Homemade, cheap, plasma CNC

I could find the model for mine seeing you have a mill. I spent a lot of time machining the collar around the ball screw nut but found you can buy it premade! The Z axis just bolts to the mounting plate so it is a seperate unit. I made it all from 60mm x 6mm Ally. The torch mount is 60mm x 10mm
See forum.linuxcnc.org/30-cnc-machines/31509...inion-drive?start=30

Rod - if you have the model that would be awesome, or even some drawings.

Having both the big knee mill and a cnc'd BF20 I can make a lot of stuff pretty easily. Including curved/contoured shapes.  Heck I even have thread-milling worked out on the cnc. 

Looking at the picks I am pleased to see you found a single rail truck to be sufficient.  That's was one of the ideas that has been bouncing around in recent weeks.

Cheers - James.

Rod's design is what I will be basing my new design around. I would love to buy one but can't stretch the budget that far. Rods unit is awesome ! very well built and robust.

I'l going to run a set of 12mm linear rails down the sides of my existing unit, then fold up a piece to joint then into the threaded rod. Then I'll run another 12mm linear rail to allow for the floating torch holdeBefore makeing a new mount for the plasma torch. Currently just using a hand torch until I can save up for the machine torch.

so i'l end up with this c-beam
www.makerstore.com.au/product/c-beam/
with these linear rails
www.makerstore.com.au/product/hard-mgn12/
and my existing motor and ball screw to hopefully give me 150mm of torch travel.
 

James in AU, just wait until James in NZ tidies my design up But please don't publish the model cos I might want to sell the plans one day...

A piece of 40x80x4 RHS from  Action Aluminium near my work is a lot cheaper (and lighter) than the extrusions. Then you can afford the HGR15 rail

How much do you value the convenience of extrusions?

My ballscrew is 150mm and gives me 86mm of travel which is enough.

Thanks Rod,

I do have to come up this week and grab some more ally for a few jobs so might add a bit extra on for the z axis. I was thinking of recycling what I already had, however it will probably be easier to copy Joco.

I have some 5mm plate lying around so may just start cutting tonight the bits that I can. Or I may just get it all drawn up so I’m right to cut once I have all the bits.

Cheers

 

 

Hey all, 

first problem I need help with,

I have tried to run some programs with the pierce only option so I can try and save some electrodes and nozzles. 

I get the following error. I’m not sure if it’s a setting I need to fix in sheetcam or if it’s in Linux. any direction appreciated. 
cheers

 

Thanks Phill

I can't edit the G code, it changes when I switch from pierce and cut to pierce only.