Star Lab experience

[Fastyankee]

Seeing my original post worse machine ever was locked here are the results and my experience with the Star Lab 5x10.
I received my machine roughly in May and I was excited to get this machine as an upgrade from my 5x10 Shop Sabre I owned for several years which was a really good machine.
With all machines there is the growing pains that go along with a new machine so I was kind of ready for that. What I wasn't ready for was 5 months of the machine crashing the torch into the table. My machine also arrived with damage to the Y stops so that needed to be addressed before I could do anything. Star Lab is really good at overnighting parts with no questions asked. I decided on the Star Lab because they are built like the Shop Sabre but with a lighter gantry its faster and they machine the frame on its Y axis after welding it making it a very true square machine. The build quality is nothing but the best I have seen so far in a plasma machine. This is my third Plasma machine.
After several calls to Matt and sometimes they would be way after hours on a weekend and honestly he answered my emails several times when I really didn't expect him to. Plus there were times I was not happy like really not happy and frustrated and Matt has the patience of a saint.
I kept saying it was an issue with the Z. Matt went over the basics with me air quality air pressure all the things I was aware
of. I did have to add a air water separator to my scribe air supply line which I found water in the line was causing issues with my scribe I also added a machine Guard filter before the desiccant filters. The Crashing issue has been resolved If you read Matts reply. It appears my machine has a fine ball screw I believe for a router head and not the course screw so my machine was calibrated for the course ball screw which meant that the Z was off a 1/2". What's unbelievable is I was cutting with it like that. I mean ya it would crash 4 or 5 times but unreal. I'm happy to report the machine cuts really really good as good as I was expecting it to. Even after owning the machine built on a Friday and the 5 months of frustration I would recommend this machine highly.
What I would recommend to Star Lab is owner training they are extremely lacking on training videos and training in general. I would also recommend more time spent on set up and calibrating before the machine goes out the door. The X axis linear gear needs to be longer in my opinion. Getting a full 60" cutting capacity with the way the torch head is offset is really really tight in fact cutting the full 5x10 is tight but it can be done.
Go to a 10 hour work day and get rid of Fridays all together.
In conclusion if you are looking for a very accurate cutting machine built like a tank this is the machine hands down in my experience. Thanks Matt for your patience. On a side note I'm looking at adding a pipe cutter to this machine and look forward to working with Matt on that process,

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Thanks for the update AJ glad it is up and working. Like I posted on the other thread be sure to back up your CONFIG settings and the rest of your data while your at it. I just had a crash and can appreciate a safe data B/U..

[adbuch]

I will be interested to see how the pipe cutter attachment works out for you on the Star Labs table. I have the pipe cutter attachment for my Plasmacam DHC2 4x4 table, but after using it the first time on the table - decided to build a dedicated stand-alone pipe cutter using Plasmacam parts.

David

Stand-Alone PlasmaCAM Tubing Cutter 4.jpg

Stand-Alone PlasmaCAM Tubing Cutter 5.jpg

Stand-Alone PlasmaCAM Tubing Cutter 6.jpg

[Fastyankee]

Thanks for the update AJ glad it is up and working. Like I posted on the other thread be sure to back up your CONFIG settings and the rest of your data while your at it. I just had a crash and can appreciate a safe data B/U..

I will do thanks

[Fastyankee]

I will be interested to see how the pipe cutter attachment works out for you on the Star Labs table. I have the pipe cutter attachment for my Plasmacam DHC2 4x4 table, but after using it the first time on the table - decided to build a dedicated stand-alone pipe cutter using Plasmacam parts.

David

Stand-Alone PlasmaCAM Tubing Cutter 4.jpg
Stand-Alone PlasmaCAM Tubing Cutter 5.jpg
Stand-Alone PlasmaCAM Tubing Cutter 6.jpg

Dave that looks like an awesome set up. I believe the Star Lab is using a rotary head lathe style chuck.
How does the pipe drive do does it slip. I like what you have done.

[adbuch]

Dave that looks like an awesome set up. I believe the Star Lab is using a rotary head lathe style chuck.
How does the pipe drive do does it slip. I like what you have done.

It works fine, does not slip. I usually put a piece of tape around the pipe where the belt contacts it for better grip.
David