New Member Here - Any members in the Houston, TX area?

[rustyhook]

I'm getting the bug to maybe buy a CNC plasma table 4'x 4'. Looking at a TENSOR CNC table. This is my first post althou I have been visiting and reading post for 3 weeks or so. I will be a hobbiest and working out of my home garage. I would hope to cover cost of set up by selling some stuff but not sure how flooded the market is with this. It seems most people sell on the side or thru farmers market or thru handing out business cards. Thought I might throw out a broad post and just see what kind of advise I get.

Rusty

[wickedinhere]

Are you on 2coolfishing? I know your area has a lot of commercial cutters and they do it pretty cheap. You should be able to make a go of it once you get your name out there. Check out bulltear tables, some advice since you will deal with hi humidity like i do is get a refergerated air dryer and get an 80 gallon compressor 5 horse 2 stage. I also recommend hypertherm plasma cutters.

[rustyhook]

Wicked, yes I have been member on 2cool since 2005 when it started.

80 gallon compressor is in budget
Hypertherm powermax 65 is in budget

Refergerated air dryer?? OK, something new I need to research. In my limited research I have read that
moisture is a killer on plasma cutters. I figured on a inline filter or something but have not put much thought
into it. Thanks.

Rusty

[wickedinhere]

The refer dryer makes a huge difference in cut quality also. You will need a motorguard filter at the table also. Here is the dryer that i bought its good up to 20 cfm and was around 800.00 shipped to me.

[rustyhook]

Thanks Wicked.

How much maintenance is involved with your air dry system?

While I got you responding, any advice on a new plasma cnc table buyer do's/don'ts? I figured budget of $15k
to get set up. If I find it will be way more than I will have to think of another hobby. But since I'm buying everything
new off the bat there may be some advise that I can use pre-purchase.

Rustyhook

[wickedinhere]

The air dryer has an automatic drain so i dont have to worry about that. If you buy a gantry kit and build your own table you will save a good amount of money thats what i did.

[JJsCustomDesigns]

Get a table with a water tray. I started off with a homemade downdraft... Just recently converted mine to water tray. Its so much nicer in the shop now. I still have plasma dust hovering around. But now i can breathe while the machine working.

[rustyhook]

WICKED, I saw you on 2cool. You responded to one of my post on there too. cool
JJCUSTOM, thanks for comments.

here's what i'm thinking:

ingersoll 60 gal 5 hp 2 stage vertical compressor
ingersoll refrigerated air dryer rated at 15 cfm
motorguard filter m-100 1/2 npt
4 x 4 table from tensor cnc
water table option
640 in oz stepper motors
air scribe option
hyperthem powermax a65 with machine head


I'm trying to get a quote to run all new wiring to my garage now. (2) 220v (3) 110v. 35 ft run and new box on side of house. Figuring $1500

I guess I'll get Mach 3 cnc machine & sheetcam software. That's what tensor offers. I work on AutoCAD V.12 all day at work so I'm used to drawing etc. The software will be different but I should pick up on it pretty easy I think.

What else am I missing?

consumables for the plasma machine torch head, that is my next research. Had'nt looked into that yet.

Rowdy