cutting table

[sparkplug]

On a plasma water cut table, how far is the water from the cutting table surface?

[SICFabrications]

it aint very far away at all, otherwise, they would call it a dry plasma table....lol..... nah, the water usually sits just under the stock enough to barely touch the metal, or just over.....

[Bluesman]

Along the same lines of questioning, I want a cnc bad. I still enjoy freehand but it is taking too much time to turn pieces out. For someone like me that don't know crap from shinola about any xy or z axis stuff or sevro motors and all that other tech talk, would it be better to try to find a complete unit or try to build one from a price standpoint. Which would spend less money?

[Gadget]

You'll spend less making your own if you do it right. As a bonus you will get a good working knowledge of the unit and how it functions. You can get a lot of information here CNCzone.com-Machinist Community Forums - Welcome Page and can probably find some plans there as well.

[Bluesman]

But someone like me that knows absolutely ZERO about electronics and stuff be able to pull it off? And how would I get it to respomd to software? Will I have to do any computer programing stuff?

[Nick]

But someone like me that knows absolutely ZERO about electronics and stuff be able to pull it off?

It'll just take longer. You'd be looking for proven solutions - ie - a popular controller setup that a few people are using. Then it comes down to part numbers. You should be able to piece together a list of everything you're planning to use with basic schematics, and post it for scrutiny. (on the CNC board)

On the software end, you'll spend a ton of time staring at the same screen wondering what in the world you changed that screwed your tool path until you get comfortable with it..

[Gadget]

I had some computer background but absolutely no CNC or CAD/CAM and I made it. There is enough help and information out there to get through it. Keith and I can help as well. I'm sure there are others on the forum who will be able to help as well.

[KHK]

I think that a CNC would be a great class project for your students. As Gadget said we all will help.

[Bluesman]

What would be the first step? Do you build the table first? I haven't even ever had the opportunity to see a small cnc cutting table around here only a HUGE one at a local construction company that is about 20 or 30 ft wide and about 40 or 50 ft long. That sucker will cut anything and runs a couple of oxy-acetylene torches that are the biggest dang oxy torches I've ever seen. I don't need but a 4x8 table at the most right now.

[Nick]

What would be the first step? Do you build the table first? I haven't even ever had the opportunity to see a small cnc cutting table around here only a HUGE one at a local construction company that is about 20 or 30 ft wide and about 40 or 50 ft long. That sucker will cut anything and runs a couple of oxy-acetylene torches that are the biggest dang oxy torches I've ever seen. I don't need but a 4x8 table at the most right now.

Benefit of CNC... The same setup that will cut down to the .001 (typically) runs on the same software that cuts down to the .01. CNC scales incredibly well. It's honestly more dependent on the accuracy of the mechanicals than the software.