Track torch? ideas anyone?

[TheEquineFencer]

Here's what I'm looking to do. I plan to use an old garage door opener, track, chain and all for making a "track torch" for my HyperTherm 600 plasma cutter. I'm trading out some welding repairs for the opener and the use of his backhoe attachment. The only real problem I see is varying the speed of the motor. It reverses too. From what I think it looks like internally, it may be a cap start motor that swaps leads for direction. It's a belt drive from the motor drive pulley to the driven pulley. I'm thinking of doing something like pulling the OEM motor out and using reversable 1/2 drill for the motor and do the switching drive direction myself. Then rewire the mechanical switches that stop the motor at the end of the travel to cut the drill off at the end of the travel. I'm looking a 120V solenoid to pull the trigger for me now. I found a three point hitch bushing adapter that fits the torch nozzle pretty close for the holder. I plan to drill a hole in it then weld a nut to it and use a bolt to hold it in place. Then weld this holder to the "trolley." I'm thinking I can use a couple sections of angle iron side by side with the "torch trolley" riding between the two of them to keep it straight. I'd let the bracket that used to hook to the door set into the top of the "trolley" and push or pull the torch along. I figured I thow this idea out and see if there's ways to improve on it or a better way to do it.

 

[2mJps]

I dont know about useing the chain opener because of the slop it would have. I have thought about building one for years. I have used several different ones that were little cars that ran on a simple track. This is a very good prodject and would save a guy a lot of work. Good luck

 

[Sureshot]

Good idea. I have done several project where I solid mounted the torch and spun the work. I built a torch holder from bushings from an auto supply place. I will see if I can find it. It was for a circle cutter. Almost sounds like with all the changes you are making it may be better to start from scratch. I have a variable belt drive(from a tread mill) here I was thinking of using on a vertical wood band saw but that sound like a better idea.

I actually have a job for a couple 8' perfect cuts right now.

 

[Dale1962]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...22-home-built-skid-loader-444548-im000327.jpg

 

[Dale1962]

hi, i saw this. go to tractor.net thread home built skid loader page 2. there is a link to a photo of a track torch there

 

[Dale1962]

sorry, tractor by net i mean

 

[mattdwelder]

I cut 8' with a plasma cutter every day just clamp a straight edge to your piece and run down it works good for anything under 1/4 inch

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I plan to use it for doing straight line cuts from 4x8 or 5x10 sheets of steel. I have a circle cutter. It's kind of "overkill." It's made from a machine that was made sort of like a lathe with a three jaw head at each end. Originally it was used to test the strenght of steel by twisting it. I turned the gear box on the end like a table and scrapped the rest of it. The drive motor that came on it is 5HP DC with a Rockwell controller. I can go from a turning so slow you cannot see it move to a pretty good speed. It was free, "just load it and get it out of my way" is what I was told. The guy that bought it thought he'd bought at salvage a gear box and a 5HP A/C motor. All I had to do was figure out where to put the 120V A/C in at.