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big496
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Hello

Post by big496 »

I found this place doing research before buying a table. Found a good bit of info and hoping in time I may be able to contribute. I recently purchased an STVCNC 4400 and upgraded to a Powermax 65 non-sync. So far everything has been going well. The design portion still kicks my butt at times and I forget things quickly. The controller uses MyPlasm which seems to do what its supposed to. I'm on the fence about getting SheetCam that seems popular but I don't know that I've found a need yet. Maybe one of those things you didn't know you needed until you have it? Fusion360 is what I started with for CAD. I get lost and I think it does way more than I will need but some other free versions I've tried are complete opposite of the spectrum. Still looking for a happy medium on that front but overall I'm having a blast. Thanks for having me here.
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

Welcome aboard big496! I'll bet you're glad you got your Powermax 65 Non-Sync while they were still available. The reports I have seen tell me that the Sync does not play nice with cnc plasma tables, particularly the thc. Are you using Fusion 360 for design as well as CAM for cut paths and g-code, or are you designing with another program and importing your dxf to Fusion 360? I occasionally use Fusion 360 (free version) and I think it is great - not only for plasma cutting, but creating solid models for 3D printing as well. Have you done anything with Inkscape yet? It seems to be very popular here and is free as well. I like it for auto-tracing jpegs, but also use it occasionally for creating/editing drawings.

What sorts of projects have you been cutting and making with your plasma table? Have you tried out any of the FineCut consumables for cutting your thinner materials? Will look forward to hearing more about your setup and projects.

David
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Re: Hello

Post by acourtjester »

Welcome aboard Big, are you running a business using the table in that business? You are facing what many face in that you are trying to run before you walk. It is exciting getting into the CNC world and Plasma is a great section of it. Sorting out what is available to use with CNC operations can be over welling. With CAD what fills you actual need can be different for some, Fusion 360 is great and many here use it. A problem I have is software overload. 360 does many thing and can muddy the waters with that. SheetCam is more focused on the CAM section of CNC, it is like if you want gas you go to a gas station not a Mall. Sorry I am a KISS advocate which helps me stay on path when doing things. Inkscape is another thing it is in the image manipulation section and does a great job. You may use Adobe Illustrator or others that are over kill for me. I learn as I need and work with that in my way of operating. (KISS= keep it simple stupid)
Enjoy the journey, there is help here for whichever package you choose, and you can also use the search function in the upper right for a quick look.
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
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big496
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Re: Hello

Post by big496 »

My "cnc plasma Journey" if you will. I used to work at a plant the had a large burn table. It was capable of plasma/oxy cutting and just awesome. I've been a one man band weld/fab/fix anything shop for almost 4 years. That being said, a table was always in the plans. I became very serious about it maybe a year ago, spent more than enough time watching, reading and contacting manufacturers etc. Matt at Bulltear Industries, Forest CNC and the folks at STV were all great.

I went with STV Sparx4400 as my entry level table. I have been very pleased with its performance. I opted for the reduction motors and homing kit. The price point was good and I chose the smaller table as I didn't want to commit the space and have a 5x10 paperweight. Like most, I had to cut out anything I could find and friends/family "oh can you make me one of these?" I was ok as most of it was small stuff cut on drops and I got to experiment and learn on freebies. I chose the non-sync 65 as I did not get a warm an fuzzy after really digging into current sync user feedback. I think the concept is good but its first gen stuff and always bugs to be worked out.

So far I have made some signage, a few deco pieces as well as some brackets from 3/8-5/8" steel for a local business. I intend to incorporate this into my current business and be more self reliable. I have used Inkscape over the past month and I'm feeling comfortable with basic functions. I am far from proficient with fusion and don't use it enough to remember how to use it. There is a mini cad provided with the MyPlasm, it's quick and easy for basic stuff. The MyPlasm seems to be very user friendly, the new versions are not running 100% so I have yet to update. There are more features to it that I have yet to figure out so until then, I wont be buying sheetcam. I am however going to start exploring some other options for CAD.
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Joe Jones
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Re: Hello

Post by Joe Jones »

big496 wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 10:51 pm I found this place doing research before buying a table. Found a good bit of info and hoping in time I may be able to contribute. I recently purchased an STVCNC 4400 and upgraded to a Powermax 65 non-sync. So far everything has been going well. The design portion still kicks my butt at times and I forget things quickly. The controller uses MyPlasm which seems to do what its supposed to. I'm on the fence about getting SheetCam that seems popular but I don't know that I've found a need yet. Maybe one of those things you didn't know you needed until you have it? Fusion360 is what I started with for CAD. I get lost and I think it does way more than I will need but some other free versions I've tried are complete opposite of the spectrum. Still looking for a happy medium on that front but overall I'm having a blast. Thanks for having me here.
Hi. Download a FREE program called DESIGN SPARK MECHANICAL. It is an awesome CAD program, it is FREE, and there are copious You Tube videos in which a very patient English chap takes you through the learning curve.

I use that, and Google SketchUp, and Vectric Software's V-Carve, and of course DesignEdge with is the PlasmaCam proprietary software.

Joe


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adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

design spark.jpg
big496
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Re: Hello

Post by big496 »

Whats the space claim viewer? I checked out design spark some. I haven't downloaded yet, but I was wondering if it does export dxf or not. The videos I found list some other formats and a quick Google search says the updated version does? I'll probably download tomorrow and play around with it. Appreciate the recommendations, gives me something to do besides sleep.
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

I don't know anything about the viewer, and I have not used DesgnSpark for anything productive, but yes - it will export as dxf.
David
DesignSpark 1.jpg
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

QCad 1.jpg
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Joe Jones
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Re: Hello

Post by Joe Jones »

Yes, DSM exports DXF files.

Joe



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Franklin, KY., USA
Samson 510 & 4x4
6” Z Rail Lift Kit for PlasmaCam
CreatBot D600 PRO 3D Printer
12 Lasers
FREE DesignEdge Training!

It is more fun when it isn't necessary!
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

Here is one that is free and most likely easier to use for straight mechanical drawing of simple parts. It will export as dxf and does have drawing tools for shapes, lines, offset, etc.


ProtoMax Layout.jpg
ProtoMax Layout 1.jpg
https://knowledgebase.omax.com/protomax ... ftware.htm
ProtoMax Download.jpg
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

ProtoMax also has an image tracing tool.
ProtoMax image tracing.jpg
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Joe Jones
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Re: Hello

Post by Joe Jones »

Thanks, David. I never heard of that program. So much to learn. so little time left.

Joe


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Franklin, KY., USA
Samson 510 & 4x4
6” Z Rail Lift Kit for PlasmaCam
CreatBot D600 PRO 3D Printer
12 Lasers
FREE DesignEdge Training!

It is more fun when it isn't necessary!
HypHyDef
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Re: Hello

Post by HypHyDef »

big496 wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 10:51 pm I found this place doing research before buying a table. Found a good bit of info and hoping in time I may be able to contribute. I recently purchased an STVCNC 4400 and upgraded to a Powermax 65 non-sync. So far everything has been going well. The design portion still kicks my butt at times and I forget things quickly. The controller uses MyPlasm which seems to do what its supposed to. I'm on the fence about getting SheetCam that seems popular but I don't know that I've found a need yet. Maybe one of those things you didn't know you needed until you have it? Fusion360 is what I started with for CAD. I get lost and I think it does way more than I will need but some other free versions I've tried are complete opposite of the spectrum. Still looking for a happy medium on that front but overall I'm having a blast. Thanks for having me here.
Hello Big496, Welcome to the group and congrats on your table and plasma purchase. Thank you for choosing Hypertherm as your plasma source. I think you will love the Powermax65 as well as all the great knowledge on this forum. If there is anything I can do for you please dont hesitate to ask.
Randy,
Marketing Data Specialist – Americas Region
Hypertherm Inc.
big496
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Re: Hello

Post by big496 »

I appreciate all the responses and I am more than happy with the PMAX 65. I have been checking out some of the previously mentioned programs. My biggest frustration with them is I am following along with a youtube tutorial, and for whatever reason, what is done in the video does not correspond to what my program wants to do???? A perfect example is fusion 360. I want to lay out a simple pan to cut and bend. I go through steps in tutorial (playing on a separate monitor) and when I go to select surfaces, my lines for bends vanish and I only have one surface to select. If I had any hair I'd be ripping it out. Half of the videos the people go to explain something and go off on a tangent about their commodore 64, or five other things a command can do or did six updates ago. Sorry for the rant but I'm sure somebody will get a laugh from it. I need some of this stuff broken down Barney style...
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

Which video are you watching? Link please. Some of the older Fusion 360 videos show an older version of Fusion 360 where all the commands are layed out differently with some changes. Also maybe you could show your sketch of you pan you want to cut and bend and myself or one the other members will have a look at how to do it with Fusion 360.
Thanks,
David
big496
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Re: Hello

Post by big496 »

Not sure what video that one was exactly. I'm not making anything in particular, just playing with software more or less trying to learn. I have been trying to pay attention to the age of videos and what version if it is visible. I get frustrated easily which doesn't help and sometimes I gotta just walk away and have a drink.
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

What thickness material were you making your pan from? For thicker material, it is often nice to actually cut some very narrow slots along the bend lines to facilitate bending. For thinner material, there could either be scribed or engraved with the table (engraver in place of torch), or drawn with the machine using a shapie pen holder clamped to the torch body. I will look later this evening and see if I can show you a simple step-by-step to draw up a box/pan for cutting.
David
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

I don't think it has been mentioned here, but Langmuir Systems has some great Fusion 360 tutorials - links at their site.

https://www.langmuirsystems.com/software/fusion

I also highly recommend Arnold Rowntree's set of Fusion 360 tutorials. I have studied both the Langmuir and Arnold's and the are both great.

David

big496
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Re: Hello

Post by big496 »

I have heard about the langmuir videos but never think about them when I'm in youtube land. Making a basic square pan isn't the challenge, it's making it on the screen haha. My geometry skills aren't much more than the basic stuff. I figured CAD would be much more efficient to make a cut file than trying to draw in inkscape. Thank you for the link!
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

There are several ways to accomplish this using Fusion 360. The easiest and quickest method is to simply draw the shape, create the cut paths, and post process to generate the g-code for your specific table. The more complicated method would be to create a solid model of the box, use the Fusion 360 sheet metal tool to create the cut layout, then switch to the CAM mode to create the cut paths, and finally post process to create the g-code.

For demo purposes, I will start with the simple method first.

David
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

Fusion 360 box - 1.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 2.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 3.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 4.jpg
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Fusion 360 box - 10.jpg
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

Fusion 360 box - 11.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 12.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 13.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 14.jpg
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Fusion 360 box - 20.jpg
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

Fusion 360 box - 21.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 22.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 23.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 24.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 25.jpg
Fusion 360 box - 26.jpg
adbuch
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Re: Hello

Post by adbuch »

You could just draw the bend lines on the part after you cut it. The align the bend lines with the fingers on your bending brake to fold up the 4 sides to create the box. If this were created from thicker material, then slots could be cut along the bend lines before the outer perimeter is cut out to facilitate easier bending. For example, if you are constructing from 14 ga. steel and your bending brake is only rated for 16 ga.

I know this seems more complicated than it actually is. But it is really as simple as draw it, create cut paths, post it, and cut it.

David
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