup, with 3:1 belt reductions and 1" pitch diameter pinions.

I used to run direct drive with 3/4" pinions, and the reduction did make a slight...

If you do go that route, you won't regret it. I still love my PM45. They all come with the CPC port on the back, but it's only active when you plug a machine torch into it unless you bypass some...

No criticism or tips from me....just wondering what your "cable carriers" are made from? Looks like rubber hose, or something similar?

One way to stiffen up the IVTAAG: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/cnc_plasma_waterjet_machines/149803-improvement_plasmabot_precision_plasma_any.html

I'm actually happy with my machine now. :cool:

The V rail is hardened--that's why it killed your bandsaw blade.

Not that it matters to you now, since you're done--but I used 1/4" bolts to bolt down the rail, so I have a little bit of V-rail...

Right...which is why I said:

;)

I'm using the PBC Linear IVTAAG aluminum extrusion for my gantry, and have been pretty disappointed in how flexible it is, allowing a fair amount of "wobble" visible in the cut. It's worse with...

I'm not super-familiar with the Tomahawk plasma, but from what I've read it's not a very powerful machine, so you're probably limited to cutting slower than what you'd need to, to minimize the dross....

Check out the Bulltear tables too...they already use CandCNC, and their newly-introduced 2012 model looks to be pretty dang nice.

Link:...

I LOVE my PM45.

The X and Y axes are the "normal" machine motion around the table, the Z axis is the torch lifting up and down. I've never seen two Z axis motors, just one for the Z and one to move the carriage...

Yes...it's just not as easy as I think it can be with Inkscape. (or CorelDRAW, or....)

Basically, yes. Aside from the fact that I haven't spent any time with Inkscape yet, so I've been using DeltaCAD for 99% of everything. :p

There are a TON of different options for software, so it's really a personal preference.

For me, I use DeltaCAD for most things, since I'm not a CAD guy. It's simple and easy, works well for...

Yes, same size chain everywhere.

I used Igus 20.2.055, it's about 1" tall by 1 1/2" wide inside dimension. Everything fits fine, but there's not a lot of extra room. (don't get anything smaller, is what I'm saying)