Plasma water table users.

[Hood]

Just wondering two things if you have a water table on your plasma CNC.
1. Do you use raw water or some additives? If additives what?
2. Do you have adjustable water height or is it fixed?

 

[Brad93]

Using the Swift cut additives. Arm and a leg to buy. Still rusts.

Adjustable water height? Just fill it up to 10mm below the top of the slats

 

[Hood]

Using the Swift cut additives. Arm and a leg to buy. Still rusts.

Adjustable water height? Just fill it up to 10mm below the top of the slats

Aye, saw the stuff on R-Tech and thought not bad at £20 then saw it only treated 20l, if I build my new table it will be over 200l

I am thinking if I go water table I may have it adjustable, whether to use air or a pump I am not sure.
Might not be worth the hassle though so maybe just having a tank and a pump for the occasional drain/refill for cleaning would be best.

 

[James1979]

I've been looking at doing this to mine. Still not really decided. I saw a guy on YouTube who has the water in a reservoir which he pressurises to fill the table, then it will gravity drain back in.

all i can find out is that it's harder on consumables and it makes stuff rust

I'm kind of leaning towards a down draft. Dunno yet though

 

[Brad93]

Our table probably take 100L-150L with ease and that’s 4x4ft.

I’ll be trying a home recipe when we run out of tablets and fluid.

As for draining and cleaning, it may be worth pumping to an ibc and reusing the fluid.

 

[Brad93]

I've been looking at doing this to mine. Still not really decided. I saw a guy on YouTube who has the water in a reservoir which he pressurises to fill the table, then it will gravity drain back in.

all i can find out is that it's harder on consumables and it makes stuff rust

I'm kind of leaning towards a down draft. Dunno yet though

Parts the come off the table don’t rust if you’ve used a rust inhibitor.

 

[Hood]

I've been looking at doing this to mine. Still not really decided. I saw a guy on YouTube who has the water in a reservoir which he pressurises to fill the table, then it will gravity drain back in.

all i can find out is that it's harder on consumables and it makes stuff rust

I'm kind of leaning towards a down draft. Dunno yet though

I have had downdraught on mine since I built it 3 or so years ago and it works well so not really sure which way to go. I was thinking water though as the tray on this build (if I do it) will be Aluminium so reckoned water would likely be best.

 

[James1979]

Parts the come off the table don’t rust if you’ve used a rust inhibitor.

Cheers. Not sure which way to go. I assume the cooling is the main advantage?

 

[Hood]

I've been looking at doing this to mine. Still not really decided. I saw a guy on YouTube who has the water in a reservoir which he pressurises to fill the table, then it will gravity drain back in.....

Here is info from Esab.
If I go down that route I think IBC or even plastic barrel may be the way to go as a reservoir.
https://www.esabna.com/us/en/education/blog/how-does-a-plasma-water-table-work.cfm

 

[Hood]

Parts the come off the table don’t rust if you’ve used a rust inhibitor.

Mine tend not to rust anyway

 

[MattH]

I’ve gone with Borax powder, get it above ph9 to stop rush and festering.

 

[MattH]

 

[Hood]

I’ve gone with Borax powder, get it above ph9 to stop rush and festering.

Saw mention of Borax and Sodium Nitrite.

 

[Hood]

View attachment 226344

You using air or do you have a pump?

 

[MattH]

You using air or do you have a pump?

there is a standard pond pump down in the container.

 

[Hood]

Oh another question, what depth of water do your tables have. I have seen 100-150mm depth of water mentioned but I would have thought 50mm would have been plenty just going by the arc in air.

 

[doubleboost]

I use synthetic soluble oil (white water)
When i clean the tank all the drop through bits are still nice and clean

 

[Hood]

I use synthetic soluble oil (white water)
When i clean the tank all the drop through bits are still nice and clean

I had thought of that but wasn't sure how it would react to the arc, good to know it is ok.

 

[James1979]

I use synthetic soluble oil (white water)
When i clean the tank all the drop through bits are still nice and clean

Are you using the xtreme tray or did you build your own?

 

[MattH]

My table is only 40mm deep and catches everything fine.

You cut a lot of aluminium, you need to bear this in mind cutting on a water table in an enclosed space.
Might not be the best choice for you.