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CNC plasma cutter build

DavidR8

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Wait, what? What do you mean you did not want HF start? Why? How will your machine start the cuts? Sorry if it is in this thread. I did not read all posts but will go look. Are you coding in a dip of the torch to start the arc?

I started looking at Fusion a couple months back because of a thread here. But then my first lesson with Lars went south when he kept referring to a word that was not in my version. After a half hour, a google search revealed that the word was changed. I was already frustrated. I am now trying to learn Free Cad but I am thinking my brain refuses to learn CAD. We will see. I think 2 dimension will be a good start. I can manage that, maybe, I hope...:rolleyes:
My cutter uses something called 'blowback' to start the arc.
Dr D-Flo has a useful page on plasma cutters which is how I found the Sungoldpower unit
https://www.drdflo.com/pages/Guides/Plasma-Cutters-For-CNC.html

My understanding is that HF causes electrical interference with the controllers and such.
 

Johnwa

Ultra Member
[QUOTE="

I started looking at Fusion a couple months back because of a thread here. But then my first lesson with Lars went south when he kept referring to a word that was not in my version. After a half hour, a google search revealed that the word was changed. I was already frustrated. I am now trying to learn Free Cad but I am thinking my brain refuses to learn CAD. We will see. I think 2 dimension will be a good start. I can manage that, maybe, I hope...:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Thats one of the problem with Lar‘s videos. The Fusion menu system has changed quite a bit from his first videos. It may be the same with free cad.
 

DavidR8

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I struggled with Lars' videos as well. I need to get to real basics and found a site called Desktop Makes. It's focused on designing for 3D printing but it gave me a pretty good grounding in some basics.
Vlad does a good job in his intro series. It was enough to get me going.
 

ShawnR

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Thanks @David_R8 . I will take another look.

As for the plasma unit, did you order from the states? I can only find hi freq units in canada or on Amazon. I should clarify, the unit you bought is available on amazon.ca for 1300ish dollars..(400% markup?) . Did you buy from Sungold? I have emailed Sungold power to see if they have a Can distributor.
 

DavidR8

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Thanks @David_R8 . I will take another look.

As for the plasma unit, did you order from the states? I can only find hi freq units in canada or on Amazon. I should clarify, the unit you bought is available on amazon.ca for 1300ish dollars..(400% markup?) . Did you buy from Sungold? I have emailed Sungold power to see if they have a Can distributor.
I bought from Sungoldpower directly.
It's been my experience that once exchange and duty are taken into consideration there isn't a lot of price difference between the US and Canada on most items.
Amazon is well... Amazon. No way would I pay that much.
 

ShawnR

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@David_R8 I can't find any options in Canada that I like so will most likely order the same Plasma unit as you. Have you used it yet as a general plasma cutter? Do you like it? A lot of machines are labelled as CNC friendly or compatible but often still seem to use Hi frequency. The Sungoldpower is the only one I find that seems to have the lo frequency
 

DavidR8

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@David_R8 I can't find any options in Canada that I like so will most likely order the same Plasma unit as you. Have you used it yet as a general plasma cutter? Do you like it? A lot of machines are labelled as CNC friendly or compatible but often still seem to use Hi frequency. The Sungoldpower is the only one I find that seems to have the lo frequency
I have used it and it seems to work just fine. Have only cut up to 1/4 but it cut that like butter.
I need to get an air drier in my compressor setup though as I understand that consumables last longer with clean dry air.
 

ShawnR

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I have emailed them a couple of times. Waiting to hear back. Seems a bit of a lag. Holiday in the USA? :rolleyes: ;)
 

Tom O

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I was looking through some old bookmarks and found this it’s a wire edm machine he made and apparently has the plans but the rail system would work great for this application.

7DBC9DA4-5169-4F8B-B2F0-014F341C5DF3.jpeg
 

ShawnR

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Sungold was out of stock on the 50L but had a 60L so it is ordered. I have plasma cutting jobs lined up anyways so even if I do not go all the way into CNC, no loss. Their website is a little confusing. All descriptions say high frequency but in the short description beside the machine, it says low frequency on only the L series. Makes sense, I guess......I hope....
 

DavidR8

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More progress today.
Built the rails.
Lots of drilling, countersinking and tapping. Ten fasteners in each rail.
676700afbf6cdf8572182c0e9c528e25.jpg

4531a09e9f0fea5d75e6eea248624fcc.jpg
 

DavidR8

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Lots of learning today too.
On the bottom rail I miscalculated the width of the flat part of the v-rail and drilled the holes in the flat stock too far inboard which meant the holes were to close to edge of the v-rail. All ten of the holes... :(
And I thought I could accurately transfer the hole locations from the flat stock to the v-rails. Not so much...Doh!
For the second rail I carefully measured the width of the v-rail in decimal inches, divided that figure in half and then scribed marks for the hole locations. I also clamped the flat stock and v-rail together to drill the holes.
 

Tom O

Ultra Member
Looking good what is the weight of the top sliding arm? I’m just wondering what the weight would be fully extended.
 

Tom O

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Well that’s not much I was expecting a few pounds at least. How does the rigidity look any noticeable flex?
 

DavidR8

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If I bear down it will flex but there’s very little weight on it in use.


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