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What to do with old plasma table

bgaidan said:
You can use Mach 3 with a $100 usb motion controller. I use the UC100 with mine and it works perfectly. Biggest thing is to only buy from the manufacturer or a known authorized reseller. There are tons of fakes floating around on ebay and amazon and most won't work properly.
I'm running it on an older Intel Nuc that I got for free.

CNCdrive - motion controls

CNC drives, control systems
cncdrive.com
1709735190309.png



As much as I love my mill on LinuxCNC, I hate working the wiring and back end and cringe at thinking about setting something up from scratch. I'd be hesitant to recommend it to someone that's not really tech savy and in to linux.
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I'm learning from all your setups as well, there is a lot of options right now.
Don't take my words as the gospel, I am full noob still but I have a 100% working table using slate bearings on 16ga 2x2 tubing...

I would really recommend the cheap SBR rails although I have not used the ones I bought yet, they are so cheap they are gonna be awesome or trash :lmao:
 
I'll add that even with belts you still need 3:1 or better reductions to get the acceleration of that heavy gantry.

IMO the gantry weight has a huge impact in ultimate performance of the table. If it's too heavy your acceleration will be limited and ultimately max IPM.
 
CarterKraft said:
I would really recommend the cheap SBR rails although I have not used the ones I bought yet, they are so cheap they are gonna be awesome or trash :lmao:
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Can you link me to what you are referring, please?
 
CarterKraft said:
I'll add that even with belts you still need 3:1 or better reductions to get the acceleration of that heavy gantry.

IMO the gantry weight has a huge impact in ultimate performance of the table. If it's too heavy your acceleration will be limited and ultimately max IPM.
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So you're recommending adding more reduction?
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but adding the second motor to the y-axis not only eliminates the need for the shaft, but also for the racks on each side to be perfectly in sync, since the motors don't need to be perfectly timed with each other so long as they each move equally at the same time?
 
patooyee said:
Can you link me to what you are referring, please?
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For your size table I'd up it to 20mm rails.
www.ebay.com

VEVOR 2PCS SBR20 2200mm Linear Guide Rail Slide Rail 4 PCS SBR20UU Bearing Block | eBay

VEVOR high-quality SBR linear guide rail includes 2 guide rails and 4 slide blocks. VEVOR SBR20-2200mm 2x Linear Rail Set 4x Bearing Block 20mm Grinding Shaft Rod. VEVOR SBR16-2000mm 2x Linear Rail Set 4xBearing Block smooth sliding Lathes 16mm.
www.ebay.com
patooyee said:
So you're recommending adding more reduction?
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No just saying you will need to keep thisecreductions you have.
patooyee said:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but adding the second motor to the y-axis not only eliminates the need for the shaft, but also for the racks on each side to be perfectly in sync, since the motors don't need to be perfectly timed with each other so long as they each move equally at the same time?
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Exactly, a better control system will "auto square" when homed. Then as long as you don't lose any steps they stay synced.
 
CarterKraft said:
For your size table I'd up it to 20mm rails.
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These would just replace my roller bearings and square stock for a smoother, more reliable motion, right? They don't do anything to replace the rack and pinon?
 
patooyee said:
These would just replace my roller bearings and square stock for a smoother, more reliable motion, right? They don't do anything to replace the rack and pinon?
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Right and I'd still say your skate bearings should work ok, plenty of tables built with them. So you probably need to get real specific about what you want to achieve as changing the rails/guides will be a bigger project, re adapting the drives etc.
 
CarterKraft said:
Right and I'd still say your skate bearings should work ok, plenty of tables built with them. So you probably need to get real specific about what you want to achieve as changing the rails/guides will be a bigger project, re adapting the drives etc.
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The bearings would bind up any time a spec of slag got under them, just like a pebble under a skateboard wheel.

I'm not sure that the linear rails would be worth the time, just trying to learn.

I'm going to go to the shop later today and start messing with the table. I'm going to add some bracing and triangulation to make it more rigid and then start seeing what it's going to take to true things up, wire wheel all the surfaces clean again, and see what I have after all of that before I decide what hardware is going to get modified / replaced.

I think, in the meantime, I'll concentrate on controllers and CAM software since both of those are 100% getting replaced. That Blackbox is looking attractive from a price and feature perspective. Works on Windows, can connect via USB, Wifi, or web, open source, robust support community, and seems like an all-in-one solution. (Plus, it has fancy blinky lights!) Do you see anything I'm missing?
 
CarterKraft said:
If you have a cad program that doesn't do cam I am using Sheetcam, its $120 for a license I think but is "lifetime" not a subscription.
It does plasma well and has some milling ability if you get down that road.
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When I started working with a friend's plasma CNC years ago, he used Sheetcam. When I picked up a langmuir crossfire pro I went with Sheetcam as it was one less thing to learn. There's plenty of capability that I'm not using, but it's easy to post from DXF to CNC code quickly. It's also nice they aren't constantly rewriting it to sell you new versions, it's been stable since I started using it for probably 10 years.
 
Just my .02 on these types of devices...

patooyee said:
openbuildspartstore.com

BlackBox Motion Control System X32

SHOP NOW - BlackBox CNC Controller X32! Fast Shipping from U.S. - Genuine OpenBuilds Parts - #1 Open Source Hardware
openbuildspartstore.com openbuildspartstore.com
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You currently have a similar unit with a "bad" drive. If you kill a drive,Input,output, relay etc you are stuck again with a unusable device.

A 4.0 amp stepper driver is $10...

Edit: I see you nixxed the black box but this info still pertains to all the "all in one" box's.
 
CarterKraft said:
Just my .02 on these types of devices...


You currently have a similar unit with a "bad" drive. If you kill a drive,Input,output, relay etc you are stuck again with a unusable device.

A 4.0 amp stepper driver is $10...

Edit: I see you nixxed the black box but this info still pertains to all the "all in one" box's.
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What are you referring to as a stepper driver? When you say that, I think of the mosfets in my 3d printer and I'm not looking to learn how to build and wire up a circuit board. But I don't think that's what you're suggesting either, so I think we have a misunderstanding of terms.
 
patooyee said:
What are you referring to as a stepper driver? When you say that, I think of the mosfets in my 3d printer and I'm not looking to learn how to build and wire up a circuit board. But I don't think that's what you're suggesting either, so I think we have a misunderstanding of terms.
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Check out the layout of what I just posted, the stepper drivers in that example are between the "controller" and the motors.
If you have a questionable stepper driver you can just swap it out, swap axis etc.

That myplasm setup is pricey imo compared to the LinuxCNC/mesa route, which you aren't into but you might be ok with the higher price to hit your goals.
 
CarterKraft said:
Check out the layout of what I just posted, the stepper drivers in that example are between the "controller" and the motors.
If you have a questionable stepper driver you can just swap it out, swap axis etc.
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Gotcha, but are those part of the MyPlasm purchase or do they have to be purchased separately? MyPlasm does seem to be marketed as a single-point solution, but if those are separate, I wouldn't say it is.

Is there a possibility that my existing motors are incompatible in some way with some drivers?
 
This is the basic plan I used for my table. Substitute the mesa card for whatever you can use or a all in one would basically replace it all with one box.

 
patooyee said:
Gotcha, but are those part of the MyPlasm purchase or do they have to be purchased separately? MyPlasm does seem to be marketed as a single-point solution, but if those are separate, I wouldn't say it is.

Is there a possibility that my existing motors are incompatible in some way with some drivers?
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I wouldn't think are incompatible, but it's possible, motors and drives are pretty affordable though.
 
patooyee said:
Gotcha, but are those part of the MyPlasm purchase or do they have to be purchased separately? MyPlasm does seem to be marketed as a single-point solution, but if those are separate, I wouldn't say it is.

Is there a possibility that my existing motors are incompatible in some way with some drivers?
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They are separate, the drives are matched to the motors and vice versa.
There are many options now too, closed loop hybrid, all in one servo drives etc.
 
CarterKraft said:
They are separate, the drives are matched to the motors and vice versa.
There are many options now too, closed loop hybrid, all in one servo drives etc.
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So no matter what route I go, I need to size / spec my own drivers based on motor info? My motors have no markings on them ...
 
patooyee said:
So no matter what route I go, I need to size / spec my own drivers based on motor info? My motors have no markings on them ...
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Yeah I think you will need to get a drive that's good enough.
The drives are pretty adaptable, wide range of specs on the better drives.

There are many brands of drives most are probably knock offs, do some research here.
I used stepper online stuff from Amazon to hopefully get me some Insurance at the slight cost expense.

This is an example of the more premium drive
STEPPERONLINE CNC Stepper Motor Driver 1.0-4.2A 20-50VDC 1/128 Micro-Step Resolutions for Nema 17 and 23 Stepper Motor Amazon.com
 
I haven’t read the entire thread, but I have myplasm on mine. It’s very very simple and easy to use. But it’s limited on the fine details of Control. I recently discovered how to use fusion 360 for the CAM and much happier now.

It uses USB cables and windows. I’m surprised it was $700. I thought it was cheaper than that.
 
eagleplasma.com

MyPlasm CNC Controller for Plasma Cutter Tables

The MyPlasm CNC Controller system for plasma tables does many operations automatically without the participation of the operator.
eagleplasma.com eagleplasma.com

For $700 from that vendor, you only need to supply your own drivers and a 24v(?) power source. THC is included.

I assume you already have drivers?

I’ll note that vendor is very helpful. You can call him any day of the week, he’s happy to talk to you about your machine for an hour.
 
Bacho said:
eagleplasma.com

MyPlasm CNC Controller for Plasma Cutter Tables

The MyPlasm CNC Controller system for plasma tables does many operations automatically without the participation of the operator.
eagleplasma.com eagleplasma.com

For $700 from that vendor, you only need to supply your own drivers and a 24v(?) power source. THC is included.

I assume you already have drivers?

I’ll note that vendor is very helpful. You can call him any day of the week, he’s happy to talk to you about your machine for an hour.
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I'm not seeing a phone number on the website..
 
Bacho said:
I haven’t read the entire thread, but I have myplasm on mine. It’s very very simple and easy to use. But it’s limited on the fine details of Control. I recently discovered how to use fusion 360 for the CAM and much happier now.

It uses USB cables and windows. I’m surprised it was $700. I thought it was cheaper than that.
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It might be cheaper from the country of origin?

It's a "promo" brand deal if I recall.
It seems well liked though.
 
CarterKraft said:
It might be cheaper from the country of origin?

It's a "promo" brand deal if I recall.
It seems well liked though.
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I bought it from him. Maybe I just have hazy memories on it. I shopped around and thought I saw about the same price as everywhere and I felt he certainly deserved my money for the support he offers.

Below is the manufacturers website. When I was interested in using fusion 360 for the CAM. Al didn’t seem to know how to help me there. I contacted the manufacturer at the website below who informed me that the mach 3 post processor for fusion would work fine. So far in my limited trials, it does seem to work all right.

My plasm includes its own Cam software as well as a very basic CAD type software. That’s quite easy to use. Say if you have one bracket in mind, and you want to draw it on its own. But I haven’t found any way to use that software to put multiple parts together to make an assembly which is why I use fusion.

Proma-Elektronika

Electronics, Softwares for CNC Plasma Machines
proma-elektronika.com proma-elektronika.com
 
Bacho said:
I bought it from him. Maybe I just have hazy memories on it. I shopped around and thought I saw about the same price as everywhere and I felt he certainly deserved my money for the support he offers.
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When I talked to him today he said he charges more for it in exchange for the lifetime of free support that you can't get anywhere else. From my conversation today, I would say it is worth it.
 
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