My Newb Plasma Table Attempted Build

It's getting worse here than it has been, they have been reopening some businesses and too soon at that. I have a feeling it's all gonna get locked back down, probably even tighter than before.

I don't see a benefit in all of those steps considering the whole drive system is gonna be changed anyway to rack and pinion. I was just wondering if there's a bandaid fix that would be good enough to use it to cut brackets for the new setup. I don't have any pending paying work hanging over my head anymore, so I don't feel.pressure to hurry.

I do recall making test cuts all over the machine cutting area and the same error occurred every time, without variation. I'm thinking now that the 3GT belts didn't have as much backlash in them that these 2GT belts do...it's one of the few changes that were made to the machine between the time it was cutting ok and not.

- That could be backlash on one axis, but that does not count for the weave at the end of the cut.
- GT2 belts are quite strong and can be tightened quite hard leaving no backlash, for a time period i had a 45KG gantry moving by two miserable 6mm wide GT2 belts at 2.2 meter long each, directly driven by 2 motors at 2NM each, and it was very usable till i pushed it to fast. It was set to low acceleration as i was cutting some 20mm thick parts, worked like a charm.
- The only thing bothering me is why it does not show when doing a plain hand coded square, or maybe it does but i did not see it, i am wearing glasses after all.

I think that seeing you have made the decision to swap out the belts for rack and pinion there is not much point in chasing up what may be wrong with the belt drive system, you may as well use that time preparing for the changeover.

phillc54 wrote: I think that seeing you have made the decision to swap out the belts for rack and pinion there is not much point in chasing up what may be wrong with the belt drive system, you may as well use that time preparing for the changeover.

That's the plan. I'm still using the machine to cut some plates I need for my Jeep project. I just use the line cut feature on plasmac. Then I drill on a drill press and it's all gravy. I bet I can use it to make suitable plates for the rack and pinion setup too.

dvn4life1972 wrote:

phillc54 wrote: I think that seeing you have made the decision to swap out the belts for rack and pinion there is not much point in chasing up what may be wrong with the belt drive system, you may as well use that time preparing for the changeover.

That's the plan. I'm still using the machine to cut some plates I need for my Jeep project. I just use the line cut feature on plasmac. Then I drill on a drill press and it's all gravy. I bet I can use it to make suitable plates for the rack and pinion setup too.

The parts are starting to trickle in. I ordered some Hiwin-style knock-off linear rails (20mm), the rack and pinion with reduction - which delivered already, and a new pre-made Z axis with magnetic breakaway made by Arclight Dynamics. That thing is beefy. I also ordered a Duramax retrofit machine torch for it.

Almost a new build for you.