Photos

The torch holder? LOL! My torch is a Hypertherm T30V. It is just a 30 AMP unit that they claim won't work with CNC, but there are spots directly on the circuit board for external switching, and the THC was easily integrated into the board as well. I'd love to upgrade the plasma for thicker material, but for now it is what it is and it cuts the prototype parts out amazingly well. I thank the whole community that has worked so hard to offer the support for this open source project using free or very affordable software. I'm actually beginning to like Linux.

I cheated on my table.  I bought the table with slats from JEGS for $150, and added my x-y-z and modified the table to accept a stainless water pan.  It's a bit small, but when I started this project, I didn't have a huge area to store it and I wasn't convinced how useful it would be and figured that if it worked out and I wanted to, I could scale it up.  Scaling up would be easy with the control panel I built along with all the learning in building this one.

My hand torch has a 1" (or really close to it) collar, and as I sat there contemplating how best to make a holder that would allow consistent and firm holding while also allow quick detachment so I can still use the torch by hand, I looked at my bench and there sat some rifle scope rings. I dug through my stuff and found a short section of rail, and a 1" ring and my torch holder was complete!

I do need to incorporate a magnetic break-away so I don't destroy the torch or machine. The reason (as I found out) being that if the torch travels over a section of sheet metal that has fallen through into the water table slats, the torch can get caught on the edge of the sheet that is still there and it will drag the sheet around as the torch moves. (Luckily, I was there and an E-Stop stopped the excitement).

Here is a picture of the riflescope ring.  I hadn't seen anyone else try this, but it has worked for me.  One day, I might try to create a machine torch, but at the same time, it's sometimes handy to use the torch by hand.



 

 

It's virtually new, and I used a stainless steel water pan and slat supports. I'm certain it will get dirty when I use it more.

Thanks for that. its a great idea and a very reasonably priced solution. I'll be checking dimensions for the 45xp torch... 
A pair of rings can be bought on aliexpress for < AUD $5 delivered...

The dovetail would actually be very easy to machine.

To finish it off, Keith Fenner has something similar and uses two  spring loaded pins instead of magnets for a breakaway.
turnwrightmachineworks.com/the-pop-a-way-by-keith-fenner/

So there is the makings of a very cheap and effective mount here
 

rodw wrote:

The dovetail would actually be very easy to machine.

To finish it off, Keith Fenner has something similar and uses two  spring loaded pins instead of magnets for a breakaway.
turnwrightmachineworks.com/the-pop-a-way-by-keith-fenner/

So there is the makings of a very cheap and effective mount here
 





 

I had the ring and rail just sitting on my bench so I used it.  I forget sometimes that this may not be part of everyones spare bits just lying about the shop.  My apologies.

However, as far as break-away, I've been considering something equally inexpensive and repeatable.  The spring loaded threaded ball plungers are cheap enough, and stout enough to hold a torch, but allow it to break away in case of a crash, and being threaded, are adjustable to ones needs.  This is what I'm looking at and they are reasonably priced to boot.  One could mount a limit switch or proximity sensor to whatever block these are mounted to.