Delusional Designs plasma table mess/ Acorn retrofit

[midnightmetalworks]

I started off with what I thought was a good buy, specs I was given Nema 34's, 3:1 reduction, big linear rails etc... What I got was something entirely different. Nema 23's with planetary reductions was my first issue, they all had so much slop the cuts were so very bad. Long story short I started the first rebuild a week after receiving the table, I followed Jeff Coldon's build list he has on his Facebook group Cnc plasma table builders, https://www.facebook.com/groups/33370725379212. We had to have another person with a table cut out the parts because its cuts were real bad.

Next was the wiring issues, once we fixed the sloppy reduction issues it was very clear there was something wrong with the electronics, I had no idea how to wire a table when I began this so I just jumped in. Grounding issues, Shielding issues and in general poor quality components were the issues here. I upgraded to Gecko drives and rewired the table, Things actually worked ok for a few months, I got tired of the subpar performance and now we are here on rebuild #2.

Which brings us to current, I own Midnight Metalworks and we have a full machine shop now so making parts for the table is a lot easier these days. We started with machining new gantry risers and installing the Avid CNC 3:1 Nema 34 reductions, now we are completely redoing all of the electronics and installing the Acorn system with THC and MPG pendant. I put a bunch of pictures the condition as I received it, first rebuild and current condition. I will update this as we go.

Here is a link to the Google photo album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GrSibpqhTPscLoX98

[cnckeith]

thanks for making the photo album! very helpful. and Welcome to the Centroid Acorn CNC world.

[cnckeith]

in reviewing the photos... please relocate the TX board. Please follow the TX board mounting guidelines in the Acorn Plasma Installation manual on page 11.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... manual.pdf
The TX needs to be as far away from the Acorn and the stepper drives as possible. the current location is not good.

[jcoldon]

Nice new gantry risers you built there . Way nicer then the old setup . i saw the pic old controller . i never knew you used a Mach 3 Parelle BoB with a UC 100 i thought you had a AXBB controller. i believe that Green card BOB has interface problems with the UC100 . Any way Acorn light years ahead of that setup . Using the gecko i wired mine to the DB 25 port in centroid manual. it run 400 ipm cut speeds. Rapid 1100 all day long with .15 acceleration
i wired my motors in series using 72 v 20 amp supply 48v be fine also using avid drives much easier . If only DD built it that way from the start
keep us updated on the build . How it cuts