We build a CNC Plasma Table

We put together a plasma table based on JD's Garage design with a few tweaks.

[@romoalex]

Bro no hearing protection is wild when cutting metal.

[@Blou55]

Nice job. I made mine two years ago but with only one gantry. I'm in the process to build my next one, 4x4 two gantries, i bought a hypertherm 45xp cutter and i have a myplasm controller. I will use my first one to cut the pieces for that next one.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Sounds like a nice setup! I hope it works out well for you. Hypertherm is a good unit from what I have seen, never used one yet. Thanks!

[@owenjohnson5030]

Wow, you did exactly what I’m doing. I didn’t like the cantilevered arm. I even have the same electrical box that you have! I’m also going to increase the table size. I am planning on using drag chain for the wires.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

It works pretty well. Still need to address the wiring. I will look in to the chains. Thanks for the idea!

[@jayinmi3706]

Same as below...I've been planning upgrades prior to building mine. I saw several people who had issues with the 3d printed parts supporting the cantilevered arm, so I planned on doing the 2 gantry sides. I kinda want it bigger, but the smaller size and easily obtainable water tray seem more useful to me at the moment. I'll probably only do brackets and small signage or something once I get it done. Thanks for the video!

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Thanks for the comment! The water table is a huge plus! It makes a mess right now, but I was willing for the trade. This has a cut capability of 44 on x and 39 on y. Good luck on your build!

[@jayinmi3706]

@@luecksrodcustom7686 Nice. I thought about a 4x4, but then I saw some prices on appropriately sized water pans, and thought hard about if I needed something that big. haha

[@niceboy761]

Once you build it your ment to cut the 3D printed parts out with it then you got the strength

[@srenfreiesleben1028]

This is cool :) I have been thinking of making dual motors for the y axis as well :) I have the base model from JD at the moment, but with ballscrews instead of belts.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

I had considered the ballscrew and also a rack and pinion, but funds just weren't there. Maybe upgrade in the future? I have already considered making a bigger table using this to cut the parts out, but probably should get used to this one first lol!

[@srenfreiesleben1028]

@@luecksrodcustom7686 Think this one has a pretty good size already? :) I might not have the space for it, as I have a 1 car garage, which is converted to my home workshop.

[@josephlovell6951]

Nicely done. I wish you would shown putting it all together. Im building the same . But i will figure it out.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

I will apologize. This took about 5 days at different times of the day. Some of it was 10-15 minutes at a time. I should have done a better job at coving the assembly process.

[@josephlovell6951]

@luecksrodcustom7686 it's all good. I just keep running into little things that set me back. And only get weekend off and only get maby one a month to work on this. But seeing yours done is inspiring. Thank

[@rjbradleyjr]

Absolutely nice job is your plasma cutter a polite or non polite torch?

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Thanks, blowback start. Pilot start could affect the electronics.

[@20valvedrifter]

Awesome remix on the o.g plans. Ive seen support rollers for the other side but mirroring the other side looks awesome. How much is your power supply to run the other motor?

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

I went with a 25 amp 600w supply. Hopefully if will be enough to run the z-axis once I get to that. Thanks!

[@user-od1fo3lj4q]

It's a problem using dual motors to drive the one axis, they lose steps during power cycles etc, resulting in your axis going out of square. It would have to be checked or homed against a hard stop with sensor-less motors etc.

[@Hollywood4Fun]

Nice build. I too prefer the gantry supported on both ends. I'm putting together a very basic CNC plasma table from scratch but it isn't going to be as heavy duty as yours is (can't afford it just yet, but eventually). 1000mm x 500mm v-groove extrusions make up my frame. The gantry is also a 500mm v-groove extrusion. Both x and y axis are belt driven. I would like to have a z axis as well and that will probably be threaded rod driven, but I'll probably forgo the z-axis at first. I'm okay with assembling the mechanical components but I'm no programmer and I'm wondering where to start when it comes to setting up the control system. I was wondering if you can offer some tips to make this part of the build a bit easier for me. I have seen controllers harvested from laser cutters used on small DIY plasma projects, but I'm not sure if many desktop laser controllers will have z-axis control options. Any advice or tips that can get me over the controller portion of this build would be greatly appreciated. I have heard that HF interference can be an issue and that ferrite choke rings on wires are a good idea. Where to place such rings is a mystery to me. My projects will be mostly heavier brackets and maybe some 1/8 inch thick signs. Any suggestions on how to get a controller set up for such a project will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the info and the videos. It all helps. Subscribed. [e-mail]

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

What I can tell you as far as the program goes is that I used openbuilds controller. The settings for that were all part of the JDs Garage plans. Not sure if I can share them. I am using an Arduino Uno with stepper motor controllers for each motor. I used a blowback plasma to avoid the HF interference. When using a HF, grounding of everything is very important from my understanding. I wish you luck! So far, I have barely used it as I am putting a car together for my son.

[@Hollywood4Fun]

​@@luecksrodcustom7686 thanks. I recently discovered the open builds cam software. I was able to bring an SVG file in and create the toolpath in G-Code needed to cut the part. I will probably use the grbl app to send the code to the machine. Still not quite sure about the controller but I know open builds sells one.

[@baronweber6801]

What was the length of the duel side rails ? Is your bed a 4x4 ?Thank you.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

The y axis are 60 inches long, the double rail. It gave me a cut area of 44 on the x axis and 39 on the y axis.

[@patricktrout9037]

Sir, I am interested in the electronics you used. Did you use the parts list from JD Garage with an extra drive motor for the gant Also what programs did you use for the creation for the model and creating the gcode for the machine? I am just getting started on the project. Any hints / details for making the table adjustable is welcome. Thanks, P.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Good day, I did use everything from the JD Garage list, same controllers and motors. Added a controller and motor for the 2nd side on the gantry. Piggy backed the signal from the arduino. Reversed the wiring on one set of the wires from the controller to the motor to reverse direction. Currently using the hobbiest version of Fusion to design and process in to gcode. Using openbuilds to run the table. Openbuilds has calibrations in it to adjust for distance. It will run up to 100mm, and you need to measure actually distance it went. Took a number of times to get to pretty darn close. I left the gantry only bolted on each side until I ran test triangles making sure the triangles were square, once there, I welded it in place. Thanks for the questions!

[@bobrossi1185]

Awesome doing same dual y motors and large like your's

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

It will fit a 4ft wide sheet, but only 44 inches of available cutting area. And if the sheet gets too thick, then it will hit the gantry supports. A little wider would have been key. I know the limit until it was built, so maybe next time!

[@makingcookingfixing]

@@luecksrodcustom7686 can you plug the two Y motors in 1 Y controller, or do you need 2 Y controllers?

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

To be honest, I don't know. I wanted to make sure I had proper amperage and it was sized for the motor so I didn't have any foreseeable issues. That being said, it may be possible off a proper sized controller. I would do some research on the subject to be certain though.

[@nemessmu]

Hey fantastic job I was hoping to ask for a bit of guidance. How did u wire the 2step motors on the Y frame ? And ia there any change in the code or controller ? Can you maybe share that part with us? I already bought JD s plans but cant seem to sort it out out 😢

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Thanks! No change in the code or controllers. One side I wired the same as the JDs diagram. Other side I flipped the wires on the A pair at the controller. 2 separate controllers. One was piggy-backed off the other. I am hoping to do a follow up on it soon. I will try and cover more information on the build in there. I intend to add the Z-axis soon. Thanks!

[@alextorres6333]

Great video what size table end up to be? Thank you.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Cutting area ended up about 44 by 37

[@newt2010]

Nice. I am working on building one as well. You plan on putting a water table under it? Cheers

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

I do plan on a water table. Problem right now is I only have a solid 3ft brake, and unfortunately for how it would need to be made, I would need a finger brake, or someone else to bend it. As soon as I have the spare funds, I will get one made and work with that and the z-axis. Thanks!

[@TomiasM911]

Awesome. What size did you end up making it.😊 I plan to make this once I get my shop built. Thanks

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Sorry, I missed your comment. It has a cut size or 44x37. Can fit a full 48" width sheet in it as long as it isn't 3/8 thick. Now having done it, I would have gone another 6" wider and probably a little longer. Biggest thing is wider, only to be able to fully use a 48" cut path, and not have the bearing supports contact the plate. Thanks!

[@TomiasM911]

@@luecksrodcustom7686 Thank you.

[@jamesstotler329]

Smart minds think alike! ... and evidently all of us idiots as well. Good work! Just picked up my metal last week.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Good luck! Hope it works out well for you. Finally running it a little and figuring thing out. May take a bit to get it all working how you expect it to.

[@baronweber6801]

Did you use the same two wires off the Arduino to run the two stepper drivers for the duel gantry steppers ? Or did you use separate ones? Thanks.

[@baronweber6801]

I’m building the same as you jds I have 4 large stepper drivers and a small driver for the z. The plan for the 4 large driver are. For the duel y axes . A driver for the X and a driver for the rotary option.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

I used the same signal wires. Went from one controller to the next. Reversed one of the pairs to the opposite side to reverse the motor direction. Thank you!

[@romanone9696]

Good project, is it okay for you to share the plans/3d

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

What I can suggest is checking out JDs Garage. Mine is based on their plans. Thanks!

[@silverclaw37yiff]

How much did it actually cost you. I’ve been planning on doing jds cutter for a while now and saw their vid on it still costing less than 350. Just from the electrons on amazon and it’s been more than that. So just curious what your total was.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Really depends. They base it on the smaller unit and only x and y axis. This unit, current state as seen in the video I would estimate was about 600. But unfortunately alot of my hardware was by the each. I should have purchased on the rainforest site in bulk instead. The main electronics ran me around 100. Metal was close to 200. I purchased full sticks at my local depot due to a cut charge. So I got more than I needed. Hope that helps!

[@Genx4]

I made mine 5x5 but I’m having an issue where the y axis will only move 39 inches and then stop. If I let off the button, wait a second, and push it again it will move again. I’m guessing something in the programming is stopping it.

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Haven't had that issue yet, but hopefully in the future, I am able to try it on a bigger table if I can get to that point.

[@nemessmu]

What software did you use? I could not see it as you were to fast with the camera

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

The control software is openbuilds control. Thanks!

[@randylillsley2561]

What software are you using mate?

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

The software that I use is open builds control.

[@nemessmu]

Can you share with us the size of the machine that you made I was thinking about 1200 cm width and 1500 length cm (this is the cutting size)

[@nemessmu]

Sorry forgot to mention its in CM(metric)the values

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Cutting size is about 1100 mm on x axis and 930mm on the y axis. Bigger would be nicer.

[@Muzz-rq9ps]

Why didn’t you cut the plate with a plasma cutter?

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Honestly, when I cut it by hand, I probably would have been grinding it quite a bit to flatten it out. Funny story: Back in the day, I made a bumper out of 1/4" steel. Storage on both sides and steps to get up. Lifted truck, bumper needed to drop quite a bit to make the truck legal in MN. I borrowed a plasma to make it. I think it was a Cut 40 if I remember correctly. Used a guide and all, looked decent. But I found it took less time to cut the medal with a cutoff then that plasma did. That probably is part of why I just cut it with the grinder.

[@garciacustomfab]

What are your speed settings?

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

@garciacustomfab This was at 40 ipm 50A and 70 psi

[@agguilarmetalwork4494]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👨‍🏭🍺🤜🏻

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Thanks!

[@brianhowe2078]

All that floor work, looks like you should have built a worktop first. Definitely would have been better on your knees

[@luecksrodcustom7686]

Your not wrong. I was too lazy to clean the table off. Was in pain for a few days after.