After seeing the new 2x2 cnc table I got to thinking. About a plasma/shear project. I have a pretty steady hand but making nice straight cuts kinda sucks clamping a straight edge works good if to stay against it. But I'm thinking of building a shear rig for my plasma. Basicly a single axis table that could be set on the metal to cut straights. Would be a powered unit with adjustable feed. With a on/off foot switch. Anybody got any ideas for the feed motor? Or anybody mske one of these?

that sounds cool. a milling machine power feed would be an ideal motor. every thing is contained in the unit but there about $1,000.

i made a circle cutter last weekend but never a shear.

Something like this
YouTube - Cutting a perfectly straight edge with an OA torch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpCMmCDdFkw)
crazy basic, but works like a dream

They're generally called track torches. Some are made to take an oxy-fuel torch, and some a plasma torch. Really you could zip tie a manual plasma torch onto any of the units, splice a toggle switch into the torch cable and you're all set. I can't see any benefit of a foot switch over a toggle that stays on, I would say a foot switch would be worse as it pins you down to a single location during the cut and shifting your weight could interrupt the cut.

If you make one yourself, use v-groove wheels and make track out of angle iron.

By definition a plasma cutter cannot shear anything.

if you build one like the video and put a electric motor with a dimmer type switch then you could have it cut slow for thick stuck and fast for the thin stuff and if you spend a little time with a tape measure and stop watch you could get few points on the dial to start with for different thicknesses

the problem with with an AC motor is that it dosnt take a variable resistor switch very well. check out how guys are slowing down there drill presses. they use pulleys not resistors.
HF does sell a milling machine power feed for $300 but i wouldnt pay it.
you might try one of these HF routers.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914
and this speed controller
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43060
you would still need some gear/pulley reduction.

Thanks for posting that video. I also remember a track torch in highschool we used it to cut metal for V-groove's
Im thinking i will build mine like the video but ill use sleaved tube instead of angle iron stacked like that. Not sure if i will use a drill or just rig some kind of permanent motor. Lets see pics of other jigs for plasma cutters.

I really dont think a motor would add anything other than a cool factor. If you build a sturdy set of rails and can clamp the torch securely im sure you can push it by hand and still get the same cut quality.

Yeah i was also thinking of something like that doing a two axis like the 2x2 cnc tables but use it by hand to get a higher quality cut then free hand and it would be capable of cutting straights and and curves.

I had a converted radial arm saw that made near perfect straight line plasma cuts. The blade and motor was replaced by a plasma tourch. A metal grate replaced the wooden table top. No feed motor was needed.

Funny -

A torchmate ad appeared on youtube while I was watching that!

I had a converted radial arm saw that made near perfect straight line plasma cuts. The blade and motor was replaced by a plasma tourch. A metal grate replaced the wooden table top. No feed motor was needed.

I did this same thing when I got my first plasma a few years ago. Worked alright.

http://www.koike.com/Machines/Machine.aspx?MachineID=426

this will cut arcs, circles ect.