I have a Torchmate 3 DIY kit and am building it now. I am getting ready to start doing the slats and want to build a water table to keep smoke and dust to a minimum. I am having a hard time finding some detail pics so that I can get some sort of starting point. I am wondering if those who have done this would be willing to share some pointers and help me in the right direction.

thanks Orlando

Remember, no aluminum! Even the aluminum dust remaining in the tank can build up Hydrogen and :nuke:

You must drain the water to cut aluminum and then clean the table completely afterwards. Other folks will tell you different. This is the stance we take. Just heard about a table backfiring last week. Scary!!!

thanks Bill. I read about this the other day and talked with joe about it I dont plan on cutting aluminum right now. I will take the proper precautions when that situation occurs.

thanks Orlando

Typically we recommend a simple water tub with at least an inch of water beneath the slats. This is deep enough to collect the smoke and dust. Have the water be able to touch the bottom of the material for maximum effect. Being able to retrieve parts is also key, so not too deep otherwise small part retrieval can be a pain, or an adjustable table that you can easily add or remove water from to raise or lower the level is a good idea.

If you want to avoid loosing water when cutting near the edge of the table, make the sides of the tub higher then your slats, so that the water won't bubble over the edge.

-Mike

perfect! thanks!
I think I will have the tub an inch higher then the top of the slats for spillage. What distance do you recomend for the top of the slates to the bottom of the gantry? I wanted to be able to put 2"X3" tube to burn designs in for bumpers I just need to know if I needed to make the water table have a height adjustment.

I am excited, going down to the shop to finish putting it together to make sure everything is good and then disassemble to paint.

thanks guys

Oh I need some stickers too I want to put some on the table and some for the tool cabinets.

Is it possible to have the plate under water to minimize heat distortion in the plate? I have seen it done on high end models just wondering if any of these cuttings systems would be capable of something like this?

What distance do you recomend for the top of the slates to the bottom of the gantry? I wanted to be able to put 2"X3" tube to burn designs in for bumpers I just need to know if I needed to make the water table have a height adjustment.

Oh I need some stickers too I want to put some on the table and some for the tool cabinets.

We usually have the top of the slats split the difference, 4" above the low side, and 4" below the high side. However if you plan on doing some thick material or box tubing, I might lower the table an inch or two, this will still give you enough reach with the torch, but you can move the torch higher to cut the tubing.

I'm sure we will have a few stickers down at KOH if you're going.

Is it possible to have the plate under water to minimize heat distortion in the plate? I have seen it done on high end models just wondering if any of these cuttings systems would be capable of something like this?

Bill has successfully cut underwater with a standard Air/Air plasma (Cutmaster 151 with an SL100 Machine torch) however it is not recommended. There is a micro switch and some other electrical components in the torch head that would be susceptible to water getting in the torch head from submerged cutting. Most plasma cutters you see doing that are designed to be cut with underwater and have the appropriate water proofing measures taken.

-Mike

I realize that the high end machines that do this have a special head. The reason I asked was to see if you guys had anything currently in the works to do this? Thanks Shawn




Bill has successfully cut underwater with a standard Air/Air plasma (Cutmaster 151 with an SL100 Machine torch) however it is not recommended. There is a micro switch and some other electrical components in the torch head that would be susceptible to water getting in the torch head from submerged cutting. Most plasma cutters you see doing that are designed to be cut with underwater and have the appropriate water proofing measures taken.

-Mike

I realize that the high end machines that do this have a special head. The reason I asked was to see if you guys had anything currently in the works to do this? Thanks Shawn

We don't have anything in the works at this moment, but with a high end water cooled torch and the water table having the water touch the bottom of the material should keep the material bowing to a minimum. Even under water the immediate cut area is getting superheated meaning tight tolerance parts will still have more of a tendency to warp.