Welder/ Fab/ CAD Designer

[Kris Jensen]

Your parts look really nice Kris. Couple questions:
- what Cad program are you using for the outlines & what is a typical file format?
- I'm not that familiar with the cutting head, but does it do ferrous & non-ferrous equally well?
- do the cut edges have any bevel like water jets or does it just relatively straight through & mostly perpendicular?
- are the cut edges 'hardened' like I hear is an issue with laser? (not sure hardened is right word, maybe its slag or something associated with high temp)

I use a few programs, basic AutoCAD which I turn drawings into DXF files or Inkscape which I can trace images and turn them into vector files like SVG then I use sheetCam to do the layouts and turn them into G-code that Mach 3 will read and control my cnc.

It does both ferrous and non-ferrous equally well you just adjust the settings on your plasma cutter like you would if you were to cut non-ferrous by hand.

Your always going to get a small heat affected zone with plasma normally, I have added a water table that has as a benifit reduced that significantly and practically eliminated all warping to the metal, haven't done any thin gage stainless yet though

 

[Kris Jensen]

I have similar questions... Especially about the cad and cam tools procedures. I've written some gcode by hand, it's simple enough for geometric shapes. But stuff like those flowers and trees would be a lot of trouble. So software to the rescue - but what. ? 360 fusion looks very capable but a lot
Of learning. Sketchup is great but the conversion to cam seems to have poor options. What else?

Inkscape is a great program and is free

 

[Richard Tymko]

Those are some pretty nice designs and finished products.

Too Cool!

 

[Kris Jensen]

Here's a few of the projects I have been up to with my new toy

 

[Tom O]

nice work!

 

[Jwest7788]

Those stairs look amazing.

 

[Tom Kitta]

Great work!

 

[Kris Jensen]

Thanks guys

 

[Jwest7788]

Hey, I just noticed in your signature:
"Home Made micro mill"

Whats the story there?

 

[Kris Jensen]

Hey, I just noticed in your signature:
"Home Made micro mill"

Whats the story there?

Lol nothing worth talking about just a cheap worn out drill press with a x , y axis on it. Could use it if the tolerance was +/- 1/16" ... So perfect for a welder

 

[Tom Kitta]

I also once thought of making a mini mill out of a drill press - you can support the chuck on say two bearings behind it and say one on a side. Add a cheap $40 cross vice and you got a "mill".

 

[Jwest7788]

Lol nothing worth talking about just a cheap worn out drill press with a x , y axis on it. Could use it if the tolerance was +/- 1/16" ... So perfect for a welder

Nice, Well if it works well enough for the job at hand, then perfect. Haha

At this point you've got more than one person here who would be happy to help you out if you needed tighter tolerances on something anyways.

JW

 

[Kris Jensen]

Really put my machine to the test today with 1/2" steel plate and it passed

Steel gun range target 12" wide

steel brass knuckle door handles

 

[Tom Kitta]

Now I want my own plasma cutter!

So here is one of these multi-machines. Looks like your standard stuff from China. It's imported by company in Germany. The sale is huge - 60% off... 200 amp welder TIG/ Stick/ PAC for $450. I suspect they are going out of business as the ebay has no more offers from them. Also "Seller Warranty Description
ONLY 30 DAYS WARRANTY".

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...ue&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=A1UO7W6NRCZG20

I think the problem could be a huge quality issue - another welder - Yellow one I think starts with letter A doesn't ship to Canada as they had issues with honoring warranty due to shipping...

But if that thing worked well its a great deal. Another one for 330 doesn't have PAC.

 

[Kris Jensen]

Now I want my own plasma cutter!

So here is one of these multi-machines. Looks like your standard stuff from China. It's imported by company in Germany. The sale is huge - 60% off... 200 amp welder TIG/ Stick/ PAC for $450. I suspect they are going out of business as the ebay has no more offers from them. Also "Seller Warranty Description
ONLY 30 DAYS WARRANTY".

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...ue&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=A1UO7W6NRCZG20

I think the problem could be a huge quality issue - another welder - Yellow one I think starts with letter A doesn't ship to Canada as they had issues with honoring warranty due to shipping...

But if that thing worked well its a great deal. Another one for 330 doesn't have PAC.

Ya I have seen those for sale before, I was thinking of buying one at one point but I could never find anyone who had one or any videos of it running on you tube, that's why I spent a little more money and got an everlast. Way cheaper then a miller and had tons of videos of it running nice beads. They also sell a multiprocess unit as well. I never could get myself to buy into the multi process units, I would rather have separate units for separate processes that way if one goes down It doesn't take the rest of my processes with it.

 

[Tom Kitta]

Any opinion on the very popular CUT50
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Plasma-Cutte...torch-16pcs-/161829244906?hash=item25adc64fea

This one has pilot arc feature as well for $385. Depending on shipper/ method there could also be some brokerage fee for customs.

I don't think these are as good as Everlast but these are more expensive. I just want to play with it for now - I cannot get an 80amp unit as I think it needs like 60amp breaker - with compressor running I would be close to max power of the whole house.

 

[Janger]

I have had an Everlast combo tig plasma and stick for 3 or 4 years. It's seems pretty good to me. Got it from everlast welders.ca It does AC/dc tig so it welds aluminium. It's hooked up to 220V - just a dryer plug. 160amp on tig. 40a on cut and 130a on stick. It has a lot of adjustments which is overkill. It has a lot of good features and was way less than miller like Kris mentioned. A AC tig miller is like $3-4k - way too much. It's a hobby not a living.

 

[Kris Jensen]

Some structural parts I made

 

[Tom Kitta]

I have had an Everlast combo tig plasma and stick for 3 or 4 years. It's seems pretty good to me. Got it from everlast welders.ca It does AC/dc tig so it welds aluminium. It's hooked up to 220V - just a dryer plug. 160amp on tig. 40a on cut and 130a on stick. It has a lot of adjustments which is overkill. It has a lot of good features and was way less than miller like Kris mentioned. A AC tig miller is like $3-4k - way too much. It's a hobby not a living.

I have an Everlast as well but just Tig / stick. 200amp Tig and 160 stick

Cool attachment for the plasma cutter! Need to make one as well.

So many things to make and do and so little time. I am still refurbishing the garage - already added 240v now I am installing the air lines for the compressor. Still need to install the ventilation system. The garage has wood working stuff as well as metal working and the dust issue is just plain crazy.

 

[Kris Jensen]