new to linuxcnc and building a plasma table

Hi guys

I'm currently making my own plasma cutting rig
Already purchased a Mesa 7i96 + THCAD10 (after an email to MESA) and most of the hardware

Planning to use LinuxCNC + Plasmac + Sheetcam
As a starting base a machine shop gave me a laser CO2 machine (80w + 150w) 1,2m x 1.5m, it's been sitting outdoors for a couple of months under the rain so i'm only keeping the chassis, the 80w tube is working and the 150 has blown the HV power supply ( i guess the tube as well) + the electronics that are underneath protected from the weather.

But i'm confused about my software selection, if it's correct or not ?
25 years since i touched a CAD software, might take the Freecad route as it seems less complicated than F360

Sheetcam is great for plasma use
the Shop center here with 10 Plasma laser waterjets use only sheetcam and linuxcnc
you are well inside what you are lookiung for

Ok good to know, but i'm confused about Plasmac, i have to install it or is it included in the latest LinuxCNC ?

jay1st wrote:

Ok good to know, but i'm confused about Plasmac, i have to install it or is it included in the latest LinuxCNC ?

Have you seen this forum.linuxcnc.org/plasmac/37234-plasmac-documentation

PlasmaC is in Linuxcnc 2.9 and I think 2.8

jay1st wrote:

But i'm confused about my software selection, if it's correct or not ?
25 years since i touched a CAD software, might take the Freecad route as it seems less complicated than F360

If you're just making flat parts you can also take a look at librecad. librecad.org/

Tnx, i had a look at it, seems pretty simple but i installed it to try out and lacking in versatility, cant round corners once the object is made as it' not parametric. Other than that it's perfect for simple shapes.

Has anyone tryied Frontplatten ? free and made for front plate designs.
I'll give it a shot tonight.

nevermind what i said about librecad, finally foud how to do it stupid noob me

Quick question, i've read the entire LinuxCNC plasma primer, and for the table my side it recommends using a belt drive, but any DIY plasma table i see over inter net has rack and pinion drive............;

Is it that bad to use belts ? As i already have them, 20mm wide, on the laser ssystem i was given, it even has a belt driven reducter 5not sure about the proper term to use).

tommylight wrote:

Most of my plasma machines use belts.
Search youtube for
Toma berisha
My channel is the first result.

Yeha i've been watching those, and i see you're in direct drive on the gantry, is it fast enough ?