CNC Plasma

[jwmorris]

I built a CNC plasma years ago but if I have a big project, I almost always go into the city and have my parts CNC laser or water jet cut.

The places I use cost me out of pocket less that what I can just get the material for but I don't purchase much steel my the truck load.

For smaller projects where I am not using whole sheets but building from "drops" I use this little pantograph that works with plasma or Oxy/Act.

You've got to make a templet but lots of times thats faster than drawing it up.

With Oxy/Act it has a lot more capability than plasma, even using a hand torch.

 

[lostcause]

I just ordered the Langmuir Crossfire Pro @ $1937

Couple more days before the $930 off Black Friday sale ends.

Did also buy the height controller and limit switch kit and a table torch for the new to me 80 amp Chicom blow back cutter.

Whole lot of assembly required even on a fully designed kit it seems.

Good Luck on whatever course taken. Always a Learning trip- and I have a lot to learn on the the CAD side.

now that the sales are over, i'm wishing i was a little more ready to do this a week or two ago. i've come to the realization that the only way i will ever get to have a working machine any time before i retire is if i buy a pretty much turn-key system complete. at this point i think i will be stepping back and hoping for another sale. i'd love to go with the crossfire pro - it's ideally the size i have always wanted, but by the time i add the bells & whistles - limit switches, thc, compatible cutter out of the box... it may be more than i want to sink in - even with the sale deal they just had. I'm sure i would be satisfied with the basic crossfire size - it's certainly a lot better than nothing, which is what i have now. i guess time will tell. i did finally get a reply back from one of the places i reached out to about cutting parts from my files at least, so in the mean time i can see what sort of prices i can get having someone else cut them.

 

[camshawn]

I did look at the Arc-droid. There are a few on u tube that use them. I looked at them as well as several others but decided I just don’t do enough to spend my toy money on one. I also am enjoying not using the computer as much after retirement.

 

[sd455dan]

All valid points.

I did receive the Bestarc plasma cutter and tried it out. I will say going up in amperage over the 50 amp high frequency cutter is nice to have. Reading the manual had to laugh because it used and mentions razor weld info in it which is what Langmuir sells as the budget cutter option.

Cut an inch thick+ damaged ball joint press in to two pieces and was definitely faster and more capable than the old cutter.

Really wasn't set on buying but told the wife about this being almost $1K off sale, and that "if" I did buy it, had to be now or wait maybe a year for the next big sale. She said that it would be nice to have for some of her projects she had in mind as well. She knows me pretty well, because I ordered right then. Langmuir has already shipped the height controller and limit switches with the large frame, carriage etc. to follow. Probably assemble the table over the winter.

So behind right now..., still need to mount all the snow tires and wheels on vehicles, snow blower mounted up to the tractor and service the walk behind blower.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

This from a YouTube channel I follow. The guy is quite practical, so I've learned a lot from him, though I've not jumped into a plasma cutter.

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

I attended FabTec in September in Chicago with my son in law. I wish I could have spent a lot more time there. One of the things that I picked up on is that the better plasma cutter units (power supply and 2 is the better stand alone units have a plug for a remote feed from telling it when to turn on and off. I think it would be relatively easy to build one. Stepper or servo motors to drive each axis.