request of information about plasma cutter

Good evening everyone

A part some details I basically finish my new metal cnc and I was thinking if I can add a plasma tourch.
I never use this system also because my machine is inside a wood attic and I am scare to set everything on fire, so before doing any modification I'd like to hear some advice.
What I'd like to cut is some sheet metal basically 5-6mm max thickness.
Can anyone suggest some type of plasma torch and some information on how to wire this system on mesa card 7i76e or some link where I can start read about this topic.
I am starting to think at some plate to hook on my z plate that i can easily change among router and plasma torch without dismantling half machine.

Anyway, any help would be great.
Thanks in advance.
V.

sibelius wrote: Good evening everyone

A part some details I basically finish my new metal cnc and I was thinking if I can add a plasma tourch.
I never use this system also because my machine is inside a wood attic and I am scare to set everything on fire, so before doing any modification I'd like to hear some advice.
What I'd like to cut is some sheet metal basically 5-6mm max thickness.
Can anyone suggest some type of plasma torch and some information on how to wire this system on mesa card 7i76e or some link where I can start read about this topic.
I am starting to think at some plate to hook on my z plate that i can easily change among router and plasma torch without dismantling half machine.

Anyway, any help would be great.
Thanks in advance.
V.

Have a read through this forum.linuxcnc.org/plasmac/37234-plasmac-documentation

BUT I would NOT operated any sort of fire eating machine in an attic.

Also milling machine don't work well with plasma

You would need a plasma source, transformer or inverter type with a torch.
Plasma cutting creates huge amounts of sparks that can easily reach 1 meter far from the torch, so no wood around it is a must, or anything flamable for that matter.
It will burn concrete under it if there is no metal table, from 60cm up!
Also uses a lot of power so having a proper electrical installation is imperative.
It can be done, but it will need at least 30cm high side plates on all sides and a metal table at least 3mm thick and slats at least 5cm high, using a water table would be nice but it will splash a lot. Using it without a water table or good ventilation is not possible also due to the huge amount of fine dust and smoke and metal wapour it creates during cutting.

Hello
Thanks for the information.

I will read it; but in any case I won't do anything in the attic, the idea to have the house burnt down is not an option.
At some stage I will use a more serious friend's open workshop to build one of this machine.

Thanks again for your help.
Regards,
V.

PS i was reading this topic flyback diode .
My mesa card getting power from a 24VDC power supply.
This power supply get 230V AC from the main controlled by a 12V coil relay.
I have along the line 4 inductive load due to step down voltage 60V to 12V feeding 12V led.
So there is a bit of inductance before the 24v DC for the mesa.
I was thinking to add a flyback diode somewhere.
My question is where is the best spot to insert it?
Thanks.
V.

sibelius wrote: Hello
Thanks for the information.


PS i was reading this topic flyback diode .
My mesa card getting power from a 24VDC power supply.
This power supply get 230V AC from the main controlled by a 12V coil relay.
I have along the line 4 inductive load due to step down voltage 60V to 12V feeding 12V led.
So there is a bit of inductance before the 24v DC for the mesa.
I was thinking to add a flyback diode somewhere.
My question is where is the best spot to insert it?
Thanks.
V.

The flyback diodes are to proctect the output of the mesa cards they are fitted across the relay coil to stop the back emf.

They have to be fitted the correct way round

Hello
Thanks Clive for your answer.

I have only one relay coil and is position is before the 24VDC power supply for the mesa.
The relay controls the passage 230V to the 24VDC power supply.
Between the mesa and the power supply there is nothing.
So in my understanding the diode goes in parallel with the 12V coil of the relay.
I think my electronic functioning well but I'd like to insert this component as well.
Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
V.

If its on the AC side a flyback diode is not required. Using a relay to switch the 24V field power to the Mesa card is NOT recommended and will probably destroy the card.

Hello
Thank you very much Mr Rod.

So basically I think I complicate my life without any reason, if I don't use the relay I suppose i can connect the 24 VDC power supply straight to the 230V main.
I have to read a bit more on this topic.
Thanks anyway Mr Rod for letting me know; I will not power the mesa till I am sure that the wiring is ok.

Regards,
V.

sibelius wrote: Hello
Thank you very much Mr Rod.

So basically I think I complicate my life without any reason, if I don't use the relay I suppose i can connect the 24 VDC power supply straight to the 230V main.
I have to read a bit more on this topic.
Thanks anyway Mr Rod for letting me know; I will not power the mesa till I am sure that the wiring is ok.

Regards,
V.

To be clear as Rod has said you must not put any switch including relay contacts between the 24V DC input power to the Mesa card.

You can use a switch or relay contacts on the AC side of the power supply.

This video I did recently covers all you need to know about the 7i76e