[Weldtutor]

Interested in building CNC plasma table. Mentor or fellow builders needed to share interest/questions with. All help appreciated.

[b1kmpn95]

Hey,

How are ya doing?

I actually live pretty close to London, (About 35 minutes - Close to Strathroy), although I am in London about 3 times a week. What's your email address? I would love to keep in contact -- There are not many people in my circle of friends/relatives that don't either make fun of me and my 'computer thing' :-) or understand what it even is :-)

I'm currently building a wood router based around the HobbyCNC board and 1" linear rods/thomson ball bearing bushings.

Where abouts in London do you live?

-- Greg Thomson

[beegner]

Hey Guys
I am not to far from London.
Cambridge area.

I just started a small router rable also.
Dave

[Weldtutor]

Hi Dave
It's starting to look as if CNC is alive in Southwestern Ontario. I'm in Dorchester, just East of London, & grew up in Brantford.
What point are you at with your router table construction?
Have you chosen & purchased your electronics yet?
I'm still at the planning stage.
Weldtutor

[beegner]

Hey Weldtutor
Most of my mechanics are complete.
Just received my ball screws.
I purchased some of those Surplus center Servo drives.
I hope to have those mounted up in coming weeks. Possibly looking at the Rutex drives for these.
What are you thinking of Stepper or servo?
How big of table are you looking at?
Have you met any other people in the area?
Later
Beegner

[Weldtutor]

Hi Dave

Seems you are well under way with your router table. Did you source your parts locally, or import through customs?

I had one other response from Greg, see earlier in the thread.

My thoughts for a plasma table would be a 4' X 5' work area, chain drive, & stepper motors. Light gauge steel requires rather fast travel speeds (200 IPM) to plasma cut properly.
I haven't yet decided on motor size, driver boards, or power source yet.

WT

[beegner]

Hey WT
I did a bit of both. bought some local stuff. I had to buy the ball screws local.
I bought the motors from US, (Surplus Center). They shipped UPS, so when the arrive, you pay the ups guy for any additional brokerage fees, taxes, etc.
I have purchased some on Ebay, this helps also. I found that to help abit.
The power supply I think I will be making my own.

Do you have anything planned out yet? Or just starting to look?
Beegner

[Weldtutor]

Beegner
Thanks for the reply!
Somehow I got 2 threads from you. I replied to the other one before receiving this one. Thanks for the info above.
WT

[Nivec]

Hey there Weldtutor! I live just down the road from you in Summerside.

I am currently in the planning stages (designing in CAD) of a CNC router myself. Although I have recently decided to postpone the actual build for a year so I can build sufficient funds and learn to build it right. I want to build one that is versatile and strong so I don't mind taking my time. I am pretty new to this hobby so I do have some learning to do. Especially on the electronics end of things.
:cheers:

[Weldtutor]

Hi Nivec
On a clear day we could probably shout to each other!
I plan to start my CNC plasma table build early in the new year.
This is a fantastic site to learn from.
Perhaps you have checked the free JGRO plans posted here, & there are also many helpful photos.
There are various forums listed that should help with your search for electronics knowledge.
Weldtutor (not backwards)

[Nivec]

Yep, thats why I'm here. To read and learn. Its a nice one stop source for all the info I am after.

[cnc_fred]

I had to buy the ball screws local.

Hi.

Where in Southwestern Ontario did you buy ballscrews?

I work in Waterloo.

Thanks,
Fred

[beegner]

Hi Cnc_Fred

In Waterloo, Advanced Motion. They are a THK rep.
Also Canadain Bearing, they can get NSK or THK.

Good luck Fred.
Do you know what size of screw you need?
Beegner

[cnc_fred]

Do you know what size of screw you need?

I won't need any ballscrews for a while.

I have some small metal working equipment that I want to CNC,
and I'm just going to use the existing leadscrews where possible,
for as long as I can, to keep the costs down.

[beegner]

Sounds good Fred.

Have you looked at controls yet?
Any plans as far as software?

What equipment will you convert, Bridgeport?

Sounds like fun. I hope it goes good.

Beegner

[cnc_fred]

Have you looked at controls yet?
Any plans as far as software?
What equipment will you convert, Bridgeport?

I have a Xylotex 3-axis+1-axis (4 axis) in a box,
that I've used to spin steppers using TurboCNC 4.

When I have time, and can make the space to set everything up,
I'm hooking this up to a Sherline Model 2000 mill
(with CNC stepper motor mounts) that I bought off ebay.

Once I have this working, I'll use it to CNC a 7x12 lathe,
and maybe a Sieg X1, a Sieg X2, and a large Chinese-made
mill-drill (that weighs 200-250 lbs).

I got the Sieg X2 and the large mill-drill for a very good price,
at a Homier sale in Buffalo, because parts were missing.

I originally bought the Sieg X1, and was using it to make
stepper motor mounts for it, when the motor controller died.
Before I got another motor controller for it, real life intruded.
While I was waiting to find time to finish the X1 conversion,
I found someone in Toronto selling the Sherline on ebay.

[trubleshtr]

Hi All,
I'm a little further up the road in Georgetown. Currently building an aluminum framed cnc router. I bought a mill from Busy Bee Tools in mississauga, will cnc it one day.
If you want a cheap lathe, they have them on sale until jan 14th I think (7x10) for $1200 with stand.
Cheers.

[cnc_fred]

I bought a mill from Busy Bee Tools in mississauga, will cnc it one day. If you want a cheap lathe, they have them on sale until jan 14th I think (7x10) for $1200 with stand.

Canadians that want cheap metal working equipment and that live close to the USA/Canada border, should drive down to the nearest Harbor Freight, or should drive down to the nearest Homier sale.

I bought a 7x12 lathe for around $400-$450 CDN, (after exchange, not including my gas costs and taxes at the border).

[Weldtutor]

Hello Trubleshtr
What point are you at with your CNC router? Are you working to a set of plans or your own ideas?
WT

[Weldtutor]

CNC Fred
Did you have to pay import duty when you brought your lathe in & was it recently? I'm told a lot of "hobby machinery" is now not covered under NAFTA thus we get nicked for the duty as well as both taxes.
WT