I am working with a friend to get a CNC Plasma machine up and running in a fab shop that is already doing some hot rod work and is looking to do more. My background; I am a hobbyist hot rodder and used to have a sign shop that did a lot of Commercial Truck Signs with vinyl lettering cut by a CNC driven cutter. Needless to say, while similar in operation, sign software was not intended to be used to cut metal and a vinyl sign cutter is nowhere near robust enough to handle a torch cutting metal. I used CasMate software and a Roland Vinyl Cutter. So heres what Im needing help with: <O</O What is a decent metal cutting software package? <O</O Does anyone have any experience with the Burny 3 control system? <O</O Have you converted a Burny 3 system to something else? <O</O If you are doing CNC plasma cutting, what are you using? <O</O Also looking for a reference site for beginning CNC cutting? <O</O <O</O Thanks in advance for your help!<O</O
hi Bill, a friend of mine gave me a copy of DHC PlasmaCam. the software seems to be geared towards DHC-proprietary controls though. in the setup only 3 machine type choices are available i have never used it so i have no idea how well it works perhaps third party developers have created post-processors for Burny 3? or if you can edit the code to suit your control's preferences, etc pm me and i can e-mail you a zip file of the software if you like.
Check out a program called "Cutting shop" we use it to convert raster file to vectors so you can import it into our program to post it to Lasers or CNC punches. I am a CNC programer and do 3D drafting and design. Cutting shop works pretty well it can turn a jpeg into a vector files.
1956 F100; Thanks for the reply. I will check it out. Are you familiar with BobCAD-CAM? http://www.bobcad.com/ When I go to buy software, what are some of the questions I should be asking?
Raster to vector conversion is standard with Mastercam. Does a cool job of converting pictures into machinable lines and arcs.
I currently run a plasma table with a burny system. I also use the program Fastcam to produce files using autoCAD or DXF files. you should be able to import DXF files directly into the burny system it also has many shapes built into the system so if you want circles brackets and etc you can do it directly in the burny screen. I dont know if you have AutoCAD but you can use AutoCAD light to produce simply 2-D models and then make it into a polyline and then export them to a DXF file. The nice thing about useing a Program like fastcam you can produce a CNC file that you can set the kerf in and make the paths. Then you can import it into the burny and then make your setting for standoff speed and pierce time and pierce rate. I dont know what your current CAD skills are but if you have any question I will try and help point you in the right direction. The idea of using a program that produces a cnc file from an image sounds great but with my experience I like to import the image into AutoCAD then trace the image witha polyline then export it to a DXF. this makes sure the scale is correct and fits.
friend just put in a CNC plasma cutting system that can handle 4' x 8' sheets and has been making nice parts from up to 1/2" hrs. He doesn't have any prior experience in programming but is getting very good at running this system. He made a template out of 16ga steel, painted it black and used that to cut much thicker plates with an eye-guided oxy torch that he was using previously. So, he'll keep the eye-guided torch too. The system he got has an automatic distance setter for the tip height. The software has a LOT of helpful geometry "wizards" that save a great deal of time when defining shapes and paths. It can import DXF files with polyline contours like mentioned previously. He also mentioned the JPG conversion thing, but I've not seen it work. The software can be used independently of the machine. He bought a big monitor for under $200 from Sam's for it. Sure makes it nice to see the details. http://www.enroutesoftware.com/Applications/Fabrication.aspx
I built my 4x8 CNC Plasma Cutter and I am using Autocad to Generate DXF Files which go into SheetCam to generate the G-Code, which goes into Mach 3 to run my table. This is an old pic, as I have a water table with slats and also have the y-axis cables in IGUS chain. I built my control box using a Gecko G540 4 axis motor controller, a 48Vdc power supply and Torch Height Control from www.candcnc.com I use a Hypertherm 1250 machine and should be able to cut up to 1" thick, but I've never obtained any stock that thick to test cut. If you are going the Sheetcam to Mach 3 route, there is a great website that you can join to get DXF files from its users. Costs $20 to join so its real cheap. Plasmaspider.com It is basically a forum format so its easy to search and get the files you want. If you have questions about CNC Plasma Cutting in general, check out www.cnczone.com and register there, its also a forum.
My friend (toradorxlt) and I went halfs on a torchmate CNC. The machine is great once you figure out all the little tricks to running it. The torchmate CAD program ****s so we use Rhino CAD then import our design into their program then run it. We originally bought it with the Lincoln Tomahawk plasma but we really were not impressed with the way it cut. It seemed underpowered and slow. We upgraded to the Hypertherm 65 and can highly recommend it! It cost a little more, but performs way better and is well worth the extra cash! Plus consumables last longer and cost less. We love the Torchmate and I consider it one of the best tools in my shop.
Thanks for all the responses. Keep 'em coming. All the site and software references give me a lot to check out. If any one has a g-code file that I can use to send to the Burny-3 just so I can verify that the machine actually works, that would be great. We also do not have instructions to run the burny. Any help there would also be appreciated.
do a search for "free" G-code generators.... here's a page that popped up; might be worth trying out for a short program on the Burny http://replicat.org/generators
Yep, That's right. I can just picture Jimmy Shine out back in the shop at SoCal with a cardboard pattern and a sharpie and an oxy/acetylene cutting torch making every bracket in their catalog with Alex Xydias looking over his shoulder telling him how they did it back in the day.....
Bump for the morn'n crowd. Thanks for all the help so far guys. we are definitely on a fast learning curve.
Are you allowed to use a plasma cutter to make parts for an old school rod? I'm sure that some of the automotive Amish here wouldn't approve of anything more than a hacksaw and cutting torch, or maybe drilling a series of holes and breaking the part off.
Here's a G code sample of a triangular gusset: % N1054 N1G91 N2G00X-14.383Y4.8371 N3M04 N4G01 N5G42X.3535Y-.3536 N6X-3.7635Y-3.7635 N7X17.1154 N8X-7.4846Y7.4846 N9X-2.1462 N10X-3.7211Y-3.7211 N11G02X-.1414I-.0707J.0707 N12G01X-.2828Y.2829 N13G40 N14M03 N15M30 % Burney built in shapes:
The burny system you are useing looks to be an older system than what i work with. The maching should work on the same principal though. you should have a screen to first load up the part either from a jump drive or from the pre burny shapes program. remember to first load up the file. then you will set the start point and then use the run command you should be able to run a continuous test run thent after checking the shape you turn it on to automatic which should control the system. you should be able to directly import a dxf file and run it but the advantage of using a program like fastcam or any other is the ability to nest and to set precuts to produce a cleaner part. looks to be a nice little machine and depending on your plasma torch you should be able to cut alot with it.
What's the typical greenhorn learning curve on a new CNC plasma machine? Thinking about getting one before our year end...and what do you folks recomend, maybe in the 2x2 to 4x4 sizes. Thanks
The learning curve on the cnc machine depends on your graphic skills and design skills. when we got our cnc machine it took a few months to get the feel for it but I also had been doing AutoCAD for ten year prior to getting the machine. I dont know how the smaller machines program paths and kerf but if you have good design skills along with computer skills they are not to bad to learn. The size of the table really depends on what your are going to use it for a 4' x 8' would be as small as I would buy do the fact all material comes in that size but if you only use it for brackets and and small stuff I would go 4' x 4'. I would never go to a 2' x 2' because your very limited on what you can do.
Most of our stuff is smaller, and we have a 14" shear, so a 4x4 is probably best for us, Thanks....found a nice one from Oregon, (ARC Dynamics), seems pretty user friendly...Can't seem to find a used one.
sounds like it would work fine for you. the one I have at work to use is 20' x 40' so I am pretty spoiled on what I can cut. I wouldnt mind getting a 4' x 4' for my home shop some day but while I have the one at work there is no need. just make sure the system is complete and make sure you have a good plasma torch, the rest is just learning how to use it.
Scot49 Do you use any 3d Software, I have inventor and alibre at work. Alibre has a trial version on its web site for free. I use the alibre a lot becuase it is user freindly currently training two other guys at work to use it. Inventor is more powerful but also have more to learn. We do stainless and aluminum fab. I do alot of conceptual drawings for our sales department. It is a great tool for showing customers what they will get at a finished part. I just finished I design project for a offshore driller building. ***embly had close to 200 parts and over 700 matching bolt holes.Anyone with any interest should check out the Alibre. I was first turned onto it on the HAMB through El Polocko he uses it his hot rod shop.
Since I know nothing about these, I will ask this. How fine an edge can you get with the plasma? And can both steel and aluminum be cut?
uh, ummmm, uh yeah.....that's what I did too. WHAT THE **** ARE YOU DOING BUILDING CARS??????? NASA GIVE YOU EARLY RETIREMENT?
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