radial arm saw plasma cutter

[Rednic79]

hey, i'm half way though this plasma table project and would be interested to know what everyone thinks about it and if you guys have any ideas or input. thanks

 

[Industrial Toys]

My first thought was, how awesome. Then I started to think about the advantages and could not think of too many. It's not hard to grab a straight edge and run your torch along it. It would be just another large piece of seldom used equipment in my shop. I really don't use my plasma much. A CNC table would be sweet, buty probably not used much either. Probably more for friends.

 

[dragoneggs]

Interesting... I do have an old Craftsman 10in radial arm saw and drawer stand sitting around taking space. Definitely a poor man's unit but for bunches of consistent straight cuts I suppose it could useful. Worse case it is a little used accessory to a cutting table. I will follow along. Good luck!

 

[Rednic79]

Yeah i think like you say either way ill have a little cutting table

 

[Big Barn]

My first thought was, how awesome. Then I started to think about the advantages and could not think of too many. It's not hard to grab a straight edge and run your torch along it. It would be just another large piece of seldom used equipment in my shop. I really don't use my plasma much. A CNC table would be sweet, buty probably not used much either. Probably more for friends.

This is my thinking exactly. BuckitCase Steve mentioned this earlier and I had it on my to do list.

The more I thought about it, the less enamored I was with the idea. (Sorry, Shiny Steve) Did a major shop clean up last week and well...this is where it now resides





Terry

 

[farm boy00]

hey, i'm half way though this plasma table project and would be interested to know what everyone thinks about it and if you guys have any ideas or input. thanks
Video Link: https://youtu.be/vxoFFD6_5xc

I love it. Seems really smart for a small guy. We don't have a plasma. Traded ours off years ago for truck work.

It could be made to take any tool from a plasma to a grinder welder. The sky is the limit

 

[Rednic79]

I love it. Seems really smart for a small guy. We don't have a plasma. Traded ours off years ago for truck work.

It could be made to take any tool from a plasma to a grinder welder. The sky is the limit

yeah i thought it was kinda like a extra hand, i see myself using to do repeatable angle cuts. i do custom furniture work and often need that kinda thing

 

[boggen]

would replace the threaded rod and the battery operated drill. with a smooth rod. and then find some sort of handle to lock things down in place. perhaps 2 plates of metal. turned into a kinda of a vise or something to lock unit in position. and then when you want to make 90 degree cuts undo it. so you are completely in control of how fast you are cutting by hand.

that threaded rod / battery operated drill = good for ripping stuff down kinda like a table saw when you rip plywood and boards down. and allows you to lock things in place. but you are more needing just the "lock" and then a free form slide without a motor to move things back and forth.

might suggest pulling the grating out. and put some rollers down. for longer pieces of metal. and then when cutting shorter pieces of metal toss the grate back on top, and use a couple thumb screws /bolts to hold grating in place.

 

[MossRoad]

hey, i'm half way though this plasma table project and would be interested to know what everyone thinks about it and if you guys have any ideas or input. thanks

Since radial arm saws have been replaced by power compound angle miter boxes, they are pretty much giving them away, so good use for a set of legs and a table. As you mentioned having to do lots of repetitive straight cuts, seems like a good use. Set up a jig to make the same cut over and over again.

How do you plan to make it trigger without you having to use your hand? A foot pedal might be nice. That would leave both hands free and not too awkward as it is now.

 

[dragoneggs]

Since radial arm saws have been replaced by power compound angle miter boxes, they are pretty much giving them away, so good use for a set of legs and a table. As you mentioned having to do lots of repetitive straight cuts, seems like a good use. Set up a jig to make the same cut over and over again.

How do you plan to make it trigger without you having to use your hand? A foot pedal might be nice. That would leave both hands free and not too awkward as it is now.

Definitely a foot pedal is in Rednic's future.

 

[davedj1]

I like it. I'm thinking a couple of servos and another motor to turn the arm left to right and hook it up to a computer you could have a cnc table!
Think "etch a sketch"

 

[Rednic79]

yeah i foot pedal is a great idea, i'll have to figure an easy way to pull the trigger, i don't want to cut into the wires

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

A light weight spring clamp over the switch would be a quick way of hands free. Use one of the plastic ones that has a space in the middle that it closes on the jaw tip without excessive pressure on the switch

 

[xtn]

So I don't know how much the effort will or will not pay dividends to you down the road, but gosh durnit that's clever as stink!

 

[BukitCase]

"The more I thought about it, the less enamored I was with the idea. (Sorry, Shiny Steve)"

No apology necessary Terry - the more I thought about the hurdles in the project, the further down the list it went

So far, I've ended up with a Flange Wizard circle cutter/roller support and a known straight piece of 1" angle for most things, and Masonite patterns for the trickier parts.

Once I get the "sea box" placed I'll be moving all my welders and the big 700# (3'x7'x1") table into that, and I'm considering a "flip up" grate hinged off the big table for cutting... Steve

 

[Rednic79]

A light weight spring clamp over the switch would be a quick way of hands free. Use one of the plastic ones that has a space in the middle that it closes on the jaw tip without excessive pressure on the switch

oh ya, thats a good idea, thanks. i think a bike cable will be fine to operate it

 

[Big Barn]

I guess I should reclarify my previous post. I think the concept is great, especially for repeatable cuts but not worth the effort to build for my usage.

I'll probably build a freestanding table for my plaz and oxy/acet cutting.

Terry

 

[Rednic79]

I guess I should reclarify my previous post. I think the concept is great, especially for repeatable cuts but not worth the effort to build for my usage.

I'll probably build a freestanding table for my plaz and oxy/acet cutting.

Terry

yeah i suppose i just depends on what kind of stuff ya build. for me, i find i use wood templates quite often, so this was one way to use less of them

 

[Big Barn]

Any photos of what you make?

Terry

 

[Rednic79]

Any photos of what you make?

Terry

well, off hand a have these. i make quite a few ice shack wood stoves from 20lb propane tanks, and the guitar is an art piece i made for my uncle as well, its made from 1/8 plate all welded and cut using wood templates