Plasma Cutting Machines – Invest Wisely

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - May 6, 2015 - PRLog -- There has been much debate about the applied usage of CNC Plasma Cutters in fabrication shops and manufacturing companies. The decision to introduce or bring back in-house this value added process has many advantages. Plasma Cutting Machine Manufacturers have worked to develop machinery solutions to meet the individual needs of just about any company from small job shops to multi-million dollar production enterprises.

The Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) process is one of the fastest and cost effective ways to cut metal parts. This process coupled with the accuracy and repeatability of CNC Plasma Cutters makes the decision to add this process to any metal fabrication operation an easy one. Recent improvements in the PAC process have also contributed to the improved performance of CNC Plasma Cutters.

Once the decision to purchase a CNC Plasma Cutter has been made, the task of selecting the right machine for the business begins. There are many Plasma Cutting Machine Manufacturersin the marketplace. Each offers a slightly different approach to the same general concept. Each machine uses a Plasma Power Supply and Torch that is moved around by a CNC table system. There are many decisions to consider.

First, it must be determined: What material type, thickness and cut quality will need to be cut? Answering these questions is a good start in determining which CNC Plasma Cutter to consider. For instance, say you need to cut multiple materials at thicknesses ranging from ¼” to 1” inch with precision “finished” cut and whole quality: This would point you in the direction of a high-definition equipped unit. The plasma power supply for this machine would be measured in amps and is sized according to the maximum material thickness you would need to cut. Another example might require a machine that only need to cut mild steel ranging from 5/8” to ¾” and the parts will be going straight to a weld operation so precision is not as important. This scenario would result in the use of a Standard “Air” plasma power supply which would also be sized by the amps required to cut these thicknesses. Plasma Cutting Machine Manufacturersoffer many different plasma power supply options.

Other CNC Plasma Cutter options that should be considered would include the cutting area size and type of table. The cutting area size would be the maximum sheet size that would be required to be cut. Typically this is 6 feet by 12 feet but larger sizes are available. There are two types of tables commonly used with the PAC cutting process. The first, is a “Down-draft” table system that uses a fan system to blow the smoke and dust that is generated during the PAC cutting process into a filtration system for collection. The second, is a “Water” table system that has a water filled bed. The water in the bed suspends and holds the smoke and dust. Both table system types have their advantages and both provide high quality, cost effective and consistent parts.

There are many Plasma Cutting Machine Manufacturers. It is important to look for a CNC Plasma Cutter that is built well with a solid table frame, has high quality motion control components and electronics, has a comprehensive control system that is easy to learn and use and is well supported with staff that can assist your operators. Some Plasma Cutting Machine Manufacturersnow offer additional training and support right over the Internet!