[massajamesb]

Okay, this is for all members. If there are enough members in agreeance, then I am going to hold a cnc plasma/oxyfuel etc. chat on a certain night of the week, at a specified time, via the Flashchat on this site.

Have questions about building or maintaining a machine? Setting up software? What works and what doesn't? Just want to set down and B.S. about what you have cut or built?

I as well as the other mods are going to try and get a couple of chat rooms set up for different topics, please post up on this thread if the idea appeals to you. I am thinking at this point that about 7 oclock central time on Saturday evenings, but that is subject to what the rest of the members want, and what other chats are available.

PLEASE POST HERE IF THIS IDEA IS APPEALING TO YOU. I need a vote count to know if this is a worthwhile thing to do.

Thanks for your help and participation, members. Hopefully this can prove to be a helpful addition for seasoned vets and newbies alike.

I will post up on here when it has been more or less set in stone. Again,

If all else fails, I will try and set up a cnc plasma chat for next Saturday, @ 7:00 PM, April 7, central time, just to see how it goes.

[The Inventor]

Do you want questions asked here in advance, so you can get an idea of
what the "HOT" topics/Needs are?

[massajamesb]

Doesn't really hurt either way. It will probably wind up being whatever topics get brought up, I suppose.
If you have a topic in mind, sure, post it up. I would love to hear some ideas, as it will otherwise be a bit unorganized

[massajamesb]

Sorry for the confusion. All of it is in one poll now. I forgot I had made the first one . Massa=duh.

[The Inventor]

Question #1:
Where...who...or what supplier(s) handle the relays/solenoids/air or electric
values needed to work the trigger on my hand held plasma torch?
(Note: I'll be using a HobbyCNC 3 or 4 axis Board and running Mach3.)

Question #1A
And how do you control them, (Seperate power supply/off the Board and using
it's transformer (got 24 volts AC/10 amps off the transformer or 44 volts DC/10
amps rectified. )

[The Inventor]

Question #2
I don't understand how you control the 'z' to maintain the proper height at start and during the cut...
i.e.: At the start up (Starting the arc)

[The Inventor]

Question #3
Everytime it stops a cut there's a 'cooling down delay' of the tip, so how is
that handled?
i.e.: It does the 1st. cut then rapids over to the next cutting point then
starts that cut, but the plasma machine is still doing it's tip cooling cycle
of 30 seconds to a minute long, (I never timed it).

[massajamesb]

Very good. I will write these down, and we will start there. I am sure there are a number of people with the same question.

I encourage any member that can contribute questions or answers to show up.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to provide refreshments

Any others?

[Torchhead]

I'm not sure what the advantage is of a "chat". I try to jump on the list several times a day to answer questions but my schedule doesn't allow a set time to be on line.

Just like the questions posed by Inventor. I could (and have in the past) answered them in but it might be 01:30 in the morning before I have a break out of the shop to sit down and compose understandable answers.


Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com

[Scratch]

I'm also not sure how the chat sessions will work... I'm no stranger to chat boards from back in the day, but I thought forums were the new/better way to go. I've been wanting to participate in one though to see if they work differently than what I'm thinking.

So I'll try to be here.

[SaraNell]

There seems to be alot of informed people in this forum and it would be great if we could discuse some problems I've been having with my cnc plasma table. When trying to cut a circle, the result is oblong and does not match my cad drawing. What causes the machine to be inaccurate? Please help me to address this problem. Also if I am in the wrong forum please redirect me. Thank you
SaraNell

[Torchhead]

There seems to be alot of informed people in this forum and it would be great if we could discuse some problems I've been having with my cnc plasma table. When trying to cut a circle, the result is oblong and does not match my cad drawing. What causes the machine to be inaccurate? Please help me to address this problem. Also if I am in the wrong forum please redirect me. Thank you
SaraNell

Post over in the general Plasma Forum and you will get quicker answers. The chat session only happens once a week.

Oblong circles are the result of:

Miscalibration on one axis (wrong steps per unit)
Large amounts of backlash on the axis that is oblong (see last issue below)
Possible bad tuning on a servo on an axis
Slippage of mechanical components (pulleys on shafts, loose belts, etc)

tomCAUDLE
www.CandCNC.com
BOB's
Digital THC
Complete Electronic Packages
Stepper & Servo Systems
Hand Controllers

[Med-Pac]

I would be interested. We are running a 4 x 8 Torchmate with a 1000 hypertherm. I have enough experience to know that I can always learn more!

Mike

[The Inventor]

I would be interested. We are running a 4 x 8 Torchmate with a 1000 hypertherm. I have enough experience to know that I can always learn more!

Mike

Hey Mike,
We'd be glad to have you drop in ... "IF" the chatroom and CNCZone will let
everyone log in...

We meet every Saturday night at 7 pm.... the chat button is at the top of
every page... just click it to go to the general chat room then switch to our
Plasma room in the top menu bar.

[massajamesb]

It is merely a suggestion, to see if this is something that other members will pick up on.
I don't think that there are any topics to be covered, that haven't been already talked about on the forums here.
Some people might take to the idea, some may not. If it doesn't turn out well, or no one enjoys it, learns, etc. Then we don't do it again.
If everyone enjoys it, and it helps anyone at all, then it was worth it.
No one has to show up, this is not mandatory
Admin was nice enough to put Flashchat back on the site, and we may as well try and use it to the benifit of the members.

[The Inventor]

Question #4
I personal think that a rack drive would be the most reliable; But I haven't a
clue as to how you figure out the gear reduction and or gearing to the track...
and then there's the same old question: "where do we get 'quality' racks 5 or 6
foot long?

Question #4A
The pro's and con's of the different drive options.

[The Inventor]

Question #5
Whether you're using a torch or plasma... you're cutting out material, so if
you're cutting out a 4" circle or even a 2" x 4" slot...
How do you know if your cutting it inside/outside/on the line?
Is the finished circle 4" or is the hole 4" or neither because of the cut?

[The Inventor]

Question #6
There are hundreds of table designs out there.. Is there one or two types/
brands/styles, that just work out better for torch and plasma work?? (stable/
reliable/ ease of use/ less maintenance/ more accurate cutting)

[The Inventor]

Side question:
It's almost 'ShowTime'; are you going to send out an email link to everyone
that opt'ed in?
So we know how and where to go for this event? (I get losted crossing the
street. :wee: )

[Weldtutor]

where to go for this event?

I get losted crossing the
street.

Usually there are lots of people willing to tell another "where to go!"(nuts)

A good way not to get lost crossing the street is to remember that the other side is opposite where you started from.

My problem is trying to tell the correct time.
The CNCzone "clock" says says GMT is the same as my time zone which is Eastern daylight saving time?????

I believe the chat is scheduled for 7:00 PM Central time.

When Mickey's big hand is at the 12, where is his little hand pointed (In the Eastern time zone) when it's 7:00 PM in the Central time zone?

I guess if you have a digital watch, that would be a bit difficult to answer.