- Joined
- Sep 3, 2023
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- 347
Here is a thread I’m starting on the Arcdroid robotic Plasma cutting arm I just bought, which was referred to in another thread.
I will post more pictures as I get more time to play with it.
Total cost I paid arcdroid was about $3,303. This included the X2 extension rail that doubles the cutting area to 15”x 48”, from basic 15”x 24”. I also got the square centering jig, and center punch jig.
Basic machine is $2499. Shipping was $300.
I could have bought a cheaper table/ gantry setup, but this one seemed to make sense, because I can store it up on a shelf, and is portable. Plus the fact that you can program basic pieces on the handheld pendant screen. No need for a computer with cad, although it should work fine with that too.
Shipping took a week, but showed up by UPS on projected day, in safe shape. Not bad from California to MI, I believe.
I had watched several videos while waiting.
Within 30 minutes of unboxing it, I had it up and running test pieces I had drawn using the handheld screen, and just the included stylus.
It took a couple days before I got time to wire in my plasma cutter to test with that. I have an older Hypertherm PowerMax1000, 60 amp machine.
I don’t like the standard way of attaching the hand torch to the arcdroid, but for now have it hooked up for initial tests. I also have a job that I want to get done, hence why I pulled the trigger on this machine now.
The torch is big and heavy, so it needs careful holding and support of the cord, I don’t want to break the torch cup. I plan on making a different mount for it. Or look for a different torch body. I would like a straight machine torch body, but that looks to be about $1000, and I do not want to spend that much more yet, til I get some of this investment paid back. I might look into a cheaper plasma before that happens.
I soldered in to the existing torch power switch lines to run to the arcdroid. I can unplug the cord, and still use the handheld as switch.
I did manage to play around and did some test cuts. I did have a bit of learning curve trying to calibrate the machine stylus and torch. It was slightly awkward to do, and unfortunately if you make a mistake halfway, or near the end, you need to start completely over from the beginning. It would be nice if you could just back up and restart the previous leg of moving the calibration sled.
After about 6 tries, I finally got some pieces cut out. I just quickly drew some pieces on the hand held screen, and it cut it. I need to download a “suggested “ cut parameters, for getting the starting points, and then to start fine tuning the machine.
So far, I think being able to quickly draw up simple parts with holes in them on the hand held screen will be a great way to quickly make parts. This will come to pay for itself.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I will post more pictures as I get more time to play with it.
Total cost I paid arcdroid was about $3,303. This included the X2 extension rail that doubles the cutting area to 15”x 48”, from basic 15”x 24”. I also got the square centering jig, and center punch jig.
Basic machine is $2499. Shipping was $300.
I could have bought a cheaper table/ gantry setup, but this one seemed to make sense, because I can store it up on a shelf, and is portable. Plus the fact that you can program basic pieces on the handheld pendant screen. No need for a computer with cad, although it should work fine with that too.
Shipping took a week, but showed up by UPS on projected day, in safe shape. Not bad from California to MI, I believe.
I had watched several videos while waiting.
Within 30 minutes of unboxing it, I had it up and running test pieces I had drawn using the handheld screen, and just the included stylus.
It took a couple days before I got time to wire in my plasma cutter to test with that. I have an older Hypertherm PowerMax1000, 60 amp machine.
I don’t like the standard way of attaching the hand torch to the arcdroid, but for now have it hooked up for initial tests. I also have a job that I want to get done, hence why I pulled the trigger on this machine now.
The torch is big and heavy, so it needs careful holding and support of the cord, I don’t want to break the torch cup. I plan on making a different mount for it. Or look for a different torch body. I would like a straight machine torch body, but that looks to be about $1000, and I do not want to spend that much more yet, til I get some of this investment paid back. I might look into a cheaper plasma before that happens.
I soldered in to the existing torch power switch lines to run to the arcdroid. I can unplug the cord, and still use the handheld as switch.
I did manage to play around and did some test cuts. I did have a bit of learning curve trying to calibrate the machine stylus and torch. It was slightly awkward to do, and unfortunately if you make a mistake halfway, or near the end, you need to start completely over from the beginning. It would be nice if you could just back up and restart the previous leg of moving the calibration sled.
After about 6 tries, I finally got some pieces cut out. I just quickly drew some pieces on the hand held screen, and it cut it. I need to download a “suggested “ cut parameters, for getting the starting points, and then to start fine tuning the machine.
So far, I think being able to quickly draw up simple parts with holes in them on the hand held screen will be a great way to quickly make parts. This will come to pay for itself.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
