GrimReaper
New Member
- Messages
- 22
- Location
- North East England
Hi All, been thinking of getting a Plasma cutter, decided to get an R-Tech 50A unit but I'm worried about how much mess it will make.
I have a resin bound driveway, nowhere solid concrete or 'sacrificial' to make my cuts over (gravel around artificial grass everywhere that's not driveway) so dropping melted bits of metal anywhere on the ground is a no-go.
So, I need to make a cutting table to contain the plasma cutting splatter.
I also need to make it lightweight and easily transportable as I'd have to store it in the back garden/shed while the 32A electric and air supply is in the garage at the front of the house.
I am thinking of making a frame up out of 2" x 1" 10SWG aluminium box section and welding a 20mm deep tray to the bottom of it so I can fill this with water to suppress the sparks.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Commerci...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
This gives me about a 3 inches deep tray to cut over.
I thought about using some 1" square 10SWG (3.25mm wire section) steel mesh cut into strips two squares high to act as the supports placed at 50mm intervals down the length of the 'table' kept in place by the wire at each side going through a hole drilled into the top edge of the frame, this is instead of the usual solid strips of metal, thinking this will keep the weight down and present less of an obstruction to the cutting jet.
If, when cutting over these square mesh strips, the plasma cutter cuts through the top wire (as I expect it will), how far down will the cutting effect of the plasma go? will it be far enough to cut through the next wire 1" down of the mesh strips? I am hoping that even if the top wire is cut, the lower mesh structure will be enough to continue supporting the work pieces without falling apart too quickly, I will have plenty of mesh in reserve to make more supports as needed.
Cross-section doodle of how I think the table will result.
Can I fill the table with water to cover this middle wire level to stop it being cut? or will that be too close to the cutting jet and blow water everywhere?
Your thoughts please.
I have a resin bound driveway, nowhere solid concrete or 'sacrificial' to make my cuts over (gravel around artificial grass everywhere that's not driveway) so dropping melted bits of metal anywhere on the ground is a no-go.
So, I need to make a cutting table to contain the plasma cutting splatter.
I also need to make it lightweight and easily transportable as I'd have to store it in the back garden/shed while the 32A electric and air supply is in the garage at the front of the house.
I am thinking of making a frame up out of 2" x 1" 10SWG aluminium box section and welding a 20mm deep tray to the bottom of it so I can fill this with water to suppress the sparks.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Commerci...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
This gives me about a 3 inches deep tray to cut over.
I thought about using some 1" square 10SWG (3.25mm wire section) steel mesh cut into strips two squares high to act as the supports placed at 50mm intervals down the length of the 'table' kept in place by the wire at each side going through a hole drilled into the top edge of the frame, this is instead of the usual solid strips of metal, thinking this will keep the weight down and present less of an obstruction to the cutting jet.
If, when cutting over these square mesh strips, the plasma cutter cuts through the top wire (as I expect it will), how far down will the cutting effect of the plasma go? will it be far enough to cut through the next wire 1" down of the mesh strips? I am hoping that even if the top wire is cut, the lower mesh structure will be enough to continue supporting the work pieces without falling apart too quickly, I will have plenty of mesh in reserve to make more supports as needed.
Cross-section doodle of how I think the table will result.
Can I fill the table with water to cover this middle wire level to stop it being cut? or will that be too close to the cutting jet and blow water everywhere?
Your thoughts please.