What's the coolest tool in the shop!

[cruiserpilot]

I got myself a Hypertherm 45 plasma cutter. I haven't had this much fun since I got my drivers licence! I'm designing and fabricating a bumper for my 60, hope to offer it to people when I'm done. But *******, this thing is so much fun!!



It runs through 1/2" like butter, this is the first time I've ever used one. I'm getting better now. There are a few more pics of what I'm doing over on VI Cruisers on the club page.

So the question is, what's your favourite coolest tool in your shop??

 

[PAToyota]

The next step from there... http://torchmate.com/products/torchmate_2x4-1/

(not my machine - just linked a picture of one)

Oh, and I have a Hypertherm Powermax 1100. Cutting through over an inch of steel like it was nothing is just amazing...

 

[hairy_apple]

Most of my tools are from the 40's and 50's so to me they are all pretty rad... Combines my love of old stuff with my enjoyment of working on things.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Yeah, a CNC table would be something. But my shop is only 16x24, I'd need a bigger shop! Oh, and a raise.

Newer is not always better, that's for sure.

 

[Spook50]

My wife says I am.

Not quite sure how to take that

 

[PAToyota]

Yeah, a CNC table would be something. But my shop is only 16x24, I'd need a bigger shop!

The "growth series" starts at 2'x2' - I upgraded from that to a 2'x4' (exchanged the rails). You don't need to dedicate a huge space to it.

 

[Jetboy]

If you're into DIY tool making, you can build your own CNC table. Not too complicated. The only $$$ part is the linear bearing system. I've yet to see a cheap way of doing that part. For a torch it's easier, but if you're building one - might as well make it work with a router too.

 

[firestopper]

The linear bearings, machining the rack and controllers will run some $$$. If go with digital height controller (I recommend) that runs 2k as well. I have about 20k in this set up. First job on it was 18k and that was seven years ago. This Machine can make you some $$$ if you invest in the correct components.

 

[Jetboy]

That looks awesome! I'm building a new garage and really hoping to be able to put together a small cnc router table that could double as a torch if necessary. I'll only have room for a 4x8 max, possibly only a 4x4.

I've often thought there might be a market for what I'd call a modern shopsmith. Something like a 4x8 cnc table that could be folded up and stored against a wall. It could have other uses like circular saw head from a radial arm saw, or some way of attaching a saw below to use as a table saw replacement. Mostly just a way to make the whole table more modular and give it more uses. Just a gantry on the same rails with a skill saw could make ripping plywood really fast, accurate, and easy.

 

[PAToyota]

Something like a 4x8 cnc table that could be folded up and stored against a wall.

Burntables makes a vertical table: http://burntables.com/700/cnc-vertical-plasma-router-table/

 

[Jetboy]

Burntables makes a vertical table: http://burntables.com/700/cnc-vertical-plasma-router-table/

That's pretty slick.

How do they deal with big heavy pieces of steel falling once they are cut loose?

I was thinking something along the lines of a 4x8 aluminum framed table that one side mounted to the wall and the gantry would either slide to one end and lay flat, or possibly collapse in the middle somehow and the whole thing could fold against the wall when not in use. If it could slim down to 24" against the wall that would be good enough for most hobby shops to get out of the way.

 

[PAToyota]

They just introduced it in the past year. I've had similar questions about how well it works for doing certain things. Even without "heavy" pieces, a fairly large piece becoming detached seems like it would cause issues.

I think I saw somewhere that someone had rigged up a Torchmate to swing down from the wall like you describe. I use a water table, so that makes things a bit more complex. But at 2x4 it isn't taking up that much room to begin with.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

They just introduced it in the past year. I've had similar questions about how well it works for doing certain things. Even without "heavy" pieces, a fairly large piece becoming detached seems like it would cause issues.

I think I saw somewhere that someone had rigged up a Torchmate to swing down from the wall like you describe. I use a water table, so that makes things a bit more complex. But at 2x4 it isn't taking up that much room to begin with.

Come on PAT... Surely someone makes a waterfall table by now... If not... give it time....

I'm looking into a 4' x 8' or 5' x 10' table for the shop now. Hope to have one in the next few months.

J

 

[cruiserpilot]

Those table are nice, but kind of more than a hobby tool I think.

 

[PAToyota]

Burntables has mentioned some sort of water system that they've been working with. I haven't seen anything on it.

As for being a hobby tool, I'd say that the main limitation of a smaller table like this is production. If you're looking to make 10K of something you're going to be moving a lot of sheets of metal in and out of it. But, as I mentioned, I have mine set up with a PM1100 capable of cutting over an inch thick sheet of steel. And I know of large corporations using them for prototyping - make one or two of them on this before sending them out to the large tables to make hundreds of them.

 

[bmorefj40]

The linear bearings, machining the rack and controllers will run some $$$. If go with digital height controller (I recommend) that runs 2k as well. I have about 20k in this set up. First job on it was 18k and that was seven years ago. This Machine can make you some $$$ if you invest in the correct components.

Did you build that table from the ground up or did you buy a kit? Looks like a great setup. I like how the rails are kept further away from the action. Those alum t-rails must make getting a square table a lot easier, but probably not a cheap way to build.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[firestopper]

Did you build that table from the ground up or did you buy a kit? Looks like a great setup. I like how the rails are kept further away from the action. Those alum t-rails must make getting a square table a lot easier, but probably not a cheap way to build.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

Built from kit, foot print for material is around 63" X 112". I built a water table for it as the dross dust is bad for lungs. The stout aluminum frame is 80/20 found in many labs and proto shops.
80/20 offers all kinds of attachment etc. Cool stuff but comes with a cost. I use Bob-Cam and Sheet Cam for programming. It also doubles as a routing table for wood and plastics but I have never used it for such. I have cut 20 ga. at 700 IPM and 1.250 plate at 7 IPM. I had to update the shop air to include a refrigerated dryer to eliminate all moisture. The Hypertherm 1250 unit was also modified to interface with the computer to allow On/off and purge. The plasma unit can still be unplugged and used manually.

 

[bmorefj40]

Anyone have any experience with bulltear gantry kit or burntables complete system? Their stuff is in my price range(10k for the table) and I don't mind doing some of the fab myself, but I need torch height control, at least 4x8, and all the electronics/software put together for me. I could probably build one from scratch, but it would take entirely too long( years). I want something that I could have up and running with most of the bugs worked out in 2-3 months.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Anyone have any experience with bulltear gantry kit or burntables complete system? Their stuff is in my price range(10k for the table) and I don't mind doing some of the fab myself, but I need torch height control, at least 4x8, and all the electronics/software put together for me. I could probably build one from scratch, but it would take entirely too long( years). I want something that I could have up and running with most of the bugs worked out in 2-3 months.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

I've heard good things about the Bulltear kits.

I am leaning towards the Precision Plasma gantry kit and then using the Candcnc electronics.

(No affiliation) Ron at Precision http://precisionplasmallc.com/ is great to talk with. One of the main reasons I'm leaning towards using his product. He always calls back and has the answer I'm needing. He pushes http://www.candcnc.com/ electronics, as a lot of these gantry kits suppliers do. (also no affiliation). I am looking at cutting sections for bumper builds, gates, handrail panels, custom hammered log cabin brackets... Everything for me would be a one-off kind of application so, not being able to get high end production numbers don't bother me too much. Just a good quality cut/resolution.

I'm up in the air between a 4x8 and 5x10 table. Space is not an issue for me or the ability to load larger sheets.

Ron will also give you a complete table drawing with dimensions, etc.. to build and put your gantry system on. I will build a water table into mine.

Just my .02 with my experience searching so far.

J

 

[NLXTACY]

I don't know if I can narrow it to one...

Unless you were talking about the shop at home