Farmer-Designed Full Feature Plasma Table
Paul Devloo couldn’t justify the cost of a commercial grade CNC plasma cutting table so he built one himself. He first used the 48-in. sq. table to build access steps to attach to Lexion combines’ grain tanks. The idea was to make it easier for operators to clean the windows or unplug the impeller. Once he had sold the $450 steps to Lexion owners all across Canada, he decided to start building his plasma tables for sale.
“At that point my table had worked flawlessly for close to 3 years, and I knew it would be a great addition to anyone’s farm shop,” recalls Devloo, a mechanical engineer and farmer. “I knew the technology had improved and I could source better parts to build an even lower cost table. I figured out ways to get it simple enough for anyone to run.”
One of the downsides to plasma welders is their toxic outgassing, which also dirties up the shop. So Devloo has included a water tray in his newest tables.
“I didn’t have that on my original table, and after building so many steps, my shop was a mess,” says Devloo. “The water tray underneath the cutting table absorbs all the toxins and contaminants. It leaves the job and the shop clean, even reducing the slag on cuts.”
Software is key to any CNC table. “I was able to find open-source CAD and low-cost CAN software,” says Devloo. “Using open-source software instead of proprietary means you have an entire community of users and developers to ask if a problem comes up. You don’t have to wait until business hours to get support. It’s available 24/7.”
He is proud of how user-friendly the software is. “All the parameters are in the software,” says Devloo. “You just pick out the type of plasma welder and type and thickness of the metal. You just tell it where you want to start the cut and where to end it.”
Devloo uses his table with his Hypertherm XP 45 plasma welder. However, he says it can be used with virtually any plasma torch. Not wanting to lose the versatility of a handheld plasma jet, he designed the table with a quick disconnect.
“So many tables require a $1,000 dedicated torch,” says Devloo. “Mine uses a handheld torch that can be quickly released for use freehand.”
The table comes with everything needed except for a torch and a laptop. The total price is $4,000 Canadian. The table has the needed software, computer stand, water tray, V-slot rails, 3 Nema 23 stepper motors, controller and power supply, wiring, steel table legs and frame.
“I sold my first new plasma table to a farmer in the area, and he was cutting with it right away,” says Devloo. “He’s having great luck with no training.”
Devloo suggests that other farmers may find an opportunity to do what he did with his grain hopper steps. “You can conjure up what you need,” he says. “If others need it too, you have repeatability to make more and sell them. I don’t encourage people to buy it for that reason, but simply to make the parts you need when you need them.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Paul Devloo, Box 101, Swan Lake, Manitoba Canada R0G 2S0 (ph 204 526-5395; paul@devkoplasmatables.com; devkoplasmatables.com).
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Farmer-Designed Full Feature Plasma Table FARM SHOP Welders/Torches 64 Paul Devloo couldn’t justify the cost of a commercial grade CNC plasma cutting table so he built one himself He first used the 48-in sq table to build access steps to attach to Lexion combines’ grain tanks The idea was to make it easier for operators to clean the windows or unplug the impeller Once he had sold the $450 steps to Lexion owners all across Canada he decided to start building his plasma tables for sale “At that point my table had worked flawlessly for close to 3 years and I knew it would be a great addition to anyone’s farm shop ” recalls Devloo a mechanical engineer and farmer “I knew the technology had improved and I could source better parts to build an even lower cost table I figured out ways to get it simple enough for anyone to run ” One of the downsides to plasma welders is their toxic outgassing which also dirties up the shop So Devloo has included a water tray in his newest tables “I didn’t have that on my original table and after building so many steps my shop was a mess ” says Devloo “The water tray underneath the cutting table absorbs all the toxins and contaminants It leaves the job and the shop clean even reducing the slag on cuts ” Software is key to any CNC table “I was able to find open-source CAD and low-cost CAN software ” says Devloo “Using open-source software instead of proprietary means you have an entire community of users and developers to ask if a problem comes up You don’t have to wait until business hours to get support It’s available 24/7 ” He is proud of how user-friendly the software is “All the parameters are in the software ” says Devloo “You just pick out the type of plasma welder and type and thickness of the metal You just tell it where you want to start the cut and where to end it ” Devloo uses his table with his Hypertherm XP 45 plasma welder However he says it can be used with virtually any plasma torch Not wanting to lose the versatility of a handheld plasma jet he designed the table with a quick disconnect “So many tables require a $1 000 dedicated torch ” says Devloo “Mine uses a handheld torch that can be quickly released for use freehand ” The table comes with everything needed except for a torch and a laptop The total price is $4 000 Canadian The table has the needed software computer stand water tray V-slot rails 3 Nema 23 stepper motors controller and power supply wiring steel table legs and frame “I sold my first new plasma table to a farmer in the area and he was cutting with it right away ” says Devloo “He’s having great luck with no training ” Devloo suggests that other farmers may find an opportunity to do what he did with his grain hopper steps “You can conjure up what you need ” he says “If others need it too you have repeatability to make more and sell them I don’t encourage people to buy it for that reason but simply to make the parts you need when you need them ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Paul Devloo Box 101 Swan Lake Manitoba Canada R0G 2S0 ph 204 526-5395; paul@devkoplasmatables com; devkoplasmatables com
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