Table of Contents
What is a plasma table used for?
They are successfully used in the metal cutting processes in the manufacturing, agricultural, engineering and construction industries. A CNC plasma table can change the way you cut metal, serving as the perfect addition for a small shop, a metal artist or a hobbyist and it can help save time, material and money.
What is a plasma cutter table?
Plasma cutting tables are a form of thermal cutting (cousin of the laser cutter). They literally vaporize metals into a powder form and remove them using a high stream of air or gasses from the cut zone. These steel slats not only support the material being cut but also absorb the heat of the thermal cutting process.
What can you make with a plasma table?
10 CNC Plasma Cutter Project Ideas Turn an old saw into artwork… Signs. Business sign… House number with brushed and rusted finishes… A sign for your teenage daughter’s bedroom… Outdoor Furniture. Nicely made fire pit… Plasma cut patio wall sconce… Indoor Decor. Fireplace screen… Gates. Nicely made gate….
What is a plasma water table?
When working with a CNC plasma cutting table, it’s essential to have some way of controlling the dust and fumes from the cutting process. One solution is a water table (often referred to as a waterbed or a water pan), where the metal being cut is underneath a layer of water that prevents it from generating fumes.
How does plasma cut?
Plasma cutting (plasma arc cutting) is a melting process in which a jet of ionised gas at temperatures above 20,000°C is used to melt and expel material from the cut. This heat melts the metal and the gas flow ejects it from the cut. Plasma gases are usually argon, argon/hydrogen or nitrogen.
How much does a plasma table cost?
Depending on its size and features, a plasma CNC cutting table can cost between 12,000 and $300,000. Since the technology has become cheaper to produce, the price has dropped significantly over the last 5 years.
Can you make money with a plasma table?
Plasma tables are able to cut materials much differently than a CNC mill. “Everyone loves something ‘cut in metal’. It is substantial and permanent,” he says. Sign making is a pretty basic business, and you can provide products to your customers at fairly reasonable prices while still making a profit.
Can you cut aluminum with a plasma cutter?
Plasma cutting can be performed on any type of conductive metal – mild steel, aluminum and stainless are some examples. Plasma cutting, however, does not rely on oxidation to work, and thus it can cut aluminum, stainless and any other conductive material.
How do you finish parts of a plasma cut?
The most durable option is to have it clear powder coated. This process involves heating the piece up in the powder coat oven then pulling it out while its hot and spraying on the clear powder coat while its still hot then putting it back into the oven to complete the cure.
Can you use a plasma cutter to weld?
With the right torch design, a nitrogen-water injection, less expensive than other gases, can work well when plasma cutting aluminum and stainless material for subsequent welding. The process involves an electrode surrounded by nitrogen, which is heated by an electric arc to form the plasma.
What metals can you cut with a plasma cutter?
So that means that plasma cutting is only used for materials that are conductive, primarily mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. But lots of other metals and alloys are conductive too, such as copper, brass, titanium, monel, inconel, cast iron, etc.
Can you engrave with a plasma cutter?
For starters, plasma CNC tables can cut thicker sheet metals than laser cutters, but plasma can only be used for cutting metal, and it cannot be used for engraving.
Does a plasma cut need a water table?
Also, there must be at lease an inch of water depth above the tray under the burning bars, to protect it from damage by the molten metal spray of the oxy-fuel cutting process. So whether you are plasma or oxy-fuel cutting, a water table is a simple and affordable alternative to a down draft table.
How do plasma machines work?
Plasma cutters work by sending an electric arc through a gas that is passing through a constricted opening. This high speed gas cuts through the molten metal. The gas is also directed around the perimeter of the cutting area to shield the cut.
Can you plasma cut without gas?
Do you need gas for a Plasma Cutter? Gas is needed for a plasma cutter in order for it to work and create the plasma. As mentioned, the most popular gases to use are oxygen, nitrogen or argon.
What is hot plasma?
Plasma is superheated matter – so hot that the electrons are ripped away from the atoms forming an ionized gas. It comprises over 99% of the visible universe. Plasma is often called “the fourth state of matter,” along with solid, liquid and gas.
What is the difference between a CNC machine and a plasma cutter?
The CNC plasma cutter can cut various materials of metal, and the cutting speed is relatively fast; the CNC laser cutting machine can cut metal, leather, and plastic materials; the flame cutting machine can only cut carbon-containing metals. However, the CNC cutting machine has a cutting range.
What is the difference between a laser cutter and a plasma cutter?
Laser cutting is a precise thermal cutting process, utilizing a focused beam of light. Plasma cutting, on the other hand, uses a mixture of gases in order to form a cut. With our high definition plasma cutting equipment, we are able to perform bevel cuts on parts as required.
