Machine Arcdroid
- Thread starter Shoprat
- Start date
Machine
SomeGuy
Hobbyist
This, I've looked a couple times, they are way too pricey for what they are. The guy who made them is also in Ontario somewhere from what I heard, but they still drop ship out of China or something. If they were ~$2000 I'd consider it but not when they cost more than a hypertherm powermax 45 lol
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
It's a unique solution. I don't know how big of a market it'll have, but I do see some merit to it. Site work more specifically. I'd prefer a gantry table for my own shop though.
Doggggboy
Ultra Member
I'm pretty sure with the ArcDroid you can trace a pattern. Kind of like a pantograph. Not sure if a gantry table can do that. One of the local metal sculpture artists uses one and he seems to like it. If you have Great Western Saw nearby, they are a dealer. Another feature is that you can park it on a 4 X 8 sheet and move it as you use it, rather than section the sheet into pieces an lay it on the table.
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Yes, that's a pretty cool feature I can see being handy for site work.
SomeGuy
Hobbyist
I'd rather a gantry too, but haven't the space...I could fit an arcdroid no problem.
Definitely. I have half a mind to do it.
Jswain
Joe
Don't you already have one?!
I do but I like building machines
Jswain
Joe
I actually just read your thread on it, I seen it initially on YouTube when I was scoping out your power feedI do but I like building machines
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
I don't have the space either, but I have high ceilings.....I've been toying around with building a gantry style with folding legs that I can hoist up to the roof when done, and roll outside to use when needed.
Ironman
Ultra Member
I looked intensely at CNC plasma in 2006 and bought a Plasmacam.. I looked at how user friendly the software was and the tech help availability. The Plasmacam is made in china too, but most important to me was that all the hardware parts were off the shelf available in Canada. The software was compatible with any windows system. I have run it in Millenium, XP, and Win10. The drive motors were optically encoded servo, not steppers, which are weak and fail prone in the long term. In almost 20 years of use I have only replaced cam followers and changed to a machine torch.
Other systems were out there using Sheetcam, and custom extruded aluminum (bad) hardware and silly cable trays, in a attempt to look badass like a real industrial CNC machine. Others attempted to lock you in to their software systems. Aluminum rails and plasma abraisive dust don't play well
So, would I buy PCam again? NO. The easily constructed frame and simple cable system are still there. Management and owner is a predatory prick. They have upgraded their software and each "module" costs a grand US. By module I mean, expanded table size, convert photo to cut pattern, installing a copy on another computer, export G code. All part of my software, but now each module is $1000. They refuse tech support to anyone who has not upgraded. That's me.
A cnc plasma is a wonderful thing, not just for artwork, buy for any normal construction in steel.. When you cut out the parts with CNC, and weld them together, you have a professional looking product with no wasted steel, and no grinding and a source of pride in quality.
They are come of the things to consider. There are others concerning the plasma source and compressed air supply and dust control but that's good for now.