Hi all,
This is my log on my new cnc plasma build. I originally planed a cnc router, but struggling to find someone with a cnc plasma to cut parts for the router, I decided to build my own cnc plasma first.
I sourced most of my parts from China directly due toe the huge cost of buying the components locally. So far I am more than happy with the quality of the parts and service I received from China.
The machine:
Mach 3 and Sheetcam
The X axis:
3 meter long travel with double lead screw, one either side. The lead screws are 20mm diameter with a 10mm lead. The stepper motors are 2 x Nema 34 583 oz.in again one either side. The linear guides are custom build, cnc water jet ,3 meter long 100mm wide, 8mm thick mild steel rails. The carriages will be build into the gantry.
The Y axis:
2 meter travel, single lead screw, 20mm diameter with 10mm lead. The stepper is a Nema 34 249 oz.in. The linear guide is a 6mm thick, 150mm wide, cnc water jet, mild steel rail. The 2 carriages is from CnC Router Parts (USA), the extended ones.
The Z axis:
200mm travel, single lead screw, 12mm diameter with 5mm lead. The stepper motor is a Nema 23 180 oz.in. The linear guides are proper ABBA linear guides with bearing blocks, 15mm wide rails. Still contemplating on which THC to use, but it will have the auto height sensing on the limit switch. I will also fit an air scribe next to the machine torch for marking and scribing.
The main frame is build from mild steel square tube, 100mm x 100mm x 2mm for the legs, rectangular tube 100mm x 50mm x 2mm for the top sections and 50mm x 25mm x 2mm for the bottom sections. The frame will be extended with 200mm high x 5mm thick plate sides on witch the linear guides for the X axis will be mounted. It will have a 4 inch deep water table all welded in to the main frame.
Here is some pics off of the components from China and the main frame I started welding together. I have received all my ball screws, end blocks, motor couplings and the linear guides for the Z axis. The plasma cutter, stepper motors with controllers, power supply and break out board are on their way. They will be here hopefully early next week, I will post some pics when I have received them.
Please feel free to comment I will appreciate the input.
Thanks for reading.