HS Metal SHop Teacher

[brianmarree]

Hi all-

I am a high school Metal Shop Teacher in Pittsburgh PA. Currently have a Torchmate Growth Series 4x4 with a Hypertherm 65. Machine was a bastard, I purchased it when Torchmate was acquired by Lincoln Electric. It was nothing but a pain in the ass for the first few years, finally have it running smooth and it now needs some attention (new water table).

Currently looking to either retrofit this machine or update to a new unit. Any suggestions from people who have gone through this process?

Thanks

[acourtjester]

creating a new water table is not that hard, as long as you have enough height in the Z torch travel. I have built a few for the table I have built. I built mine from 18 Ga steel with a depth of about 5 inches. I used 1/2" square tube along the top edges and a slate holding grate from 2" angle. this grate had 1/4" round rods to hold 1-1/2" X 1/8" slates. The 1/4" pins are arranged so the slates are in an arc or "S" shape to hold them upright. This is removable to aid in the cleaning of the water table and replacing the slates. As long as you have enough support under the water table this work great. I have a drain in one corner to let the water out for cleaning and changing. here are a few images.
I can also remove the water table and install a spoil board for router work when I like.

[adbuch]

Hi all-

I am a high school Metal Shop Teacher in Pittsburgh PA. Currently have a Torchmate Growth Series 4x4 with a Hypertherm 65. Machine was a bastard, I purchased it when Torchmate was acquired by Lincoln Electric. It was nothing but a pain in the ass for the first few years, finally have it running smooth and it now needs some attention (new water table).

Currently looking to either retrofit this machine or update to a new unit. Any suggestions from people who have gone through this process?

Thanks

Hi Brian - I don't know much about retrofitting, but I think Candcnc has some kits for various tables. If you are buying a new table, I personally use and recommend the Plasmacam. I have the DHC2 4x4, but I'm not sure they still offer that model since the introduction of their new Genesis model. The new table uses the same Design Edge software - which is used for the design/drawing, creating cut paths and g-code to run the table. So one software package does it all.

Tom shows some great examples of his diy tables - so if you did decide to go the diy route - he could help you.

David

[djreiswig]

If you go with a new table, consider that your students are most likely not going to run into a PlasmaCam in an industrial setting after school, so they would probably benefit more learning how to operate using a multi software design table. I recommend a StarLab table, or CandCNC electronics if you're doing an upgrade.

[adbuch]

The same could be said for the Torchmate table, which also has an "all-in-one" software package called TMCad. The fundamentals are pretty much the same, regardless of table brand. Plasmacam is what I happen to own, use, and like. Opinions will most certainly differ. But I do like the Torchmate software, own the perpetual license for TMCad, and do like it very much for certain things. The screen shot I show below is the student version, but the paid version I have on my other computer works pretty much the same.

Each to their own.

David

[acourtjester]

As a teacher you may pass along to the students even though you will be helping the learn software used on the CNC table for plasma cutting. There are many different software packages used to develop files to be used many of the functions are the same but they may assign different names to them. And many of the practices used to generate files are also used by other fields, this is helpful if they choose a different career or interest path. These fields are 3-D printing, laser work, wood routing and metal milling, it is a great plus for parts or product production. So have fun.

[adbuch]

Tom - very well said! I agree that these skills are applicable over a wide range of categories.
David