My CNC drawing machine!

[I Lean]

That sucks! If the dryer doesn't work I may have some ideas for you. Much cheaper than refrigerated.

I'm all ears! A refrigerated dryer unit can be had right now (on sale) for about $300, just for comparison.

forget emo plasma cutter carl needs emo steel so it will cut itself.

p.s. carl I have some stuff to cut already I want my boat sides to say carl in them.

I'm not sure you want to be labeled like that.

 

[lewis]

Need to organize and find more space....

If you want I will buy a new house with a garage big enough for you to put it in.

 

[I Lean]

If you want I will buy a new house with a garage big enough for you to put it in.

You're the most generous Lewis I know! Any progress on finding a place?

 

[lewis]

No we hit a bump in the road that will put it off, however a really good bump. I still need to get that stuff to you. I will try to remember this week.

 

[Corban_White]

I'm all ears! A refrigerated dryer unit can be had right now (on sale) for about $300, just for comparison.

I was having a lot of problems with water in my air tools and in the winter with the propane torpedo heater it would be a big problem, always icing up. Then I ran copper air lines in the garage (sloping back to the tank, with drains, etc.) (previously I was just coming off the compressor with air hose). Once I did that I have not had a drop of water in my stuff. I am running an in-line coalescing filter/separator/regulator (you probably already have one but if not they are like $20)

and I have a paper filter on the plasma:

Before I did the copper lines I thought for sure I was going to have to get a dryer. My air tools would freeze solid if it was below 85*. After the copper everything was fixed. I am using the same filters, fittings, compressor, etc. as before. the only thing that changed was the copper lines (and the water going away. ). I theorize it is because of the thermal conductivity of the copper. It is acting like a refrigerated dryer, causing the water to condense and get caught in the separator/drains.

 

[chadschoon]

I have that same filter and it works great

 

[I Lean]

That's good news, since I have a pile of 1/2" copper pipe I've been planning on plumbing the garage with.

Right now I just have: Compressor > air hose > dessicant drier > Eliminizer filter > plasma.

Filter: http://www.airlines-pneumatics.co.uk/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S020110

My plan for once I get the copper in, is to use this thing (that I bought years ago and never used) between the compressor and the copper pipe, then the rest basically like I have it now. http://www.harborfreight.com/industrial-air-filter-regulator-unit-98904.html

 

[Corban_White]

I built my system with drains at each end. (ball valves) The compressor hooks into the line about 5 feet from one end via a flexible line built by evco with. That end has a quick connect which ends up being unregulated and unfiltered. Then comes the regulator/filter, then 5 more quick connects. The drains are lower than the line and it slopes to each end. The quick connects are coming up off the line at about a 60*-70* angle. (as close as I could get to vertical while still allowing easy use) I never have any trouble with water any more. HTH.

 

[I Lean]

Progress! I got the new hard drive installed and everything rebuilt, that was neat.

Today I cut the supports for my slats, here's a video. It was a 6 1/2 minute really boring one, so I just trimmed it down to the first two minutes. You get the idea of what it was doing.

[youtube]qaNhKM9jMGM[/youtube]

Cutting the slat supports out was interesting, since I had to support the material without slats. But now they're in, so things will be easier now. I can also fill the table with water--I had about 1/2" in the bottom when I cut the supports, just because I didn't want to drain the full volume to install the supports. It still collected an amazing amount of crap from cutting though...makes me really glad I built a water tray.

I'm pretty happy with the cut quality, considering I haven't spent much time trying to dial anything in yet! :greg:

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

Very nice Carl, I dont know the story on the table. Is it one your building or a kit you got somewhere? Pretty cool.

 

[Greg]

That's killer, Carl! Congrats on getting it up and running... you're making a lot of people jealous.

 

[I Lean]

Very nice Carl, I dont know the story on the table. Is it one your building or a kit you got somewhere? Pretty cool.

I built it. I did buy a "kit" of the brackets to make the carriages, everything else was either fabricated by me or purchased through various vendors.

That's killer, Carl! Congrats on getting it up and running... you're making a lot of people jealous.

Thanks! I'm excited to actually have it cutting finally.

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

Very cool!

 

[Herzog]

That is really nice cut!

Glad you got the new hard drive in. Sorry about giving you a crappy one.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

110% cool

 

[scrogg]

Thanks again Carl. There was hardly any clean up at all that needed to be done. That thing works pretty sweet. We used a flapper wheel to smooth/soften the corners. Y-Jake welded the tubes on and we cut them to the finished length. A little drilling, wiring and painting and it'll be finished up.

I am definitely impressed with your setup, and again, if ya need any help with getting or generating dxf files, I'm willing to help.

 

[I Lean]

Thanks again Carl. There was hardly any clean up at all that needed to be done. That thing works pretty sweet. We used a flapper wheel to smooth/soften the corners. Y-Jake welded the tubes on and we cut them to the finished length. A little drilling, wiring and painting and it'll be finished up.

I am definitely impressed with your setup, and again, if ya need any help with getting or generating dxf files, I'm willing to help.

Thanks Tom, glad it worked out for you. If you took any pictures of your gizmo, post 'em up!

 

[scrogg]

I am thinking that I'm gonna put a build thread (I know, I know, its just a license plate bracket) on JKO and was hoping to mention you by name if thats ok with you. I also recorded the cutting out of the pieces and will want to put that on there as well. Is that all good with you?

As I mentioned, I pretty much copied the way HD Customs has built theirs. I love the use of the factory illuminator lamp. Here are some pics of the gizmo in progress:

Thie pics looked much clearer on my phone. Also, pay no attention to the expired plates I'll be getting that corrected as soon as this is finished.

 

[I Lean]

I am thinking that I'm gonna put a build thread (I know, I know, its just a license plate bracket) on JKO and was hoping to mention you by name if thats ok with you. I also recorded the cutting out of the pieces and will want to put that on there as well. Is that all good with you?

It's fine with me, there's probably only a couple people over there that remember me anyway.

Did you manage to record my ghetto-fabulous torch control too? It's good we didn't wait for my parts to show up, the scheduled delivery is Thursday.

 

[I Lean]

Today was a pretty fun day! Yesterday caused some frustration when this gift for my Mom's B-day didn't play nice, but it turned out OK:

Found this guy roaming on the floor....maybe he was hungry for a butterfly meal?

Also cut these walking targets for Pa's day gifts for the Father-in-law and brothers-in-law: