grsthegreat
Super Star Member
ya, that was my problem. When the win XP that ran the unit gave up the ghost, i had to upgrade to Win 7 (i refuse to use win10). Thats when i had to update my cutting software.
Considering plasma CNC system
- Thread starter IXLR8
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Industrial Toys
Super Star Member
- Joined
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- Ontario Canada
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- Kubota R510 Wheel Loader + Cab and backhoe, JD 6200 Open Station, Cushman 6150, 4x4, ten foot 56 hp Kubota diesel hydraulic wing mower, Steiner 430 Diesel Max, Kawasaki Diesel Mule, JD 4x2 Electric Gator
I am just starting to use this new DELL computer I bought two years ago with Windows 7 and am struggling. Also trying to figure out Thunderbird. Everying becomes less and less intuitive. Stuff shows up on your screen and no "X" to get rid of it! I have no patience for it, for figuring out someone elses crap. I hate being in a position of being ever more at the utter and total mercy of some corporation.
CADplans
Elite Member
I DIY built a CNC cutter in the year 2000,,
I do not think there were any small machines to buy at the time,, only big industrial units, in the $XXX,XXX price range,
I purchased a lightly used version of a CNC knee mill that did not have a milling head,,
it even included the "computer", it ran on punched paper cards,,, so, you can guess how old it was,,,
then, I purchased a PC operated control and two stepping motors from one of the only places that sold them in the year 2000,,
My total cost to get the machine running with an oxy-fuel torch was right at $5,000,, and about 40 man-hours of wiring and setup.
the plasma was added about 3 years later, at a cost of $3,600, I bought a REALLY high amp ESAB machine torch unit.
That plasma torch could cut 3/16" steel for 60 hours of torch "on time" per set of consumables.
The machine was cutting at 60 inches per minute,, it made a LOT of parts per set of consumables,,,
The oxy-fuel torch probably ran 300 hours of torch on time per consumable,, that torch cut at 20 inches per minute,,,
That machine produced production level quantities of parts 8 to 10 hours per week for 12 years,,,
My consumables, and replacement parts were less than $1,500 for the entire 12 years I ran the machine.
I never tried to learn to import a drawing by scanning, I produced everything with G-Code,,,
If I were to try to sell "one-off" custom parts like a sign, I would have lost my shirt,,,
my parts were all repeats of previous parts,, so, I called up a program, loaded a piece of steel, and hit the go button.
NOTE, I did not include the cost of oxygen or propane in my cost estimates,,
I do not think there were any small machines to buy at the time,, only big industrial units, in the $XXX,XXX price range,
I purchased a lightly used version of a CNC knee mill that did not have a milling head,,
it even included the "computer", it ran on punched paper cards,,, so, you can guess how old it was,,,
then, I purchased a PC operated control and two stepping motors from one of the only places that sold them in the year 2000,,
My total cost to get the machine running with an oxy-fuel torch was right at $5,000,, and about 40 man-hours of wiring and setup.
the plasma was added about 3 years later, at a cost of $3,600, I bought a REALLY high amp ESAB machine torch unit.
That plasma torch could cut 3/16" steel for 60 hours of torch "on time" per set of consumables.
The machine was cutting at 60 inches per minute,, it made a LOT of parts per set of consumables,,,
The oxy-fuel torch probably ran 300 hours of torch on time per consumable,, that torch cut at 20 inches per minute,,,
That machine produced production level quantities of parts 8 to 10 hours per week for 12 years,,,
My consumables, and replacement parts were less than $1,500 for the entire 12 years I ran the machine.
I never tried to learn to import a drawing by scanning, I produced everything with G-Code,,,
If I were to try to sell "one-off" custom parts like a sign, I would have lost my shirt,,,
my parts were all repeats of previous parts,, so, I called up a program, loaded a piece of steel, and hit the go button.
NOTE, I did not include the cost of oxygen or propane in my cost estimates,,
RNeumann
Elite Member
If you do the programming typically a place that has a table will cut it out for a reasonable price. It’s a gateway for the wife......
dragoneggs
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You have to email or call PlasmaCam for a quote. I was quoted $5K for the basic 4x4 table. Does not include plasma cutter or PC but does come with software program needed.
It seems $5K and up is the going rate for a package other than DIY.
npalen
Elite Member
Lincoln Electric Torchmate 48 - A 4x8 CNC Plasma Cutting Table | Torchmate
This might be one to consider. I'm thinking that torchmate has been around for a number of years as a small company and recently purchased by Lincoln.
This might be one to consider. I'm thinking that torchmate has been around for a number of years as a small company and recently purchased by Lincoln.
CADplans
Elite Member
I like this one for $1500 plus $99 shipping,,,
Sounds like a perfect unit to make signs??
CrossFire CNC Plasma Table – Langmuir Systems
Sounds like a perfect unit to make signs??
CrossFire CNC Plasma Table – Langmuir Systems
spitter
Platinum Member
do a lot of research .There is a lot of info on cnc plasm out their . My experience with plasma cam is terrible. Whenever there is a problem or it doesn,t do what it's supposed to it cost another 2,000 $ for an upgrade . Service is terrible just purchased extension rails to make 4x8 table they would not give any info on how to relocate gantry wireing and many other details. Every time you call for trouble shooting there is a charge. lot better machines out there but torchmate is not one of them.:drink:
TMGT
Elite Member
I have been researching plasma tables for a few years and finally started building one earlier this month.
I ended up going with a PrecisionPlasmaLLC Magnum 7HD gantry kit with CandCNC.com for the electronics, I always ended up back at the PrecisionPlasma site when looking at DIY tables. You can look at the blueprints and material list on his site to see if it's something you want to tackle.
What I like about building it is the wear items and electronics are all off the shelf items so I wont be reliant on a manufactuere for future support. The software is mostly open source so you wont have expensive updates and from what I've looked at the transfer from drawing to cutting is pretty easy with the cam software they use.
They also use linux as an operating system so it takes care of the windows glitchyness problems.
Take a look at precision plasma site, it's not a great site but you can look around and if you have any questions the owner is reachable by phone and easy to talk to.
He also has other models of gantry kits available that aren't listed on the site.
I ended up going with a PrecisionPlasmaLLC Magnum 7HD gantry kit with CandCNC.com for the electronics, I always ended up back at the PrecisionPlasma site when looking at DIY tables. You can look at the blueprints and material list on his site to see if it's something you want to tackle.
What I like about building it is the wear items and electronics are all off the shelf items so I wont be reliant on a manufactuere for future support. The software is mostly open source so you wont have expensive updates and from what I've looked at the transfer from drawing to cutting is pretty easy with the cam software they use.
They also use linux as an operating system so it takes care of the windows glitchyness problems.
Take a look at precision plasma site, it's not a great site but you can look around and if you have any questions the owner is reachable by phone and easy to talk to.
He also has other models of gantry kits available that aren't listed on the site.