SO,
I purchased a used plasma table about 2 weeks ago and then I did my research on it.... This usually does not happen with me, I usually research the piss out of something before I buy, but this was "too good" of a deal to pass up and so I did not research anything before I agreed to purchase. The table is a Precision Cutting Systems Easy loader table, single sided gantry, with a hypertherm powermax plasma and a hypertherm sensor THC.
However, now I am second guessing my purchase, and slapping myself in the forehead. The Hypertherm stuff is great, and it cuts very well, BUT the machine and the table need some help...
Doing some research, I see it is a widely known problem having a single sided gantry, and mine is no different.
Although it seems stout, I cannot cut accurately when the x axis is over 1/2 way from home, as the gantry flexes and shakes too much... Fine cuts are impossible, and fast cuts are not even worth trying. Unfortunately most the stuff I need to cut is in 18 and 16 gauge steel.
SO, In my head I think it would be fairly easy to add another rail on the opposite side of the table, add a new set of motors, sync them, and solve this issue... But I am guessing reality will be very different...
I am willing to put in some money into making this work and I have no fear in designing the parts to make this work, BUT I do need anyone's advice or opinion on what I am going to run into trying to do this...
Mainly, do I need a second motor? or are 2 sided gantry systems driven different?
should I plan on adding the rail to the top of the tables side beam, or on the side of it? I would think top would be better for support, but side would be better for level...
I am a newby to cnc tables and I am trying to learn everything I can about them before I start this task.
I currently anticipate buying:
New rail
new gear rail
bearings
2 motors that match 1 for each side
new motor drivers
possibly a new control board with more I/O.
I plan to build a stout side arm piece to bolt or weld to the current gantry structure.
seems like I have a table that is 85% built, Has some good parts on it, (hypertherm, mach 3) and it just needs this little bit of work to help it be a truly precision table...
Thoughts?