I started this build late last year, and I now have the "table" portion all built and some of the electronics purchased. Me and my friend had talked about it for awhile at this point, and I decided to jump in and go for it. I choose to build it so big because one of the most common things I found researching was others wishing they had made theirs bigger to fit full sheets. I decided that the difference in the price of the total cost wouldnt be much, and now I could fit 10' sheets with ease. I also had 3000sqft of shop to use at the time, and now unfourtanetly have half of that, but too late to change it now.
I went straight to building the structure for the table scince that was the most comfortable place to start for me. (no problem with metal fab...not so much electrical engineer) Now that it's sitting around unfinished I feel like I did it backwards, but I guess I always do that.
I started the structure out of 4x4 16g mild steel tube. I built two rectangles 12x6' and put them together with about 2' 4x4 legs in between. I then added 2x6" 1/4" wall tube down the long sides of the top; This will serve as the mounting base for the cold rolled that the bearing carriages ride on aswell as be the sides of the water table. I covered the top of the table structure with 16g sheet for the bottom of the water table, and then capped off the short sides with 1/4"x6" strap to form the complete water tank.
There are 3 drains in the bottom of the water table; I would like to eventually build a tank with a pump or air bladder system to raise and lower the water level, but that can wait for later.
The table has 8 huge leveling feet, and 4 large casters that roll with the feet turned all the way up. I doubt this will need to be moved much if ever, but it's nice to have the easy option.
I have the table all built and painted and the 1/4" cold rolled mounted to the top, but thats about where I stopped. I had to downsize my shop at the end of last year and then recently got layed off from work so things are just slower going now. Im having trouble staying motivated after not working on it for a few months, and thats a lot of the reason I decided to start a thread after lurking for so long.
Things I have already purchased include a z-axis, stepper motors with a gecko driver and power supply, belt reduction setups for x and y as well as gear rack, and the bearing carriages. I plan to run this machine using a powermax 85 which I still need to purchase, also a thc setup, and whatever else computer/electric components I haven't listed.
The electronics is where I start to get lost on things. I have no problem working with electronics and computers if I know exactly what I need to do...but in this case I don't and need to read up more. I am sure I will ask for some help in what else I need, and in setting up of the electrical control side of things.
The only pictures I have of it so far are poor quality so I apologize, and will take nice ones as things go forward. Any and all feedback is incouraged, positive or negative, scince I am totally new to this and need the help.
Thanyou for looking - Joe
Water test.
Rails installed
Getting an idea of what it will be like with the gantry an motors, notice how its already collecting junk you should see it now...