Your JD’s Garage CNC Plasma Table is on of the best DIY projects on RU-vid. The instructions are clear and correct and every problem I had with building mine were my own screw-ups. I had several things go wrong with my build and JD’s was there to walk me through each one. I’m proud to say that my table is working perfectly and I’m super excited for the THC release. Thanks for your expertise and dedication.
Just to note, you can get sheilded heat shrink tubing, so you can sheild things like the wires coming out of the motors etc. Also, id advise twisting the wire pairs on the stepper motors.
There are actually no ground loops in the system due to the 3d printed parts. The reason why we say to connect the shield at both ends is to disturb the free end and to prevent the shield from becoming an antenna.
This is a sensational project. Thinking of building this with my students at school. The videos are awesome and the follow up suggestions and tips shows customer support way beyond the $ value. Awesome job and Thanks all the way from Australia.
I built a portable version using all the recommended electronics. Because mine is portable and can be set on top of any piece, the THC is going to be huge! Cannot wait to get it and either be part of the fun in beta testing it, or to run it and have smoother cuts!
Awesome thanks for the update and shielding info iam at 50% of my build thanks guys awesome your making the metal parts it makes sense great price too good luck with the sales guys!!!
Great channel and videos folks... FYI, based on my experience, a Shield (Drain) wire in a cable is only ever connected at one end to ground (in this case to the controller). Connecting it at both ends makes the wire a current carrier, which is not desirable, and completely negates the benefit of a Drain for shielding a cable.
Hi guys, Nice job however as has been mentioned in the comments you should not earth the shield at the motor ends. The shield should only be connected to ground in the controller enclosure at a central low impedance common ground point. This will help avoid ground loops and common mode noise issues
There are actually no ground loops in the machine due to the 3d printed parts. The reason we say to connect both ends is to distrub the end of the cable so that it won't turn into an antenna.
These are awesome plans! I have had mine running for just over a month and it’s working great. I am very interested in the THC and would love to be a beta tester! Keep up the good work!
I always thought you shouldn't ground the shield in both ends because there could be current through the shielding and thus defeating it's purpose. But I come from an automotive background, wiring aftermarket ecus.
I'm an electrician and I think the same way, I don't use a grounding wire like in the video. I would ground the motor myself with a separate wire if it is necessary.
Shielded wires are ONLY connected at 1 end, At the controller to prevent stray ground currents. A separate wire should be run or incorporated in the cable for grounds/bonding... If you need any help with programming, software control, I have made a lot of prototype machines for large corporations all running Arduinos! PM Me... Great work. I will definitely be getting this kit when my pole building is finished...
I purchased your plasma table design kit. I also found a 32" x 32" water pan on amazon for $95. Figured what lengths I need to make table larger and ordered the steel. Can't wait for the THC to be finished.
Hi guys I purchased your plans a while back and am starting to gather parts. I'm from Canada and it seems to be cheaper to buy a kit . Just wondering if the 445 oz stepper motor and the DM556S Driver and Mach 3 motion control board would work ? Thanks and the plans are great 👍 👌
When will this be available and what’s the approximate cost? I just recently bought your plans and built your plasma table enjoying it so far but really think I need a torch a controller.
Do you think you will offer a completing kit in the future that includes everything but the tube frame steel, and plasma cutter. That way you send out a board with motors that are all setup including the belts, bearings and maybe hardware like bolts and 3d printed parts and those cut steel plates. I see the 3d printed parts and steel plates for sale separately already. What do you think the cost would be factoring in labor and profit. Just curious on a turn key kit that wouldn't be shipping the heavy framing steel and that's pretty easy for most diy people like me to get. A full kit minus steel framing and plasma cutter. I would buy that.
We prefer the extruded version as it's more durable but it can be more difficult to work with. Any electrical supplier will have it such as digikey and amazon carries it as well.
Hey Guys - I built your plasma cutter table and all Axises are moving. Still haven't fired the torch but that's coming. I made a few "modifications" that worked better for me and I will be building the rotary axis as well. I haven't seen any plans or schematics for the THC but I know you're working on it - and so many have asked for them. My question to you guys is, the floating head may cause very thin material to bow before the switch triggers, I have an idea for an Ohmic sensor but I would like to know if your code has a couple bits to use for this option. And/Or if you can add this to your code. I'm not a coder so I am not sure how to go about it. But it would need one output and one input. I'm sure you are familiar with this so you may know what is needed. THC, Floating head and an Ohmic sensor would really make this even more outstanding! Thank you for your time and consideration in advance.
Hey, just found this channel. Very interesting biild. I have built a different 3d print version about 5 years ago, actually 3, one as a cnc router, one as a cnc laser and the last one as a plasma. The plasma has worked out extremely well aside from trying to get a different thc working, to no avail. Your unit looks like it could very well be the answer for me. Do you have a wrb site to purchase one? On a side note i have been using a program called light burn as my design and cam software and it has been an awesome one to use. I use it with all of my cnc units now, just an fyi.
I was a little surprised you are grounding your shields at both ends. This is generally a bad ides as it creates ground loops. This can cause electrical interference as well. Better to ground the shields at the controller end only.
It’s been over a year since the THC controller was announced. Its release or something of that nature was supposed to happen last spring? There were some minor updates between then and now and we’ve all been patiently waiting… At this point, I’m starting to lose hope 😢😢
@@jdsgarage701 At 3:30, the board shows relay RL1, part number TQ2SA-5V. It needs a flyback diode over the coil, as there are none built in. If you don't include this, it will generate hundreds of volts when you shut the coil off and blow out your driver.
