Rods "Spaceship" Scratch built Plasma Cutter build

tommylight wrote:

Nema 23 = 56mm frame, Nema 24 = 60mm frame !

Yeh but NEMA24 does not normally have a 50mm bolt hole pitch. The NEMA24 ones I looked at had the same pitch as the Nema 23 but a different diameter locating flange.

I can't wait to get this turning!

Well, this is what happens when you play with your machine. I found there was some tight spots on the X axis and when I had a look at it, I tightened up all the bolts holding the rack and linear rails and found one missing mounting bolt on the rack which I replaced.. I guess it was time to do some maintenance,

Then I found the X axis pinion shaft I made was quite loose with worn bearings so I spent the afternoon stripping down the pinion and ended up ordering another Flange bearing which is coming via airbag from Perth on the other side of the country. I was missing the correct retaining nut on the old one which is probably why it came loose and wore.

I don't think I totally fixed the tight spots but its a lot better now.

Then I went looking for a NEMA 24 mounting bracket to upgrade my Z axis. I finally found one and it looks a lot better than what I had. Except its 100 mm wide and it has to fit on a 60mm wide backing plate so an adapter is in order. Nothing is easy! Anyway, this is coming via DHL..
www.aliexpress.com/item/32969053665.html...1.0.0.4d634c4dGW7sFL

And I am so impressed with these Sanyo Denki motors, I bought out what was left so have another 15 coming. They just had no idea what they were really worth! (Or where to buy the wiring harnesses possibly!)

Well, this turned out alright after it was powder coated.


I've got a bit of wiring to do. before I can get it installed. My replacement FFK12 flange bearing arrived today too so I can also put the X axis pinion back together.

well rodw since you took the the time to check out my machine I decided to reply in kind. That plasma table looks fantastic . Well done.

my1987toyota wrote:

well rodw since you took the the time to check out my machine I decided to reply in kind. That plasma table looks fantastic . Well done.

Well we Toyota drivers have to stick together regardless of where we are in the world! I'd like to think this thread will get interesting again!

Finally this afternoon, I got the wiring pretty much done and I'm hoping my mate Chris will have time to give me a hand to refit the control box to the table tomorrow.

This box weighs about 17kg now. The wiring is just temporary and I'll have to disassemble it before it all comes together.


But finally, we have power lights on the Lam drivers! 90 volts wow!
A little bit tidier now



Just in time to becasue these arrived today as well


A NEMA 24 mounting bracket is also here so I can upgrade my Z axis with a Sanyo Denki motor. But to do that, I need my table back working again as I have to design and cut a mount for it.

What are the blue spade connectors on the back of the drives for? Earthing?

thefabricator03 wrote:

What are the blue spade connectors on the back of the drives for? Earthing?

Yeh, originally, I used 5 pin connectors for the stepper cabling so I could pass the shield through on one pin and then I folded the shield back and added a male spade connector right at the stepper motors. Then they go up to an earth point just out of frame at the top right.

As it turned out, it was the right thing to do becasue the LAM's have a connector for the shield. Its a bit messy where the connectors are because I added piggy back spade connectors so I could terminate the shield on the driver and the enclosure. I'll try and remember to take a pic tomorow.