"Origami" CNC Plasma Build - folding 1200 x 600mm cut area

Arrgghhh to many choices. :pinch:

On the vertical table I like the space saving angle of it alot but the mess side of it worries me. The downdraft style tables with anything less than some SERIOUS suction don't seem to get that great press. It's not to say it can't be done, just a DIY path on fume based extraction does not seem to be as well trodden and documented as the water table path. Probably because the water pattern is well proven and solves the vast bulk of the fume/dust issues in an effective manner.

But happy to be educated otherwise.

Thinking about my planned usage model some more, while I will be able to cut outside during the summer planning on that in the winter in NZ is a failed plan at the start. I'm in Wellington and we like our southerly gales here in the winter. Think horiztonal rain and I am not exaggerating. Plus my main garage doors are south facing so venting out will just result in stuff being blown back in - :blink: So being able to cut inside is gonna need to be on the design requirements list. Obviously I could wait on the weather but that's gonna limit things a lot in winter which take a chunk of the fun out of things. I did some measuring and I can push the (on wheels) welding table back and be able to open up the fold/flip table for use and still have room to move about and be able to use the welding table.

Anyway, from a dirt/dust angle I am less convinced the vertical table will be as effective given my limitations.

But if I am missing something please let me know.

Note: I'm refering to "down draft" in a hobby setup context not the industrial grade systems. They clearly work else there would be no market for them.

I think most commercial tables are downdrafts. I suspect the reason why you don't see many DIY versions is likely due to lack of Output pins or the ability to zone the table based on torch position on the Windows based CNC environments. Neither is a problem with Linuxcnc and the right mesa card.

In fact there is a thread by txrone here who has an 8 zone downdraft using a component I wrote.

I always wanted the spaceship to be a 2 zone downdraft using one of the fans I shared with you but in the end, creating a water tray was so much easier.

rodw wrote: ... I always wanted the spaceship to be a 2 zone downdraft using one of the fans I shared with you but in the end, creating a water tray was so much easier.

Have read about them on a few commercial sites I can see there is quite a divided opinion with no real clear winner. However I think your last comment does hit the nail on the head "so much easier". This is my first plasma build I'm already biting off a bit. So tending to head down the well trodden path of those who have gone before AND trying to keep things simple(ish).

So will stick with the fold/pivot idea for this build. Take the compromises that come with that, build a water table for it with an ability to fill/empty from a small "drum" under low psi. Heck that could even be controlled via lcnc. With the 7i76e I am going to be spoiled for IO pins.

Will try and refine my existing table design a bit. It feels a bit like tank engineering at the moment.

Rod - is there is reasonably basic math or online calcs to determine how much base width I need on the wheels for stability when table is vertical? Trying to work out how narrow a base I can get away with. I can always add some outrigger support when the table is flat for cutting.

Get it all working and then see where things stand. As tommylight has said - just get some steel and stick it together, get things moving and learn.

Cheers - J.

Well I have been working away on plans and started cutting metal and beginning to weld things together. Along with making mistakes and having to unweld things - that is another story with some supporting language that really isn't printable.

Anyway attached are some cad screen shots of the design. This is the overall table. It's not complete as yet but the key features are in place and checked so that I can start construction of the frames.




I have two potential gantry side supports that I am debating with myself over. The more elegant one made from a single 12mm piece will be a little more challenging to make given the size of it. I think I can just fit it on my small cnc mill. Or will have to do "old school" on the big manual mill.



The second option is two piece construction. A 12mm part screwed to a piece of 75x50x4mm RHS (the same as used on the gantry span). Given the sizes I can easily do the 12mm flat on the cnc mill.
I think they will both do the same job but one clearly looks a lot more elegant than the other. However if there are advantages from an structural or adjustability angle between them that I am not aware of then keen for views.


Or of someone has a better design they can point me to? That also would be valuable.

Cheers - J.

For a part like that gantry end, I would just get it laser cut and tap any holes when the part comes back (What I did for the Spaceship!) They should be able to cut tap ready holes for M6. Smaller than that, they can etch the position and you need to drill.

I think the green part is the way to go.

Would the motor be safer from damage on the other side of the uprights? (well, damage from the floor, or items on the floor) it is more likely to be damaged by the work or the plasma.