Scale Cat Twenty Two Dozer Ride On For My Son

[dozerbuilder01]

I've acquired an old t slot table. It's about 14" x 14". I found it under a pile of parts in a surplus store by my inlaws. I got it for real cheap. I don't have t slot nuts that small so I drilled and tapped 20 3/8-16 holes to use my clamping set. I may eventually open up the slots if I can get a cutter. It's also two tiered so I can use clamps near the edge too.

Reason I did this is because my welding table isn't flat. It's one of the first things I ever made and I didn't have the tools at the time to get the bow out all the way. And now it annoys me. So I've always wanted something flat that I could clamp to so I don't warp parts and to hold things still. Overkill? Probably. But I like it that way.

So the next several posts will be a little repetitive because I'm just building the other side of the track frame. But starting off, it was a lot easier to weld the motor mount block to the tube.

I also ran an end mill down two sides so I can lay out parts with my squares.

 

[mjncad]

Good score on getting the T-slot table.

 

[tlbuser]

My plasma guys have trouble opening my .dxf files. I don't know why because they look fine in my CAD software.
Now that I see what was wrong with my DXF files (have to export as a 2D dimension instead of straight DXF), I'm hoping my plasma guy can get me in instead of having to fix all of my lines.

This might help you get things straightened out. If I remember correctly, Plasmacam was written with Bo-cad in mind. Here's the owners manual pages for import/export stuff.

BTW, I think the kid will like it.

 

[mjncad]

I've been using CAD since 1979 and this is the first I've ever heard of Bocad. So I Googled them and found http://www.bocad.com/en/home.html and they are based out of Germany. I have European made software (Tune-Up Utilities and High Logic Font Creator) that work real well; but geez...it seems Plasmacam has really boxed themselves into a corner using what is probably a minor player CAD software, and relying on ancient computer technology (e.g. serial and parallel ports) for their products. Looking at the manual TLBUSER graciously posted and seeing references to LaserJet 5 printers and floppy disks makes me shake my head. As much as I'd like to support a Colorado based company; I won't be looking at Plasmacam should I ever be fortunate enough to even consider acquiring such a system.

 

[tlbuser]

well, before you get too critical based on my memory, it may have been bobcad too If you have any real desire to do metal work, an automated cutting table is the best way to go. Nice thing about these, is you can put almost any cutting head on. I've used a router on mine and done some wooden signs too.

 

[mjncad]

Well BobCAD is a new one to me too; but after looking at their website, this seems more plausible as to what PlasmaCAM is using.

BobCAD-CAM is The World Leader in Powerful CAD/CAM Software

Bobcad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From the Wikipedia article.

To further assist future endeavors my father's die making company purchased a CAD-CAM system for approximately $300,000. In those days very few people knew anything about CAD-CAM systems, and my assistance was eagerly provided. That first system consisted of a rather large computer, three black and white monitors, terminals, and a 300 megabyte hard drive (similar in size to a commercial washing machine). A specially designed climate and temperature controlled room had to be built to accommodate the computer, hard disk, and the programmer who was hired incidentally at a base salary of approximately $60,000, whose sole purpose was to make everything function.[citation needed].

This sounds very similar to the Auto-Trol system I first learned CAD on in 1979. All three systems (Sperry-Univac), dumb terminals, and climate controlled computer room came in around $2-million at the time as I recall. The company charged its clients $75/hour for operator and machine.

I still think I'd look at Lincoln's Torchmate, and others before considering PlasmaCAM.

 

[philbuilt]

I have a plasma-cam and think it's great. I built all my files in Corel Draw 13 and export DXF. Works great!

 

[mjncad]

What are you building with your PlasmaCAM?

 

[philbuilt]

I own a sign shop so we use it for base plates, gussets, reduction rings, a current project is a goose neck trailer.
Being A large sign manufacturer we also have several cutting systems. My multicast CNC table has a 7'x12 vac table and an 11 tool auto changer. Again we make all products files in Corel and export as needed. Multi-cam uses EPS files.

 

[mjncad]

Interesting that you use CorelDraw for your business as it's primarily meant as an illustration tool and a competitor to Adobe's "Illustrator." I had CorelDraw X3 suite and found it a PITA. I do like Corel's Paint Shop Pro and have been using it since version 4 when JASC was the software house that wrote the software.