Plasma Machine upgrade

[kvcummins (K Cummins)]

@vicious1

until you add a Z axis with Torch Height Control, then it gets very complicated fast.

But even you managed to figure it out! Right? Or did you give up and make some infernal bargain with a dark power for the deep knowledge? :side_eye:

[DougJoseph (Doug Joseph (design8studio))]

@joegomez1479

I noticed that Doug has created a plasma machine with the LR4 CNC, and I would appreciate any advice you might have.

I have three LowRiders (and have built about seven if you count a couple of LR4 beta iterations that don’t still exist). I started with LR2 carrying trim router (running on a SKR, a PCB meant for controlling a printer), upgraded it to LR3 carrying trim router (also SKR board, but then later upgraded to Jackpot board running FluidNC), then built another LR3 carrying a plasma torch, driven by LinuxCNC running on an old Acer laptop (with a touch screen!) combined with PCB boards made by MESA Electronics (a one-man operation, a guy who is brilliant and very generous), and then built several LR4 carrying trim routers, running on Jackpot board, and replacing the LR3 and leaving me with two LR4.

Here’s one of many videos I put out re. the plasma project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC7X0wB65kA

NOTE: My entire plasma build log, packed with helpful details is here on the forum:

LowRider 3 - Plasma Build "On a Budget" - Clarksburg, WV

I’m starting this thread to document my efforts toward a CNC plasma cutting table, based on the LowRider, most likely v3. This is all a work in progress. Thanks for your patience and understanding. It will take time for me to test and prove my solutions. I am documenting as I can due to time constraints. I’m gaining mountains of both information and inspiration from Kyle’s (kd2018’s) plasma thread here on the V1 forum: Let me start by giving what I believe are my two to three best “budget fr…

[DougJoseph (Doug Joseph (design8studio))]

@kd2018

+1 for linuxcnc and mesa

I’m yet another +1 for linuxcnc and mesa cards.

The QTPlasmaC GUI on LinuxCNC is powerful, custom made expressly for plasma cutting, and there’s a lot packed into that.

[DougJoseph (Doug Joseph (design8studio))]

@joegomez1479

Thanks . Kyle

Also let me again say, I would never have succeeded without the amazing documentation that @kd2018 had posted here in his build thread. I majorly copied his in many ways. Also, kudo’s to @vicious1 and the forum here in general. Super helpful. I would never have tackled the job without the great resources and folks, and also would not have succeeded without it.

[kd2018 (Kyle)]

@vicious1

Plasma control is simple … until you add a Z axis with Torch Height Control, then it gets very complicated fast.

@vicious1

Linux CNC … I would steer clear.

@joegomez1479

I’m looking for an open-source alternative that might work better.

I’m not aware of any real open-source alternatives other than linuxcnc+plasmac… but once you get it figured out, or get over that learning curve, it’s as good or better than anything else out there. I’ve heard it described as “industrial quality” but I wouldn’t know myself.

[Bigfoot16 (Dan Harley)]

I’ve been looking at Centriod CNC’s Acorn controller. They have software and also a THC available. I’m putting together a small Plasma CNC right now. I’m not setting up a THC on this one so I will be testing with Jackpot3 and Fluid NC. Price may be a little steep for some. Do you know if anyone has used the Centroid Acorn?