10.5 x 25 cnc plasma table retrofit

Little update I completed the sheet metal storage rack for my plate processing operation. Posted a few pics below. Going to get started on setting up the plasma table. I need to design a water table so I know what height to build the gantry to. Do you think it's worth it to obtain a few more of those steppers? I can hunt down more of these redbox machines to rob them from. Do you think they would have the power required to drive the gantry? I estimate it's 3-500 lbs I like the idea of high precision. I don't think I would save much money after wasting the time to aquire the redboxs tear them down etc but if there high quality components and really special it may be worth it. Got any expereince with water tables? Know of any good designs to work off of? Seems like a good amount of engineering is required to make sure it's strong enough to not collapse alot of weight is put on em aswell as I want to be able to raise and lower water height automatically, maybe even control it electronicly with electro pnumatic valves. 

For $214 a pop I can purchase 1000w 220v servo motors with drivers. Really does not seem to unreasonable I'm not really sure tho if this would be way overkill but I figure it's better to go bigger and work the motor less. I included a link below. Is there any disadvantage to running a set up like this? I think I will stick with the original motors to get the machine running but I'd like to understand more about servo vs stepper.

www.amazon.com/RATTMMOTOR-Encoder-Contro...54&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1

Heres the latest update on the project. I designed a water table 10.5 x 10.5 made from quarter inch thick Steel. I may increase size to 10.5 x 15.5 but not sure yet. It's pricy in material table so far weighs in at around 7000 lb and I am still going to add more support to it. It has removable slat bases that can be picked out of the bed with the crane for cleaning. I am designing for about 12 inches of water from lower to raise and shooting to be able to keep the slats 2 inch under water. I made the slats 6 inches long 1/8 thick every 2 inch. Do you think this is overkill??? 

I think my post has delve past the computers and hardware category on this board and more so turned into a full on build thread. If a mod wants to move the thread it would proably make sense. 

75 pages of build thread and I can't find what I want so this will have to do.
forum.linuxcnc.org/show-your-stuff/32029...ild?start=310#124765

I suggest you slats are only mounted each side and in the middle. Then you can put a bend in them and have the slat ends pushed against the frame which stiffens them up so they don't wobble. I copied this design from a swiftcut machine on the show room floor.
The slots holding the slats here are very  shallow, maybe only 10-15mm laser cut into some 16mm strips
 

Yea your right. My old plasma table was like that I had the slats curved. Although I may still be able to curve the slats with 4 points of contact vs 3 I'm not sure how much I like the idea of super short slats. I figure they will get burnt up on a high amperage cut. It's possible in the future I may starter cutting 200 amp cuts over a inch of material thick. Today I got the table moved and started to clean up. Purchased new bearings man they are not cheap. Makes me second guess buying such a pos and not buying a complete working machine from a auction but here we are. I may reduce the thickness of the water table to 3/16 from 1/4 inch. Its about 7000 lbs of material which gets pricey. I kindof want the strength tho so it can handle getting banged up. I am going to order the parts list Tommy put together for the control tonight and try to get it to run on the original dc servos for now. I gutted the z axis the linear guides were super frozen up I got them to atleast move with only a few lbs of force on em. Tommorow more lubing and cleaning. I was looking at the original motors and the drives seems I do not have a plug for y axis encoders only for x axis into the box with all the drives. Tommorow i will post more pictures. Just want to make sure it's possible before I go down the route of trying to save the original motors.

 

I changed things up a bit from the cad model to work better with the materials I have laying around the shop. Hoping to have the mechanical side of things completed to run the table by the end of the month.

Making more progress on water table. If I was to ever building something like this again I would build a stronger support frame to on the inside and underside of the table. I kindof skimped out there and it lead to lots of steel warping and bowing. I don't think it will matter much because I am going to build slat frames that can be leveled. Hopefully it's strong enough to hold all the water and up to 1.5 inch plate. Seems to be to me. 


  

Hey I've got some questions for anyone following. I have a mechanical press brake I am looking to add cnc function basicly just jog two stepper motors to raise and lower the screws that control the height of the die to my designated position. Maybe a back guage that would be pretty much the same. Is linux cnc a good way to go for this or would it be better off to use a plc?